Ormsby House dealers dole their last hands

Less than 12 Hours Left: That was the message displayed on the Ormsby House marquis yesterday afternoon.

But the gaming tables were open, the drinks were flowing and the slots still rang their familiar tune as the historic hotel-casino prepared to close for the second time in the past seven years.

"It's very sad. It was a nice place to work," a dealer identified only as Tom said. "I've been in this business for 30 years, and this is the only casino where I got a raise over minimum wage. These are good people."

Cathie Mazy, a slot keys and change person agreed, and hopes to come back to work for the reopening.

"Barb Champion is one of the best bosses I've ever had, and Bob Cashell is wonderful. But this is an old building," she said, noting that there were too many environmental problems to stay open during this extensive renovation.

"It's going to be sad around here at midnight," Mazy said, then smiled. "I'm wearing my water-proof makeup."

Many of the employees working Sunday had no firm plans for the future, and felt it was time for a break in their working lives. Some were going on unemployment, while others wanted to further their education through the JOIN program.

"I'm 74, and I'm going to take a break for awhile," Fern Bennewitz said, noting she would go on unemployment, but she gets restless when she isn't working.

The 10-story landmark hotel-casino will be closed for about nine months for a massive renovation that its operators say will affect every square inch of the building.

Owners Al Fiegehen and Don Lehr originally expected to undertake the renovation without closing the hotel, but after hammering away the the walls, they found one nightmare after another. They announced the closing Sept. 20 to give contractors room for a massive renovation from roof to street level, and promise a $10-$13 million overhaul, converting the old hotel into a five-star establishment.

Built in 1972 by the Laxalt family, the Ormsby House has had troubled times for most of its existence except for the 10 years it was owned by former owner Woody Loftin, who died in 1986.

Bankruptcy shuttered the Ormsby House from January 1993 to February 1995, and a second bankruptcy followed in February 1997. Fiegehen and Lehr, owners of Cubix Corp., a local manufacturer, bought the troubled property in Sept.1997, and it has since been under the guiding hand of former Nevada lieutenant governor Bob Cashell.