The planned dedication of a historical plaque honoring Reno's Liberty Belle Saloon & Restaurant has been postponed indefinitely.
The ceremony had been scheduled for noon Saturday, August 8, outside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. The Julia C. Bulette Chapter No. 1854 of E Clampus Vitus said the dedication has been indefinitely postponed and expressed regret for the unfortunate delay.
The plaque is intended to commemorate the Liberty Belle Saloon & Restaurant, a Reno landmark that operated for nearly five decades and became a fixture of Northern Nevada's dining, social and gambling culture.
The Liberty Belle opened in 1958 when brothers Marshall and Frank Fey established the business on the site of the former Li'l Red Barn, then located on the outskirts of Reno. The saloon and restaurant was named after a slot machine designed by their grandfather, Charles Fey, the inventor of the slot machine.
Over nearly 50 years, the Liberty Belle became known for its collection of antique slot machines, many crafted by the Fey family. Along with its restaurant and saloon, the business served as a meeting place for local gatherings and melodramatic performances. Its Old West theme, rooftop surreys and buckboards, and historic slot machine displays became defining features of the property.
The Liberty Belle closed in 2006 as the surrounding area continued to grow and change, ending its nearly half-century run while leaving a lasting place in Reno's cultural history.
No new date for the plaque dedication has been announced.
