The original 2013 report
Original reporting follows. Offers, event dates, product details and opinions are historical. Old outbound links are shown as text.
Cal Neva casino, located at Lake Tahoe, will offer table games such as blackjack after its new owners renovate it.
The casino resort, which used to belong to Frank Sinatra, is going to get a complete makeover, after which it will become a four-star property. Napa Valley, a development company based in California, had acquired the struggling casino property in April.
Speaking about the renovation project, Robert Radovan of Napa Valley said that the company’s goal is to restore the property to its former glory. Stating that the property has “great soul and character,” he said that it had needed the makeover for the past several decades.
Cal Neva casino had to be shut down in 2010 because of the economic recession and its own inability to compete with brand new tribal and commercial casinos. The casino was at its height during the years 1960 – 63, when it attracted celebrities such as Juliet Prowse, Marilyn Monroe, and Joe DiMaggio as well as Rat Packers such as Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, and Peter Lawford.
The property features tunnels, which were once used to smuggle in liquor, a celebrity showroom, and cabins. The new owners intend to make it modern while retaining its ancient historic value.
Read a little deeper
Picture the place at the time
Openings, refurbishments and unusual table settings make useful snapshots of casino history. Names, facilities, opening hours, minimum bets and table rules can change. The report below describes the place at its original publication date; use it as history rather than a current trip-planning listing.
- Stage
- Separate a proposal, scheduled opening and completed launch.
- Setting
- Look for the physical layout and experience described.
- Game details
- Treat reported limits, hours and rules as dated observations.
Does an opening announcement confirm a venue’s current tables?
No. It records plans or conditions at a particular time. A venue can change its name, layout, opening hours and games after publication.
More from this era
Archive presentation refreshed 26 October 2026. The original report and publication date are retained; this is not a new offer, event listing or product review.