River Inn Mysteries & Questions

We bought this property because we saw beauty in it. We wanted to enjoy it, care for it, and bring life back to a place that had been forgotten for years. Our hope was to share that joy with others in a respectful and positive way.

But when every step forward seems to bring more complaints, more questions, and more conflict, it changes the feeling. What should be exciting and peaceful starts to feel heavy. It takes the joy out of the very place we bought because we loved it.

We can offer a path forward, but it has to be walked with respect on both sides.

So for now, we are choosing a quieter path.

That does not mean we have stopped caring. It means we are protecting the property, our peace, and the reason we fell in love with the River Inn in the first place.

We still believe this place has a beautiful future. We still welcome kindness, support, good ideas, and respectful conversations. But any future plans must come from a place of peace, fairness, and respect — for the river, for the history, for the community, and for the people who own and care for the property.

For now, we are taking our time, enjoying what we have worked hard for, and making choices that feel right for the River Inn and our family.

 Yes. We remain open to respectful collaboration with public agencies, neighbors, nonprofits, historians, outdoor groups, and community members. Our goal is to restore the River Inn responsibly, protect the Truckee River, and explore future public access opportunities where safety, property rights, and community benefit can all be respected. 

This is one of the questions we get asked the most.

Our honest answer is: in our personal experience and belief, yes — there is something very unusual about the River Inn.

There are moments on the property when everything feels still, but not empty. You hear a sound you cannot place. You feel the air change. The hair on your arms stands up, and for a second, you wonder if someone — or something — is standing just out of sight.

We have experienced things we cannot easily explain, and close friends and visitors have shared stories that left them wondering if they were truly alone.

The River Inn has a long and layered history, filled with mystery, old Reno stories, rumors of the syndicate, tales of violence, and wild nights from another era. There are even stories of people having so much fun in the natural spring-fed hot tubs that the night became their last. Whether fact, folklore, or something in between, those stories have become part of the River Inn’s strange and unforgettable energy.

The property has also been investigated by well-known paranormal creators, including Twin Paranormal, who filmed several River Inn episodes, and Ghost Adventures, which featured the River Inn in Season 30, Episode 6, “Rage on the River.”

Do we have all the answers? No.
Do we believe the River Inn has a presence of its own? Absolutely.

Whether it is history, energy, spirits, old stories, or simply the feeling of a place that refuses to be forgotten, you will have to decide for yourself.

One thing is certain: after dark, and sometime during the day, the River Inn feels very different.

In the viewpoint of Lawrence and Dana, this appears to be yet another strategy employed by some of our neighbors. The tax assessors in Washoe County have reduced the property taxes. This situation involves two aspects. Firstly, we requested them to assess our property in comparison to the previously listed taxable value. The assessors identified some discrepancies. Secondly, we did not acquire the property at the value they had initially recorded. The County assessors have visited our property twice, assigning a new value to our property taxes. The second assessment resulted from numerous complaints lodged in person and via emails to both the city and county authorities. Rest assured, we diligently fulfill our tax obligations at a fair rate determined by the county tax assessors' office.