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Originally opened in 1907, The Mizpah Hotel was one of the first luxury hotels in all of Nevada serving as a social hub for the booming mining town. With the ebb and flow of population, The Mizpah Hotel closed its doors in 1999. In 2011, Fred and Nancy Cline of Sonoma, purchased the hotel and began renovations that returned this historic property to its former glory. The hotel reopened in 2011 with 52 luxury rooms, period appointments, full bar and gaming in the lobby, and award winning dining. Recently, Fred and Nancy also purchased the Belvada across the street and have begun renovations.
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Fred and Nancy Cline, Sonoma, CA
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MIZPAH HISTORYSince 1907, the Mizpah Hotel has been an oasis of comfort in the stark beauty of Nevada’s high desert.
Built for $200,000, with solid granite walls, leaded glass windows and Victorian-era luxury appointments, the hotel featured solid oak furniture, hot and cold running water, steam heat, brass chandeliers, stained glass windows, and an electric elevator (one of the first in the state). At five stories, it was also the tallest building in Nevada at the time. Gaming came to the Mizpah in the 1940s. The first chips were issued in 1945, and the casino included a roulette wheel, craps table, blackjack, and 80 slot machines. In 2011, Fred and Nancy Cline, owners of two Sonoma, California wineries, purchased the Mizpah Hotel and restored her to greatness. The Mizpah Hotel's rebirth represents the return of Tonopah as a destination for those with a thirst for adventure. |
TONOPAH HISTORYThe history of mining is intimately connected to the history of westward expansion in America. California’s gold rush of 1849 pulled plucky dreamers from the East Coast to explore and define a new America. The wealth dug from the Nevada and California hills helped build the West Coast, and established new cultures and centers of commerce.
The small and often temporary towns that sprang up around the mines tell the story of the pioneering people who toiled underground, poured the drinks, washed the clothes, and made a life in the harsh, new environment. Tonopah, Nevada is one of these towns. Equal parts Wild West saloon town, remote desert hideaway, and hotbed for prospecting politicians and corporations, Tonopah has a rich and varied past. It was once the home of Wyatt Earp, the site of Howard Hughes’ secret wedding to Jean Peters, and a meeting place for Senators Key Pittman and George Nixon. Howard Hughes’ Summa Corporation once owned 100 mine claims in Tonopah. The Tiffany Company, known around the world for turquoise jewelry, silver and stained glass, mined for turquoise in the Royston Hills in the early 1900s. Today, the pioneering spirit of the town endures. |
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Jack Dempsey, remembered today as the legend of boxing, was the heavyweight champion of the world from 1919 to 1926. But did you know that Jack Dempsey's first bouts were bare-knuckle brawls in Tonopah and Goldfield? Some of those fights lasted 25 rounds!
Dempsey was also a miner, gambler, and bouncer before finding fame as a boxer. Today our elegant dining room bears his name! |
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Key Pittman was a United States senator from Nevada from 1913 to 1940. He was very fond of Tonopah and was a frequent guest at the Mizpah Hotel. Legend has it that Senator Pittman died of a heart attack on the eve of the 1940 election, and supporters kept his body on ice in a Mizpah bathtub until the election was over and his successor could be appointed. While some dispute the story, others insist on its accuracy. We honor Key Pittman with our casual and everyday dining restaurant, The Pittman Cafe.
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