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On January 31, 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The destruction of the Mapes put an end to years of efforts to preserve the building via lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots action. The National Trust for Historic Preservation took up the cause of the Mapes, and challenged the destruction in a suit that eventually reached the Nevada Supreme Court.

While the efficacy and justification of demolishing the Mapes is debatable, one thing that is not is the glorious history of the hotel. It was built in 1947, and signaled the start of the modern era of casino gambling. Despite the notoriety of Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo in Las Vegas, it was the Mapes that became the first building in the nation to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under one roof. It also became the hotel of choice for celebrities staying in Northern Nevada. Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe stayed at The Mapes during the filming of ‘The Misfits’. Joseph McCarthy, America’s famed anti-Communist crusader, admitted to a reporter over cocktails in the Mapes Lounge that he really didn’t have a list of Communists in the US despite his frequent and vitriolic insistence to the contrary.

In the 50s and 60s it became, along with Lake Tahoes Cal-Neva Lodge the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The top floor, window-walled Sky Room showcased performances by the legends: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jackie Gleason, Louis Prima, Mae West, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis, Jr., and the Marx Brothers among others. Subsequent years were not kind to downtown Reno but the Mapes continued to do well during the 60′s and 70′s. The hotel finally closed in 1982, due more to financial difficulties experienced by the Mapes family caused by one of their other Northern Nevada gaming properties than anything else.

Reno has yet to experience the sort of growth that has been seen in Southern Nevada, and for that reason the destruction of the Mapes is more open to debate than the hotel demolitions to the south. Even the demolition of The Sands–perhaps the most historically significant casino in the state–is hard to argue against given the inability of such a small property to compete in the current Las Vegas marketplace and in light of the value of the mid-strip real estate.

This is not the case in Reno, where land and buildings for development in virtually every casino area are abundant. The city argued that the land on which the Mapes stood was necessary for their redevelopment efforts–a somewhat absurd position given the realities of downtown Reno and the lack of any real development on the property since the demolition. Despite receiving a number of viable concepts for the Mapes Building, the City Redevelopment Authority rejected all of them and the Mapes was destined for demolition.

The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which continued to maintain that demolition was the only viable option despite copious evidence to the contrary.

Following the 2000 demolition, the lot remained vacant for over a year until a temporary ice skating rink was hastily constructed the following winter. The property has been improved and the rink is now permanent which, while not in itself a bad use for the land, further calls into question the efficacy of demolishing the structure. It would appear that the city had no clue what to do with the land, but for whatever reason wanted the building brought down. This has led to all sorts of conspiracy theories, from the City Development Agency having financial incentive to raze the hotel to rumors that the building was haunted and was destroyed to keep the Reno area from being overrun with paranormal activity. Whatever the reason for the decision, the city of Reno has lost a beautiful art deco treasure that played a significant part in the economic growth of the state.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected sports betting expert. He is also a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is in charge of setting NFL lines. He has written extensively on sports handicapping theory along with a wide range of other topics including fencing, boxing and falconry.

Mexico is a top vacation spot and there is no doubt why. It is an amazing place that is not just somewhere to catch some sun on the sandy beaches. There are some great hot spots, like Tulum, that let you combine the historic sites and the great beaches for one unforgettable vacation.

Tulum is a town that features a great archeological site and a lovely beach coastline. It is located just south of Playa del Carmen and Akumal. Tulum is located on limestone cliffs that overlook the waters of the Caribbean.

Tulum is a nice mix of history and the beaches Mexico is well known for. You will get to experience both of them right in the same area where you can focus on having a good time instead of traveling about the country to see all the different types of sites.

History is important in Tulum. The archeological site here was built between 1200 and 1450. It is clouded in mystery, as are all Mayan ruins.

It was a trading post due to its location off the water. The city’s skyscraper El Castillo is used as a lighthouse to help and direct travelers through the reefs.

The wall surrounded the city in all the three sides this scenario was unique. This wall is seven meters thick and up to five meters tall. The wall has a walkway that was used by warriors in their defense of the city. The remaining side of the city is protected by the sea.

Now, sixty buildings are still at the scene, those are all open for visitors. There are information panels on the walls to help visitors on their self-guided tour of the site.

There are excellent beaches in Tulum, just as you would hope for a visit to Mexico’s coast. They are among the world’s top scenic beaches, and tourists travel from all accross the globe to see them.

The beaches contain a gorgeous shade of white sand and the water is a perfect blue. The waters welcome kayakers, divers, and fishers.

The reef at Tulum, the Great Mayan Reef, goes from Cancun, Mexico to Roatan, Honduras making it the second largest in the world. It is 1000 kilometers with 120 kilometers at the Tulum beach.

The waters off the beach offer a chance to see 84 different types of coral and over 450 types of fish and other sea creatures. It is a true adventure.

I can guarantee you that Tulum is one of the most special places on earth. This area is unforgettable since there are so many nice things to do when you visit.

Many years before, the city of Xel-Ha was known to be a very important place as all the Mayan people came together where they performed certain dances and rituals in order to respect their Gods ” the Gods of Mayan mythology. But a lot has changed.

Today you’ll find that in Xel-Ha there are great places to snorkel and you’ll find a huge aquarium as well to enjoy. Because of the experience, people come from all over to enjoy the snorkeling.

Xel-Ha or Xelha is a popular site, known to be archaeological, and can be found on the Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, in Mexico. It is a very beautiful place, almost tropical.

The seas are bright blue-green in color and make you just want to dive into the freshness. If all seas could look this way, one wouldnt think twice about going for a swim.

The city of Cancun is only about seventy five miles away to the south of Xel-Ha. If you want to go to Cancun, you can get there by car, you can take a taxi, or rid the bus. If you are going to take public transportation, the ride to the park is available for free. This way you don’t have to worry about trying to get the park on your own.

For both children and adults, there are many great water activities that are available in Xel_ha. You can enjoy going over to Aquaventura, you can kayak, enjoy time snorkeling, or even check out Sea Trek. Not only can you enjoy activities in the sea, but there are plenty of on land activities to enjoy too. Great covers, lagoons, caves, and other activities are out there for you to enjoy.

If you prefer walking, there are wooden bridges and marked paths that will take you through everything, but if you would rather sit back and enjoy the ride there is a captivating train ride that takes you around to see everything.

There are sites in this city that will make you wish you came to see them long ago. Take a step back into history to understand what you see and hear while in Xel-Ha.

Interested in knowing a bit more about Xel-Ha and it’s past? Well, according to legend the city was first started at a time when the Mayan gods brought together shrewdness, love, and fantasies in order to make this place to bring together the beauty and greatness of nature. Supposedly this is the reason that the entire area is so amazingly beautiful, since it is thousands of years old. While some only think this is a myth, there are others that truly believe that this is true.

To get into this park, you will have to pay some kind of fee. The fees will differ depending on what you do, but they are not too pricey. Kids are cheaper than adults are. It’s definitely worth the price to enjoy the lovely park. With all the great sites available, you’ll be happy to pay to get in.

If you enjoy beauty and you love history, then you definitely will want to take the time to visit Xel-Ha. Make sure you have your camera too. You’ll want to take plenty of pictures to remember the beautiful area by.

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