Laying Over in Sparks, Nevada
McKenzie and I had a few days to kill between our bridge tournament in Reno and a visit to Lake Tahoe (where I will attempt to learn to snowboard — you won’t want to miss Tuesday’s blog), so we found the cheapest hotel the internet had to offer in Sparks, Nevada, about 5 minutes outside of Reno. We’re at Western Village Inn & Casino, a cheap but not grungy hotel that’s actually been quite satisfying.
When we booked the room, we were told we had a beach view — we assumed this was a typo, but whaddya know, our third floor window looks right out over a cute little lake, complete with paddle boats, a boardwalk, and even a small beach.
Across the parking lot is the casino part of the establishment. It’s not a large casino, but it’s got a lot going on. Everyone says the steakhouse inside is worth the trip, but this vegetarian stuck to the Marina Cafe. Western Village is owned by Peppermill, which is immediately clear from the neon Lisa Frank color scheme. The cafe menu will be very familiar to anyone who’s ever dined at the Peppermill restaurant: a large selection of burgers, sandwiches, and ethnic dishes, and breakfast all day. Come with an empty stomach because the portions are enormous, and the prices are incredibly low. I recommend the omelets.
The casino itself is loads of fun. It’s small, but there’s a lot to offer — slot machines and video games in all denominations, a sports book, and low-limit table games: $0.25 roulette, $1 craps, and $2, $3, and $5 blackjack (for high rollers). Craps rules are okay — single roll bets pay 30-to-1, but you can only play double odds on any point. Hey, it’s a dollar. The blackjack rules are fantastic, though — all single deck, double down on any two, and blackjack pays 3 to 2.
The dealers here are some of the area’s friendliest. Stop by the Western Village casino and say hi to my new friends at the craps table — Jacob, Roger, and Brian on the day shift, and Robert, Warren, and Ron on the evening shift. These guys are a blast. Don’t forget to tip the dealers, win or lose. It’s good casino karma.
If you’ve got business in Reno, Western Village is just a 5-minute drive from the city, and it’s a great place to stay if you’re looking for a cheap room and good food and gaming. When you check in, you’ll be given a pile of coupons for free drinks, free bets, meal discounts, and more. It’s not a luxury resort by any stretch, but it’s a great value — and it’s got a beach view!
