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Benefit Lunch To Take Place At Rancharrah

Filed under: Events


Rancharrah, the legendary Harrah family ranch in Reno, Nevada, which was on the market for $75 million last year, will host a charity benefit this spring to benefit the Obesity Prevention Foundation. Join the Western Bariatric Institute (WBI) at Rancharrah, on May 21, 2011 for Life Inspired; an afternoon of inspiration and transformation. The day will begin on the Rancharrah estate with a luncheon and will transition to the evening at the 9th Annual Fashion Show in the Rancharrah arena. Guests will go on a private tour of the cutting gardens with local chefs. The chefs will tour guests through the gardens speaking specifically to their upcoming courses. The five-course luncheon will feature a silent auction, a local artists' exhibit, as well as, inspirational speaker and NBC's Biggest Loser winner, Michelle Aguliar. Luncheon attendance includes admission and vip seating at the Fashion Show at the Rancharrah area in the afternoon. Tickets start at $145 for the luncheon and fashion show.

Bell Ranch Finally Sold After Years On The Market

Filed under: Estates


Some big properties take a long time to sell but finally after years on the market the Bell Ranch in northeastern New Mexico has finally sold. Bates Sanders Swan represented the seller and RMA Brokers represented the sellers. The sale and purchase of the Bell Ranch was closed on August 17, 2010. The Bates Sanders Swan announcement says that the sale was comprised of 290,100 acres of contiguous deeded land most of which is situated in San Miguel County about 40 miles north of Tucumcari and 150 miles east of Santa Fe. It is believed that this is the largest single block of deeded land to sell in the Western United States during the past 60 years. The announcement says that the buyer has interest in maintaining and enhancing the Bell Ranch, which was established in 1824, as one of the most historic and admired cattle operations in the nation.

The Bell Ranch features Bell Mountain and a a 10,832-square feet hacienda with swimming pool and tennis courts The property includes a general manager residence and lake house, ranch offices, stables, barns, garage and storage facilities. Cowboy camps are located throughout the property. The Bell Ranch airfield (8,200' x 75' lighted dirt airstrip) has a large hangar. It was listed for $115 million back in 2007 and then was at $103 million in 2009. It was most recently at $83 million. The final selling price hasn't been revealed.

After the jump take a look at four more huge ranches for sale.

Gallery: Bell Ranch

Casino King Bill Harrah's Former Ranch in Reno for Sale at $75 Million

Filed under: Estates


Rancharrah, an incredible 150 acre equestrian estate located in Reno, Nevada that belonged to casino king Bill Harrah has been listed for sale at $75 million via Distinctive Homes Sotheby's International Realty. Harrah's eldest son, John Harrah, purchased Rancharrah from the family trust in 1991 and under John's direction it has become one of the most exquisite equine facilities in the nation. The main house, originally built in 1934, was torn down and a new house was built based on the original floor plan. The new six bedroom residence features a dramatic central stairway and the use of exceptional materials and finishes throughout. The luxe amenities include numerous fireplaces, barn, carriage house, exercise room, art studio, gardens, horse facilities that include a huge indoor arena, pastures, stables, staff quarters plus a private lake and mountain views. There is 36,000-sq.-ft. of living space in all.

Gallery: Rancharrah

A Cowboy's Dream, A New Nevada Retreat

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels


A woman's memorial to her late husband is a new bed and breakfast in Alamo, Nevada. A Cowboy's Dream is a both a bed and breakfast as well as a corporate retreat destination. It was created by Phyllis Frias to honor her husband the late Charlie Frias. The resort has the simple motto: enter as strangers, leave as friends.

The hotel is located 90 miles north of Las Vegas in a small town that attracts visitors with an interest in wildlife because it is near the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. It is just the fourth hotel in town. The eight-suite B&B offers custom bedding, natural rain showerheads, custom-made bath products and private balconies. The great room serves as a central gathering area and the resort offers home-cooked meals and chartered excursions. The 18,997 square-foot house has vast views of surrounding mountains. Rooms are $499 a night.

Former TV Star's Plans For Beverly Hillbillies Casino

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

max baer jr.Beverly Hillbillies star Max Baer Jr. may be a long way from his days on the popular 1960s sitcom but he hasn't given up the character of Jethro yet. Baer, who is 71, is looking into buying a closed hotel-casino in Sparks, Nevada and turning it into Jethro's Beverly Hillbillies Hotel and Casino. The mayor of the town says that Baer has met with city officials and councilmen on the possible purchase of what was the Silver Club. Baer already has a home at Lake Tahoe.

The former actor has had this idea for a while and already had approval to build his casino in another location, next to a retail complex being built in northern Douglas County about 30 miles south of Reno and Sparks. But the construction of the retail complex has stalled and so Baer, who feels the pressure of age and the economy, is looking at other options.

The Silver Club is one is six Holder Hospitality casinos in Nevada that have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and all the properties are for sale. Baer's casino plans as shown on his website include a facade that looks like the Beverly Hillbillies mansion and a large oil derrick sign. That sign would be a problem in Sparks because it would be 200 feet tall and the municipal code only allows signs that are about 50 feet tall. His desire to build a huge derrick with a flame on top kept him from building this project in Reno around 10 years ago.

According to his website the multi-million dollar project will feature unique applications of The Beverly Hillbillies theme including Granny's Shot Gun Weddin' Chapel, Jethro's All-You-Ken-Et Buffet, the Cement Pond, Granny's White Lightnin' Bar complete with rain & lightning, Elly May's Buns (Bakery), gourmet meals from Drysdales' Fancy Eatin' Fo Da Richins and Granny's Vittles & Hog Jowls Coffee Shop.

New Carson City Cigar Bar Offers 4,000 Sticks

Filed under: Cigars

Nevada, like so many other states, has a smoking ban for establishments that serve food. This changed life for a lot of cigar smokers, a fact realized by Susan and Jeff Melvin. So, they opened Jimmy G's Cigar Bar in downtown Carson City last month, bringing a new alternative to those of us who enjoy a good cigar every now and then. Though Jimmy G's doesn't serve food, guests can order meals from Garibaldi's or Kim Lee Sushi, which are nearby and deliver.

In addition to serving a wide variety of spirits, the new cigar bar has 4,000 cigars available, representing a wide range of prices. So, there should be something on hand or just about every taste and budget. Televisions have been installed, along with wireless internet access, all at the request of customers. Hell, the proprietors even cut martini prices based on feedback from guests, so you can be confident that your opinions will be taken seriously at this lounge.

This is the second Jimmy G's Cigar Bar, with the first in Minden, Nevada, which switched from restaurant to cigar bar in 2006.

Lairmont Place, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


In the hills above Las Vegas, luxury homes abound. In the gated community of Dragon Ridge is where you'll find this home on Lairmont Place. And what a lair it is. This six-bedroom palace features one incredible feature in the main space, a three-story waterfall. The property is oriented toward the view and features large glass windows for observing the desert and the city in the distance. The family room opens out onto a large patio. Take the elevator down to the lower level of the home and you will discover a massage room, wet bar and lounge and a home theater. The owner's suite has a balcony, beautiful views and a large bathroom with marble accents. It is listed at $10 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Tales of Woe At Lake Las Vegas

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments


In good times when money is flowing and everything's coming up roses sometimes the impossible seems not just doable but necessary. A manmade lake surrounded by an Italian-style village in the middle of the desert starts to sound not like some sort of fevered heat fantasy but like a smart business decision (and you can even throw a floating ice rink on that lake for good measure). But the development at Lake Las Vegas is starting to look like a stock market mirage. The LA Times has a great piece assessing the damage and chronicling the decline of a neighborhood that has been home to Celine Dion and a Ritz-Carlton.

The trouble began last year as Las Vegas real estate continued to sink. The developer, Transcontinental Corp., lost the property in foreclosure after defaulting on $540 million in loans and the new owners of Lake Las Vegas filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last summer. The Ritz-Carlton owned by Village Hotel Investors LLC, also filed bankruptcy and was been sold to new owners and one of the area's golf courses has been abandoned. The Ritz-Carlton remains open is offering a variety of deals that include free nights and special rates.

Crystal Bay, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


Today's home occupies a gorgeous spot on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe in the gated community of eight homes in Crystal Bay in the Northlake HOA. The four-bedroom home has a shared pier and a private buoy with 287 feet of lakefront to enjoy. A manmade recirculating steam ends in a pond. The home is dominated by a gorgeous curving limestone staircase.There is a modern kitchen and lakeviews from almost every room. Glass ceilings include motor driven shades for ease of use and multiple decks let you take in the fresh air. In the bathrooms the mirrors are laid directly into the limestone for a seamless effect. A separate studio has its own kitchen and bath. This property is listed at $10.75 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Crystal Bay

C.A.O. Cigars to Give Away Motorcycle

Filed under: Cigars

Cigar company C.A.O. International is partnering with custom motorcycle builder Sucker Punch Sally's to put a lucky cigar smoker on the back of a new bike. The ride, which hasn't been created yet, will be inspired by C.A.O. cigars and should be a dream for anyone with a passion for sticks and speed. The design reaches back to the 1950s, with a minimalist approach and a shortened rear fender – from which the appellation "bobber" is derived.

So, which cigar inspired what will undoubtedly be a monument to manliness and power?

The C.A.O. America cigar is the culprit. It's a full-bodied smoke that is best consumed after you've had a meal (even if you normally enjoy heavier cigars. It's made in Honduras with two wrapper leaves: one's Connecticut shade, and the other is a chocolate brown broadleaf.

Before a lucky winner receives the motorcycle, it will be taken around the United States – to both bike rallies and cigar shops. If you're in Henderson, Nevada on June 4, look for it at the Tobacco Leaf. Finally, next spring, the bike will be given to a randomly selected winner at a party to be held at C.A.O. headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tahoe Beach Club: The Green Versus The Trailer Park

Filed under: Real Estate Developments


The latest luxury project to ruffle feathers on the shores of Lake Tahoe is the Tahoe Beach Club. The new development is a planned project of condos and estate homes to be located on the site of the existing Tahoe Shores Mobile Home Park, a fact that upsets and uproots the 30 remaining residents of the park. The developers, who plan to sell the 124 condominiums at over $1 million each, are constructing a green-friendly project that will include a water treatment system. The $200 million to $250 million project will have stone-and-wood lodges with lofts and porches and there will be a private beach club including a fitness center, snack bars, restaurant and a private sandy beach. The residents of the trailer park have been offered various buyout plans including a $5,000 payment, a move to another park or the fair appraised value of their trailers but are currently holding firm even though they know they will inevitably be forced to move.

The Fragile Beauty of Lake Tahoe

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Books


Lake Tahoe, the 22-mile long natural wonder in the Sierra Nevada mountains that's a renowned vacation spot - and site of this amazing Estate of the Day, among others - is the subject of a beautiful new book by photographer Thomas Bachand. Lake Tahoe: A Fragile Beauty (Chronicle Books, $35), features a decade's worth of Bachand's images presenting "a timeless vocabulary of water, rock and sky," as well as "the transition that the lake and its surroundings are undergoing due to tourism and development." Pictured above is a sunset storm at Sugar Pine Point State Park. A must-have for anyone "enchanted by Tahoe's beauty, engaged by its history, and concerned for its welfare," the book goes on sale in a couple of weeks but you can pre-order it on Amazon now.

Lake Las Vegas Gets New Timeshare and Fractional Options

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels


The Lake Las Vegas Resort is expanding by leaps and bounds. Already home to a Ritz-Carlton, the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort and the charming MonteLago Village Resort, the resort will now have a 200-Unit Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare resort and a 50-Unit Waldorf=Astoria fractional project. The project will be developed on a 17.5 acre lakefront parcel overlooking the 17th hole and the 18th tee of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Reflection Bay Golf Course. The Waldorf=Astoria project at Lake Las Vegas Resort is the first fractional lodging product to be developed by Hilton (we mentioned the creation of this brand last year). Development of the project is currently in the design phase, with groundbreaking targeted for early 2008 and an opening date projected for fall of 2009.

Villa Lago, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


This home on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe won me over with its architectural style. The five-bedroom home has a a ski house feel but with ample glass to take advantage of the waterfront location. The result is a home that is both traditional and modern, The impressive floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the lake and sky views. The home has 135 feet of waterfront and has a shared pier There is also a two-car garage. It is listed at $7.9 million. After the jump, curtains, who needs curtains?

Caughlin Ranch, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


There's just something about a house that has been restored with love rather than with an eye toward the quick sale. I'd like to think that the Caughlin Ranch House in Reno, Nevada was restored by those who actually planned to live there. It seem to capture the mix of frontier tradition and Nevada glitz. The ranch is on nearly four acres and the grounds include both the three bedroom main home and a three bedroom guest house as well as five car garage parking, a workshop and separate studio space. The interior is a teensy bit Pottery Barn chic but still there is something about this place I like. The surrounding land looks a bit untended but the home has eight acre-feet of water rights included so perhaps the right owner could make the ranch more of a ranch. It is listed at $3.95 million. After the jump, are two smaller houses worth as much as one big one?

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