Nugget Casino Resort
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The Nugget Casino Resort
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| Location | Sparks, Nevada, U.S. |
| Address | 1100 Nugget Avenue |
| Opening date | March 17, 1955 |
| Theme | Classic |
| No. of rooms | 1,600 |
| Total gaming space | 52,000 sq ft (4,800 m2) |
| Signature attractions | Celebrity Showroom Rose Ballroom |
| Notable restaurants | Noodle Hut Oyster Bar Rotisserie Buffet Rosie's Café Starbucks Tailgate Deli The Steakhouse Grill |
| Owner | Marnell Gaming |
| Architect | Peter B. Wilday Architects Sheehan, Haase & Van Woert |
| Previous names | Dick Graves' Nugget (1955–1960) John Ascuaga's Nugget (1960–2013) |
| Renovated in | 1984: East Tower 1996: West Tower 2008: East Tower |
| Website | nuggetcasinoresort |
Nugget Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located in Sparks, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Marnell Gaming. The main portion of the casino consists of two 29-story towers nestled between Interstate 80 and the Union Pacific rail yard. There are additional attached buildings underneath and across I-80 from the towers. It is located in Downtown Sparks at the Victorian Square.
Dick Graves' Nugget was opened on March 17, 1955. Graves and Jim Kelly opened the Carson Nugget on March 1, 1954, in Carson City. In 1960, John Ascuaga (born 1925), then general manager, bought the Nugget. Ascuaga had little money when he purchased the small venue so he paid via loan, which he paid back in full within the number of years granted. Ascuaga earned money from the success of his business, which led him to expand, over and over again, throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The Celebrity Showroom, first known as the Circus Room, was constructed in the 1960s and played host to Liberace, Sergio Franchi, The Osmond Brothers, Robert Goulet and others. Construction began shortly thereafter and was completed December 26, 1984. Ascuaga deemed it one more Christmas present to the community and also deemed it an "exclamation point in the sky".
The Nugget's primary attraction from 1962 to the late 1990s was Bertha the Elephant and her baby, Tina, who entertained in the Circus Room many a time. They were also attractions at the annual Nevada Day parade in Carson City. Bertha died in the late 1990s.
In 1995, John Ascuaga announced that a second tower would be built, costing $75 million. Ascuaga designed it with local architect Peter B. Wilday, whose works include the Atlantis and the Peppermill. The tower opened along with a new restaurant and hotel lobby on December 26, 1996. That was the last major expansion done by the Nugget. In 1997, Ascuaga's daughter Michonne took over as CEO, running the hotel and casino along with her brother Stephen. The two said at the time they would keep the business in the family and continue to make re-investments. They also said there was no need for more hotel rooms.
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