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Cal-Neva Resort
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
12 reviews for Cal-Neva Resort
Can't complain. I'm really here for the snow. Unfortunately it was about 18 miles away from Alpine Ski Resort. No biggie.
HOTEL-It is exactly what I would expect. It's a casino. Old school. Believe it or not the bathroom condiments were above average. However, supporting the mainstream products. Room was large and clean with an INCREDIBLE view of the lake-the view alone would have made it 5 stars.
SERVICE-My friend asked for "thinner pillows" and he got it. Service met my needs nothing more and nothing less.
In summary, a little far from the ski resorts, but it'll do. Coffee shops, restaurants etc are a hop skip and a jump away by car.
"Eek! Methinks not" is RIGHT!!
Holy moly, this hotel (and Casino, AND the restaurant) was terrible, inside and out. We stayed for a friends' bachelorette party in July 2009, and the room (which was supposed to be a suite with a fancy view) was UNBELIEVABLY FILTHY. It looks NOTHING like what the hotel's website shows in photos online. Half the furnishings in the room were broken; the couch was stained (ick!!) with some crusty, questionable spots; the lampshades were broken (hadn't been changed since 1979, it seems) and covered with gnats; the carpet in the corner by the window REEKED of URINE!! We sat down on a chair and almost came crashing to the ground as the leg gave out. Our refrigerator (which is, of course, very important for storing booze during a bachelorette party!!) was broken, warm and moldy inside. There were leftover cigarette butts from the room's prior occupants still out on the concrete "balcony," which was outfitted with green plastic lawn chairs that looked as if they'd been purchased at WalMart. One of the suite's interior doors didn't even have a knob (or a lock!) on it. The place was CRAWLING with bugs to the point where -- seriously!! -- there were gnats stuck to and trapped in our blankets/bedding.
O.M.G.!!!
The front desk manager (upon my complaining) was unbelievably rude to me -- I should post a transcript of the conversation I had with him -- you wouldn't believe it!!
I asked for the name of HIS supervisor and was given a fake phone number and e-mail address. I left numerous messages and e-mails that no one ever returned (of course, since I found out later the guy had given me fake info).
Eventually I searched the 'net for articles related to this dump and found that the property had recently gone to auction due to foreclosure, and nobody had even bid on it (big surprise!). I googled for information on the name of the company that was managing the hotel temporarily until a buyer could be found. I left voice and e-mails for every manager whose contact info I could find. FINALLY, some Vice President of Something-or-Other called me and apologized profusely for the way the front desk manager had treated me and for the deplorable condition of the room. We received, almost immediately, a refund in full.
But... even a refund in full and an apology from the VP doesn't make me want to set foot in this place ever, ever again.
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Uck!
The only thing impressive about this place is that it's been around for 80 years.
Seriously, the last renovation they had was probably back in the 70's and they only thing they have kept up to date is the prices with the compounded interest of inflation!!
You are better off staying across the street where you will pay literally a third less for a third more in quality of service, amenities, and bed size.
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Marilyn Monroe used to come here for her affairs, and you can too!!
Frank Sinatra used to sing here. He owned the joint.
Mind you, this was back when big movie stars used to visit creepy little resorts to live the high life.
This was back when making wall ornaments out of cougars and elks, and chandaliers out of buckhorns, added a touch of class.
This was when people got off on hotels built across state borders, and collecting endless postcards on the subject.
This was when everything was "world famous" and signs said that out front, as in "visit the world famous circle bar."
Despite its many shortcomings, Cal-Neva has a rustic Disney-meets-Grizzley-Adams charm. The casino is small, friendly, and often completely empty. Never a line for the bathroom or a hustle to get a drink.
The "Indian Room," a vast wood-panelled banquet hall where most of the aformentioned animal carcasses are displayed, is especially empty, as is an cool full of clever coin-op mechanical games that, remarkably, are in good repair. Rooms are decent enough, a little cobwebby, as if they haven't changed the sheets in forty-five years, maybe you're sharing a bed with John Kennedy's dried sperm.
Spectacular lake views, mysterious passageways and basements and tunnels. Plus one star for the cheap drinks, plus another for free wifi throughout the entire hotel and a staff that doesn't judge you on what you're wearing or where you put your feet or whether you're a guest or not. You can nurse a beer for hours to be polite but they don't mind either way.
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This place sucks.
But that, strangely enough, is what makes it so much fun.
Granny, get yo ass off my nickel-slot! I had my coat on that chair!
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We only came here for dinner. If we weren't so lazy we would have checked the other 4 casinos nearby first. I blame it on the lazy hubby who insists it's me that wanted to eat there. Hell no it wasn't.
So this place is across the street from the Tahoe Inn and I was hungry but not that hungry. They had a prime rib buffet for $21.95 but I'm a cheap bastard and don't want to pay that. Hubby on the other hand wanted it. So he and A. got it. I walked by the buffet to see what it was and this is what they had:
prime rib w/ a guy carving it-decent
asparagus w/ feta cheese-ok
green beans-nasty
salmon-dry, friend said
chicken-friend said dry
potato gratin-not good said friend, hubby thought ok
chili-ok
bean soup-pretty good
cream puff-nasty
chocolate mousse dessert-friend said average
I got a hot po boy sandwich-which had warm mozzarella cheese, turkey, ham, lettuce, tomato on a sough dough roll w/ a side of potato chips. $7.95 or so. I thought it was just ok. Nothing special.
There was a small view of Lake Tahoe. Heard it's nice to see at 7am in the morning and we saw it around 5pm which was ok.
They take credit cards. Have free hard chocolate mint candy individually wrapped, toothpicks, and matchbooks. Bathrooms in the casino area.
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Pretty crappy.
This place has absolutely no business calling itself a resort. It's so tiny. An "upscale motel/inn" is a better description. The casino area is very small. My high school gym was bigger than the casino gaming floor. Hell, even my elementary school auditorium is bigger!!
This place apparently has some history to it, with it's glory days being when Sinatra owned it. But I don't think anyone gives a @#$% nowadays, cuz I sure as hell don't.
It's sorta sad because this place is trying so hard to cling to it's prestigious past. It's like an old crusty 55+ year old blond single woman who dresses like she's twenty still, wears loads of makeup and walks in stiletto heels. She once was hot, but now she's just used and beat. You think to yourself, "For a 55 year old, she doesn't look too bad. But you know what? There are still hotter 25 - 30 year old women out there. So I'm gonna go for that instead." That is how the Cal Neva Resort is. It is that 55+ year old lady that is past her prime, but is trying desperately to remain relevant. Whereas other resorts are the 25 - 30 year olds.
The following also dampened our experiences here:
1.) I reserved 1 room with 2 full beds. But they screwed up and only had a room with a king bed available. They wheeled in a tiny twin size to make up for it. Now I have 1 king size bed and 1 saggy twin with creaky springs.
2.) For about 2 hours, our room didn't have any cold water. Only hot water. And I'm talking about boiling hot. As in, "you could seriously burn yourself" hot. Even the toilet bowl water was hot!!!! Imagine taking a dump on and having scalding hot water splash on your butt cheeks from the backsplash. Ouchies..... I should sue.
3.) The blackjack dealer was so bad. I think he was still learning how to properly deal.
Okay, now the positives. The room was clean.
We hit the Circle Bar after a very fine night in South Lake, nursed some girly drinks for a while and looked for someone to pay. Waited for a bit, and the dumbest bartender in 3 states (my girlfriend assures me he was very pretty though) was nowhere to be seen.
We walked out leaving the empty glasses and no money on the bar.
The breakfast was pretty good too.
Minus one star because they don't give tours of the tunnels during off season.
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The whole place needs an upgrade. This is NOT a resort, it's somewhere between a motel and a hotel. Tacky room decor and one of the most uncomfortable beds you'll ever find. The casino is always way too hot (I know it's to make guests order drinks like the others do but this is just annoyingly hot).
HOWEVER,
If you "splurge" on a lakeview room, it really was a gorgeous view. I will never forget looking out the window at 5am, unable to sleep on that awful bed, and seeing a full moon with clouds floating in front of it and the moonglow lighting up the lake and nearby snow. Apparently, recalling the tacky decor is to blame for that cheesy description...but it really was an amazing view.
I'm not much of a gambler so casinos don't really hold anything for me. I guess the whole Sinatra owned thing is kinda cool but you'd expect that from something so close and mafia ruled like Incline Village. Interesting circular bar to booze and talk like you were a Rat Packer and take in the old school vibe.
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Spa review only: Had a really nice massage here this weekend. Prices are reasonable compared to the other North Lake Tahoe spas. The spa is in a separate building from the casino (which is really sad-looking, by the way, but this isn't a casino review), with beautiful views of Lake Tahoe. Loved the shea butter lotion they use -- makes your skin super soft.
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This casino totally needs an upgrade, but I hope they never get around to it. The charm of this 40's style "resort" is it's campiness and history. Have a drink in the circle bar and think of how the rat pack imbibed there many years ago. Before Sinatra owned the Cal Neva it went through a variety of owners with names like "Pretty Boy," "Bones," and "Baby Face." There are even tunnels under the casino that Frank would use to sneak around and visit his celebrity friends, such as Marilyn Monroe, without being seen. Sometimes free tours are offered and are very cool.
