Gardnerville in Douglas County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Ritchford Hotel
1404 Highway 395
— Styless Utilitarian Style —
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 25, 2009
1. Ritchford Hotel Marker
Opened in 1896 by Mr. and Mrs. William Ritchford, the three-story hotel was a stage stop. A water tower was also built on the site, however it no longer stands.
The Ritchford was the most luxurious hotel in town at the turn of the century. It was famous for its wonderful meals and well-kept rooms, and visitors from as far away as San Francisco were highly impressed.
An advertisement in the Record-Courier shortly after the turn of the 20th century stated:
Ritchford Hotel
Excellent Meals and
Clean Comfortable Beds
Livery and Feed Stable
Hay and Grain For Sale
Horses Bought and Sold
The hotel's livery stables were located in buildings on the south side of the hotel.
In the upper left corner of the marker is seal of the city of Gardnerville, while in the lower right hand corner is the seal of the US Forest Service.
Erected 2004 by Town of Gardnerville.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 38° 56.395′ N, 119° 44.862′ W. Marker is in Gardnerville, Nevada, in Douglas County. Marker is on U.S. 395 north of Douglas Avenue. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Arendt Jensen Merchandise (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); J & T Basque Restaurant Building (about 400 feet away); Farmer’s Telephone Company (about 400 feet away); Record Courier Building (about 500 feet away); Adaven Building (about 500 feet away); Jensen/Schacht House (about 500 feet away); The French Hotel and Bar (about 600 feet away); Arendt Jensen Home (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gardnerville.
More about this marker. The marker is located on the right front corner of the building.
Also see . . . #21 - The Ritchford Hotel. Scott Schrantz' 2006 article on AroundCarson.com on the history of the Ritchford Hotel, including a picture of the hotel prior to the 1937 fire. (Submitted on December 16, 2009.)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 25, 2009
2. Ritchford Hotel and Marker - Wide Shot
Scott Shrantz,on AroundCarson.com writes of the Ritchford,"...On January 10, 1937, in sub-zero temperatures, a fire broke out on the top floor of the Ritchford. The fire department responded quickly and they managed to save most of the building, although the third floor, with its dormer windows, was completely destroyed. Even though the lower floors were soon able to reopen, the third floor was never rebuilt. Today you wouldn't even recognize the Ritchford just by looking at earlier pictures. The top floor is obviously gone, but so is the portico along Main Street, and the tall water tower. Now what's left is just a square, nondescript building that betrays none of its history...."
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, May 25, 2009
3. Ritchford Hotel - Now the Rancho Grande Mexican Restaurant
Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,101 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 15, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 3. submitted on December 16, 2009, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
