Silver Legacy Resort Casino
A large hotel-casino resort in downtown Reno, Nevada, known for its 42-story tower, casino, entertainment, dining, and connection to neighboring Caesars properties.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Silver Legacy Resort Casino is a hotel and casino resort in the downtown core of Reno, Nevada. The property forms part of a connected cluster of downtown hotel-casinos that also includes Circus Circus Reno and Eldorado Reno, creating an integrated pedestrian and hospitality network in the city center. Caesars Entertainment owns and operates the resort today. The resort was conceived in the early 1990s as a response to the growing scale and sophistication of casino resorts in southern Nevada. Don Carano, the Reno attorney and hospitality executive associated with Eldorado Hotel Casino, worked with Clyde Turner, then chief executive of Circus Circus Enterprises, to develop a major new property on land that would connect the existing Eldorado and Circus Circus facilities. The project received a special-use permit in July 1993 and was initially estimated to cost approximately $230 million. Its name, Silver Legacy, was announced in December 1994 after a public naming competition. The property opened on July 28, 1995, using a nineteenth-century mining and industrial theme that linked the resort to Reno's silver-mining heritage. The building is a prominent feature of Reno's skyline. At 42 stories, it is the tallest building in downtown Reno and remains the tallest building in Nevada outside the Las Vegas Valley. Its tower is commonly illuminated in emerald green, leading to the local nickname "Emerald City." The lighting has also been changed to blue on occasions supporting the University of Nevada, Reno's Wolf Pack teams. The resort contains more than 1,700 hotel rooms and suites, a casino, restaurants, bars, retail outlets, meeting and event facilities, and spa services. Its food-and-beverage portfolio has changed over time and has included both locally oriented venues and nationally recognized restaurant brands. Silver Legacy also has a place in popular culture. Interior and exterior scenes appeared in the 1996 film Kingpin, while the 2002 film Waking Up in Reno was partly filmed at the property. In 2013, the resort founded the Biggest Little City Wing Fest, a downtown food event that expanded from a small local competition into a festival featuring businesses from across the United States. The property experienced substantial financial pressure during the early 2010s. After an unsuccessful effort to restructure mortgage notes totaling $142.8 million, Silver Legacy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2012. It emerged from bankruptcy in October of that year under a court-approved restructuring plan. Ownership subsequently changed when MGM Resorts International sold its 50 percent interest in Silver Legacy, together with Circus Circus Reno, to Eldorado Resorts in 2015. Eldorado became the sole owner and operator after the transaction, and the company adopted the Caesars Entertainment name in 2020 following its merger with Caesars Entertainment Corporation. Like other Nevada casinos, Silver Legacy temporarily closed on March 18, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on June 4, 2020, with health and safety measures, and its spa resumed service later that year. In 2021, Caesars announced a renovation program reported at approximately $47 million, including the redesign of nearly 1,200 rooms on floors five through 25. The resort continues to operate as a full-service Reno destination combining gaming, lodging, restaurants, retail, events, and access to the broader downtown casino complex.
History
Silver Legacy was developed during a period when Reno's casino industry was under pressure from the rapid expansion of large resort properties in Las Vegas. In 1992, Don Carano, a Reno attorney and hospitality executive connected with Eldorado Hotel Casino, partnered with Clyde Turner of Circus Circus Enterprises to plan a new hotel-casino capable of competing through scale, architecture, and integrated amenities. The proposed resort was to occupy two city blocks owned by Carano and connect the Eldorado and Circus Circus properties in downtown Reno. Reno approved a special-use permit for the project on July 22, 1993. The development was projected to cost about $230 million. The partners announced the name Silver Legacy on December 15, 1994, following a citywide naming contest. The chosen name and the resort's design drew on the region's nineteenth-century silver-mining history. Silver Legacy opened on July 28, 1995, becoming a major addition to downtown Reno and a conspicuous part of the city's skyline. The resort's 42-story tower is the tallest building in downtown Reno and remains the tallest in Nevada outside the Las Vegas Valley. Its green nighttime illumination produced the informal nickname Emerald City. The property became part of Reno's connected downtown casino network, with guests able to move among Silver Legacy, Eldorado Reno, and Circus Circus Reno. Its hotel inventory grew to more than 1,700 rooms and suites, supplemented by gaming, food and beverage, retail, meetings, entertainment, and spa facilities. Silver Legacy appeared in the 1996 film Kingpin and was also used as a filming location for the 2002 movie Waking Up in Reno. Its events program later expanded beyond casino entertainment. In 2013, the resort established the Biggest Little City Wing Fest on Virginia Street. What began as a small local chicken-wing event developed into a larger festival with participation from businesses from around the country. The resort encountered serious financial problems in 2012. It was unable to complete a public restructuring of $142.8 million in mortgage notes that were due on March 1. The debt burden contributed to a Chapter 11 filing in May. Silver Legacy exited bankruptcy in October after creditors and the court approved a restructuring plan. The Carano family remained prominent in management during this period: Gary Carano served as chief executive of the property, while Glenn Carano held marketing and later general-management responsibilities. Ownership changed materially in 2015. On July 7, MGM Resorts International agreed to sell Circus Circus Reno and its 50 percent stake in Silver Legacy to Eldorado Resorts for $72.5 million. The transaction closed in November, leaving Eldorado as the sole owner of Silver Legacy. Eldorado later changed its corporate name to Caesars Entertainment in 2020 after merging with the earlier Caesars Entertainment Corporation. The resort consequently became part of the Caesars portfolio while retaining its Silver Legacy identity. The COVID-19 pandemic caused another major operational interruption. Nevada casinos, including Silver Legacy, closed on March 18, 2020. The resort reopened on June 4 after state-authorized casino operations resumed, using enhanced health and safety procedures. Its spa reopened in September. In 2021, Caesars launched a reported $47 million renovation covering nearly 1,200 rooms from the fifth through the 25th floors. The property subsequently broadened its dining offer, including the 2023 openings of Ramsay's Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips. Silver Legacy remains an active full-service casino resort and a central component of downtown Reno's hospitality district.
- 2023
Gordon Ramsay dining venues open
[1]Ramsay's Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips joined the resort's restaurant portfolio.
- 2021
Room renovation announced
[1]Caesars announced a major renovation affecting nearly 1,200 rooms.
- 2020
Pandemic closure and reopening
[1]The resort closed during Nevada's COVID-19 shutdown and reopened in June with revised safety procedures.
- 2015
Eldorado becomes sole owner
[1]Eldorado Resorts completed its acquisition of MGM's half-interest in Silver Legacy.
- 2012
Chapter 11 restructuring
[1]The property filed for bankruptcy protection and later emerged under a court-approved restructuring.
- 1995
Resort opens
[1]Silver Legacy opened on July 28 with a nineteenth-century silver-mining theme.
- 1994
Silver Legacy name announced
[1]The resort's name was selected through a citywide competition.
- 1993
Special-use permit approved
[1]Reno approved the permit needed to construct the resort on two downtown blocks.
- 1992
Development partnership formed
[1]Don Carano and Clyde Turner joined forces to develop a large themed hotel-casino linking Reno's Eldorado and Circus Circus properties.
Products and positioning
A large, themed downtown Reno casino resort positioned around full-service lodging, gaming, dining, entertainment, and integration with neighboring Caesars properties.
Gaming · 1995
Casino
The resort's casino is its central gaming offering, integrated with the broader downtown Reno casino network. It forms part of the full-service resort experience alongside hotel accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, and retail.
Accommodation · 1995
Hotel rooms and suites
Silver Legacy provides more than 1,700 rooms and suites in its prominent downtown tower. A 2021 renovation program redesigned nearly 1,200 rooms on floors five through 25, updating a substantial portion of the lodging inventory.
Food and beverage · 1995
Dining portfolio
The resort has hosted a changing mix of restaurants and quick-service outlets, including Café Central, Canter's Delicatessen, Sips Coffee and Tea, Starbucks, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and The Pearl Oyster Bar & Grill. In 2023, Ramsay's Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips expanded the branded dining offer.
Wellness
Spa and wellness services
The resort includes spa services as part of its destination-resort amenities. The spa reopened in September 2020 after the pandemic closure with revised health and safety measures.
Retail · 1995
Retail outlets
Silver Legacy contains multiple retail outlets serving hotel guests and casino visitors. The assortment has included apparel, gifts, florals, souvenirs, children's products, candy, and specialty merchandise, including a Harley-Davidson store.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Biggest Little City Wing Fest
Reno · United States
Silver Legacy founded a three-day chicken-wing festival on Virginia Street outside the resort. The event began with local vendors and later expanded to include approximately 25 businesses from around the United States.
Outcome. The festival became a larger recurring food event associated with downtown Reno.
- 2013Emerald Green lighting identity
Reno
The resort used an online contest to ask whether its tower should be permanently changed from its customary green illumination to blue, a color associated with support for the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Outcome. Emerald green won the vote and remained the property's signature lighting color.
Brand decisions
2021
Major room renovationStrategyBackground
Caesars sought to refresh a substantial part of the property's lodging inventory after the pandemic disruption.
Action taken
Caesars launched a reported $47 million renovation involving nearly 1,200 rooms from the fifth through the 25th floors.
Aftermath
The project modernized a significant portion of the resort's hotel product.
Renovation investment. $47 million (2021)
2015
Acquisition of MGM's Reno interestM&ABackground
MGM Resorts International decided to sell its Reno properties and its 50 percent ownership interest in Silver Legacy.
Action taken
Eldorado Resorts agreed to acquire Circus Circus Reno and MGM's Silver Legacy stake for $72.5 million; the transaction closed in November.
Aftermath
Eldorado became the sole owner of Silver Legacy and later became part of the Caesars Entertainment corporate structure.
Transaction value. $72.5 million (2015)
2012
Chapter 11 debt restructuringOtherBackground
Silver Legacy was unable to restructure $142.8 million in mortgage notes through a public offering and was carrying substantial debt.
Action taken
The property filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May and pursued a court-supervised restructuring.
Aftermath
A restructuring plan was approved, and the resort emerged from bankruptcy in October 2012.
Mortgage notes. $142.8 million due (2012)
Recent events
- 2023
Gordon Ramsay restaurants open at Silver Legacy[1]
Product launch
Ramsay's Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips opened at the resort, expanding its branded restaurant offering.
- 2021
Caesars begins major Silver Legacy room renovation[1]
Other
Caesars announced a renovation program involving nearly 1,200 rooms across the tower.
- 2020
Silver Legacy closes during Nevada COVID-19 casino shutdown[1]
Regulation · Other
The resort closed on March 18 as Nevada casinos suspended operations during the pandemic and reopened on June 4 with health protocols.
- 2015
Eldorado Resorts completes acquisition of MGM's Reno interests[1]
M&A
Eldorado Resorts acquired MGM Resorts International's Reno properties, including its half-interest in Silver Legacy, and became the resort's sole owner.
- 2012
Silver Legacy files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection[1]
Bankruptcy
The resort entered bankruptcy proceedings after debt restructuring efforts involving mortgage notes were unsuccessful.
- 2012
Silver Legacy emerges from bankruptcy under restructuring plan[1]
Bankruptcy
A court-approved restructuring allowed the property to exit Chapter 11 later in the year.
Sources1 sources
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