Five Years of Hard Work and Perseverance and challenges

For the past five years, our small but dedicated crew has poured heart, sweat, and countless hours into bringing the historic River Inn back to life. What began as a dream to restore a long-forgotten landmark has turned into an ongoing mission fueled by determination, community spirit, and faith in what this place can become.

Despite the challenges — including endless red tape and repeated interference from the city — we’ve followed every rule, met every requirement, and continued pushing forward. Every nail, every repair, every cleanup has been done by hand, with care and perseverance.

This is the first of many stories we’ll share about the journey to revive The River Inn — the real work, the obstacles, and the unwavering commitment that’s brought us this far.

The Hard Truth About Cleaning Up the River

When we took over the River Inn, it was buried in mounds of garbage — decades of neglect left right along the Truckee River.
No one wanted to deal with it. We did.
Our small crew paid for two NDEP permits to legally clean the area and protect the river.
We hauled away around 100 trailer loads of trash — piece by piece, by hand, with no outside help.
We removed 88 discarded mattresses that had been dumped on the property.
We uncovered and cleaned up an old buried dump site along the Truckee River.
We took down a collapsing building under 200 square feet that was falling into the river, preventing further pollution.
We spread wood chips and followed the SWPPP (Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan) to stabilize the soil and protect the riverbank.
We did every bit of this the right way — following the process the city gave us.
But instead of support, we got resistance.
We fought the city and neighbor complaints just to clean up land that everyone else had ignored.
Even after doing everything by the book, the city is still coming after us — and now we’re spending time defending the very work that made this place better.

The Public-Private Partnership Plan

We spent time, effort, and money putting together a public-private partnership plan for the River Inn.
We sent it to the City of Reno, every member of City Council, and County officials.
We posted it publicly, advertised it, and made it available right here on our website — free for anyone to download and read.
We were given examples from the county on how to format the plan — and then told by the same people that it was done “wrong.”
We went above and beyond, researching everything the city and county said they wanted and included every detail in our proposal.
Still, we were told we were “not even in the ballpark.”
Our plan would have given the public access to both sides of the Truckee River directly from our property.
Instead of keeping the bridge downstream as in the counties plan, we proposed moving it to our property — a safer location with existing infrastructure, including a railroad crossing, restrooms, and buildings.
We did this to make it safer and more accessible for everyone, not just for ourselves.
But instead of collaboration, we were shut down.
The city and county told us we had “nothing to offer.”

$1 River Access — Fair, Simple, and Honest

We believe the Truckee River should be enjoyed by everyone — it’s part of what makes this place special.
We love seeing fishermen casting their lines right in front of the old River Inn.
To keep the river accessible and do things the right way, we created a public access contract for the one mile of riverfront we own on both sides of the Truckee.
By law, the contract must include a fee — so we set it at just $1.
That single dollar allows anyone to legally cross our property (where it isn’t gated) to reach the river.
The $1 access agreement protects us while still giving the community safe, responsible access to the water.
The contract is available on our website for anyone to download, sign, and use.
We’ve made every effort to work with everyone — including neighbors who’ve complained about nearly everything we do.
We offered them the same access and respect we’ve offered to everyone else.
Some took the opportunity, others didn’t. Those who chose to fight us are no longer welcome on the property.
The bottom line: we’re not just restoring the River Inn — we’re rebuilding trust, access, and community.
And we’re doing it one dollar at a time.

Building Community One Celebration at a Time

Every year, we open the River Inn property to the community for our Christmas celebration.

This event is our way of giving back — made possible by our own hard work and the support of friends and locals who believe in what we’re doing.
During the event, we collect toys and donations for local families through Toys for Tots and With Grace Foundation — every toy we gather stays right here in the Reno community.
We also raise awareness and direct donations for special causes like Project 8P, which helps children born with rare conditions affecting the 8th chromosome — a cause that deserves far more attention and research.
Every single dollar donated during our Christmas event goes 100% to local organizations — not a penny is kept for ourselves.
Guests bring their own food and drinks, and we hire a live band out of our own pocket to make it a true community celebration.
We do this not for recognition, but because we believe in being a part of the community, not apart from it.
Every year, we open our gates with heart, soul, and purpose, to remind people what this place — and this community — can really be about.

From Burning Man to the River Inn

Reno is known around the world as the city that Burning Man passes through — a place that celebrates creativity, freedom, and art.
We’ve always admired that spirit and wanted to carry it forward at the River Inn.
With 24 acres of open land, we opened our property to local artists, giving them space to store, display, and share their art with people passing by.
We never asked for anything in return — only respect for the land and appreciation for the opportunity.
We went further, creating free advertising and social media posts to help promote these artists and their work.
Unfortunately, a few people took advantage of our hospitality, leaving behind messes and damage that cost us countless hours to clean up.
After giving so much and getting no help or respect in return, we made the hard decision to pause this open art program in 2025.
We still believe in supporting artists, but going forward, only those who follow simple, fair rules will be welcome:
- Set up your art completely and properly — show it as if someone had purchased it.
- If your art lights up, it should light up.
- Respect the property and the effort that goes into maintaining it.
We’re proud to support artists and hope that artist in our community will rise to level of commitment and integrity to be shown at the River Inn

The Real Work and cost— What We’ve Done

When people drive by the River Inn, they say they don't see progress — but few realize how much hard work, personal investment, and persistence it’s taken to get here. Here’s what we’ve done, what we’ve faced, and why we’re still pushing forward.

Invested over $1 Million into restoration, cleanup, safety, and structural improvements.
Planted trees and native vegetation to restore life and balance to the property.
Installed new lighting and security systems to ensure safety for guests, wildlife, and the community. all on Solar because we do not have electricity.
Cleaned up garbage, hazards, and debris left behind from decades of neglect. including 88 hotel rooms full of trash mattress and rat poop.
Paved and improved the entrance across the railroad tracks for safer access. had a complaint to the city about this from a neighbor.
Removed a collapsing structure that was falling into the Truckee River, preventing pollution.
Built fire breaks to reduce wildfire risk and protect the riverbank.
Worked with licensed engineers who confirmed the buildings are structurally sound.
Reclaimed our water rights through court action after unnecessary disputes.
Submitted full hotel rebuild plans to bring new life and opportunity to the River Inn.
Obtained every permit required by the city — and received NDEP approval after inspection on our projects and what we have done.
Personally handed out Christmas cards every year to neighbors, inviting open communication and goodwill.

Opened our property each year to the community, welcoming families to enjoy the River Inn together — even though doing so makes us vulnerable to complaints and negativity from those who seem to want us to fail.
Welcomed neighbors and community members to talk with us about the property, our plans, and our hopes for the future.

Rocked the entire Parking lot to keep down the regrowth of weeds

What we face

Stop-work orders issued without clear cause or explanation.
Vague city citations that do not specify what was violated or how to correct it.
Repeated false complaints from the same few neighbors, year after year.
Untrue accusations claiming we’ve committed tax fraud or changed the course of the Truckee River — both entirely false.
Code enforcement sent out five-plus times to inspect our sewer system after false reports that we were dumping waste.
                                 it was actually the pump fto pump water from our private well.
                                 All sewer access points are locked.
                                 Every inspection over 5 of them confirmed no violation.
Union Pacific harassment and threats, which we believe stem from outside complaints made by others.
Trespassing and theft by people entering our property without permission.
Neighbors watching and monitoring us with binoculars, filming, and reporting normal property activity as “disturbances.”
Police repeatedly called out based on false claims — including reports from neighbors we’ve never met, saying they are “scared of us” or that we “threatened” them — claims that are completely untrue and against everything we stand for.
Harassment over noise, movement, and permitted construction — even for work approved by inspections and permits.
Loss of community opportunities, like being removed from a KTMB event after investing over $3,000, with no refund. Because a neighbor called them and we believed they lied to get us removed.
Lawsuits, hearings, and city resistance that drain time, money, and energy.
Unbelievable stress caused by constant pressure, misinformation, and interference from the city, county, and a handful of hostile neighbors.

What We’ve Given Back

Hosted community celebrations, including our annual Christmas event, collecting toys and donations for Toys for Tots, With Grace Foundation, and Project 8P.
Raised thousands of dollars for local families and children in need — 100% of funds donated.
Provided $1 public river access, ensuring everyone can safely enjoy the Truckee River while protecting private property.
Supported local artists and community causes, offering free space for creativity and expression.
Spent months creating a detailed Public-Private Partnership plan to work with the city and county — only to have it rejected, while being told we could simply give the property to them so they could proceed without us.
Invested time and money developing a wedding venue plan, paying for all required permits — including a sound permit for music — only to be denied approval and never refunded by the city.
Maintained respect and openness with the community, even in the face of hostility and false narratives

We’ve given more back to the community than any of our critics and have done so with heart, honesty, and purpose — not for recognition, but for progress

why we still move forward

Why We Keep Going

Because we believe in doing what we think is right, It is not the easy way but what we believe in.
Because the Truckee River deserves protection, not politics.
Because the River Inn is part of Reno’s history — and deserves a future.
Because we’ve followed every rule and passed every inspection with integrity.
Because we care deeply about this land, this river, and this community.

Because we’ve seen what this property was — and we know what it can become.
Because we’re not just building structures; we’re rebuilding hope, integrity, and pride in a landmark that was forgotten for 40 years.
Because we refuse to let a handful of voices erase the progress, love, and effort we’ve poured into this land.
Because our actions speak louder than any complaint ever could.
Because every tree planted, every light installed, every fence repaired is one more step toward safety, beauty, and renewal.
Because we’re protecting public access to a river that belongs to everyone — and doing it legally, responsibly, and with respect.
Because we’ve spent years proving that private owners can be good stewards of public spaces.
Because we know that real community isn’t built on fear — it’s built on effort, honesty, and collaboration.
Because the people who truly know us — the families, workers, and supporters — see our hearts, not the hate.
Because quitting would mean letting the negativity win, and we didn’t come this far to give up now.
Because the River Inn has already outlasted the critics, and so have we.
Because someday, we want people to stand here and say, “They never gave up, and look what it became.”
Because this place matters to the community and the history of Reno

Because of the thousands of you that support us and keep us going

The Legal and Administrative Battles We Continue to Face

Two years defending against a neighbor’s lawsuit — countless hours, documents, and expenses spent building our case and standing up for what’s right.
Now pursuing our own legal action against another neighbor — a process that has only just begun and will require significant time, resources, and determination to ensure the truth is heard.
City red notices and exaggerated complaints — repeated false reports from a few neighbors that the city continues to act on without proper investigation, forcing us to spend time and money defending our property rights again and again.
Applying for a business license — following every step of the city’s process, investing both time and money, only to be denied after being encouraged to move forward and keep spending.
Filing for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) — so we could legally store our own property on our land, yet still met with unnecessary resistance, additional costs, and lost time.

Endless False Complaints and Accusations

Alongside our restoration work, we’ve faced a steady stream of exaggerated and false complaints from a small group of neighbors and their friends — claims that are simply untrue but continually repeated to the city.

We’ve heard it all:

“They’re changing the course of the river.”
“They’re not paying taxes.”
“They’re too loud — we’re terrified of them.”
“They’re dumping sewer into the river.”
“They’re stealing water from the Truckee River.”
“They’re stealing sewer service.”
“They paved without a permit.”
“Their property looks like trash.”
“They have people living in trailers on the property.”

Here are the facts:

We have never altered the river’s course.
All of our taxes are current and paid in full.
We have never threatened or intimidated anyone.
We have never dumped sewer or waste into the river.
We legally own our water rights, confirmed through the courts.
We have two trailers occupied on the property with full city permission.
We obtained all required permits for paving and improvements.
Our property has been cleaned, secured, and improved through significant investment and effort.

Despite years of compliance, inspections, and verified approvals, these same false stories continue to circulate — wasting time, taxpayer resources, and creating unnecessary tension in a place meant for community and renewal.

We remain committed to transparency, honesty, and progress — no matter how many false claims are made against us.