The Senator on North Carson Street is going to get a new suit.
"The Senator is going to be enhanced and cleaned up," said Scott Tate, managing member of Northern Nevada Comstock Investments. "He will get new lights and a new suit. He's not leaving. He's here forever and ever, amen."
The work will be part of an exterior renovation at Cactus Jack's Senator Club casino in downtown Carson City planned in the next two years.
The mustachioed Senator on the building's façade wears a yellow suit and waves "Howdy" to passers-by from the corner of 420 N. Carson St.
The remodel is a continuation of a whirlwind that started late last month when the property changed hands.
After what the contractor described as a "fast-and-furious" renovation, Cactus Jack's is welcoming gamers into its updated 6,000-square foot casino floor.
"It was old and dated and a bit worn," said Mark Beauchamp, co-owner of Shaheen Beauchamp Builders, of Carson City. "Now it's fresh and new and a whole different look."
Workers refurbished the interior in about six days, he said. Up to 30 workers were elbow to elbow 24-hours a day to complete the project.
Tate said he's invested about $5 million into this property, making it one of downtown's most recent renovations. Tate bought the 40-year-old casino in late March from Peter V. Investment Co. for $2.9 million, according to the city recorder's office.
Cactus Jack's is in a key area of downtown, beside the Carson Horseshoe Club and across the street from the Carson Nugget, which recently completed a renovation that will span into the next year.
Cactus Jack's reopened on April 10 following its renovation, which included installing a new decorative metal ceiling, wall treatments, mirrors and blue floral-pattern carpet.
Mustang Sallie's grill moved into a newly renovated cafe. Of the 160 total slot machines, 80 are new. Planned renovations of the air filtration system and roof will go into May and June, Tate said.
Exterior renovations are the long-term goal. Architect Frank Woodliff III, of Fallon, has his eye toward the city's expansive downtown redevelopment design.
These changes are a year to two years in the making, Tate said. The casino employs about 50, a cutback of about 10-15 when ownership changed, he said.
• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
Cactus Jack's Senator Club, a history
The property was originally built in 1939, according to city assessor records. The first reference to a casino operating at the address appears in 1968, with Mike's Senator Club, according to state archivist Guy Rocha. Later directories list it as the Senator Casino in 1970, and then Cactus Jack's in 1972.
This is Northern Nevada Comstock Investments' sixth nonrestricted gaming location in Northern Nevada. It is an affiliate of W.C.W. Corp., which owns the Fallon Nugget and Bonanza Inn & Casino in Fallon and the Silver Springs Nugget. It also owns the Comstock Casino in northeast Carson City.