Reno City Center courtyard: Here’s what former Harrah’s Reno plaza will look like
Former Harrah’s Reno Plaza is set to get a big facelift as work starts soon on the new Reno City Center courtyard.
Jason Hidalgo
The former Harrah’s Reno Plaza is set for a major refresh as construction starts this week on the new Reno City Center courtyard.
More:Reno City Center: Big changes ‘in next 100 days’ for former Harrah’s hotel-casino
CAI Investments, which bought the former hotel-casino from Caesars Entertainment in late 2020, considers the courtyard as an integral part of Reno City Center’s public face in downtown Reno.
“The landscaping’s going to go pretty quickly,” said Chris Beavor, CEO of Las Vegas-based CAI Investments. “It will look a lot different by April.”
Why the former Harrah’s Reno Plaza matters
As part of the Harrah’s Reno hotel-casino, the former plaza served as an outdoor hub for events and entertainment.
For the last three years, however, that former Harrah’s Plaza has sat empty.
The public plaza has been in limbo since the Harrah’s Reno hotel-casino closed in March 2020 as part of a statewide COVID-19 shutdown. Even as downtown started to recover from the pandemic, the plaza remained vacant at a prime location in the heart of Reno.
What’s happening to the former Harrah’s Reno Plaza?
With major preparation such as framing, electrical and hazardous material abatement done at the two older towers of the former hotel-casino, finishing work is set to start in earnest at Reno City Center project.
CAI plans to turn the former plaza into a public hub for concerts and events, including big draws such as the annual Reno River Festival and Hot August Nights.
The new Reno City Center courtyard, for example, will have varying elevation levels to provide better viewing spots for people. Permanent and temporary seating will also be made available.
One big change compared to the old Harrah’s Reno Plaza is the addition of plenty of greenery. This includes a grass lawn and several trees to give the space a more natural feel.
What’s the timeline for the new Reno City Center courtyard?
Construction is set to start this week, according to Beavor.
CAI is eyeing a finish date around May at the latest, just in time for the busy summer vacation and travel season.
“Ideally, we want it to be done by late May for the Reno River Festival period (in June),” Beavor said.