In many respects, the entire state of Nevada can be understood as off the beaten path. For groups looking for diversions after the day’s events in the hotel ballroom, Nevada offers plenty.
In the Silver State, from Elko, Reno and Tahoe in the north, on down to Las Vegas and its environs in the south, just about everything can seem like a diversion from something else.
Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon, Boulder City
www.flightlinezbootleg.com
Just outside Las Vegas, amid bighorn sheep, lizards and desert fauna, Flightlinez offers groups an intriguing zipline adventure. A three-hour combined flight-line presents views of Lake Mead, Boulder City, the Las Vegas Strip and even the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Corporate groups and team-building events are common. It is unlike other ziplines in the sense that the equipment is more high-tech with thicker ziplines and proprietary gear, plus you’re not hampered by trees and jungles. Instead, an awe-inspiring multisensory experience begins 3,000 feet above sea level and unfolds over the canyon. The facility can accommodate groups of up to 50 and free transportation from the Strip is included in the overall package. Brina Marcus, Director of Sales and Marketing, says Flightlinez is in a league by itself.
“In itself, it’s a team-building experience,” Marcus says. “You can come out here as an individual and leave with a whole family. It’s that intensive of an experience. It encompasses everything from sightseeing, hiking, the adrenaline rush of the zipline and entertainment from the guides. It’s not your average stuffy tour.”
Springs Preserve, Las Vegas
www.springspreserve.org
A 180-acre cultural institution three miles outside of downtown Las Vegas, the Springs Preseve includes gardens, exhibits, museums, animal shows and displays related to recycling, water conservation and natural resources. Groups can opt for a variety of activities, including guided tours in the gardens or along the trails. Team-building programs are common, as are education workshops, weddings and holiday parties. Spaces include the Desert Living Center with exhibits, classrooms and meeting space, a restaurant patio offering views of the Las Vegas Strip, plus several conference rooms, a traditional theater, a rotunda and an amphitheater. Since the entire facility already devotes itself to sustainable practices and research, the preserve practically guarantees an environmentally conscious experience as a meeting and event venue,
Nevada Museum of Art, Reno
www.nevadaart.org
Proving beyond a doubt that Reno culture is more than slot machines, the Nevada Museum of Art is the most distinctive contemporary building in downtown Reno and the only accredited facility of its kind in the entire state. Up to 500 people can congregate across a variety of spaces. The rooftop gallery and penthouse provide spectacular views. Other rooms include a 4000-square-foot grand hall, a 1300-square-foot Founders Room and a theater. Mark Estee’s Chez Louie restaurant also just opened for business a few months ago. Nisha Hallert, director of special events and sales, says the museum offers unique group experiences interconnected to the exhibits.
“For the Toulouse Lautrec exhibit, we did a Parisian themed menu,” Hallert says. “We had can-can dancers entertaining and engaging guests as they walked through the front doors, we had a ‘Midnight in Moulin Rouge’ party, and an absinthe fairy walking around. We had food stations paired with French wine, and then the guests got to go experience the gallery and realize the whole thing was themed after the exhibit.”PageBreak
Wilbur D. May Center at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, Reno
www.washoecounty.us/parks/mc_home
The entire facility includes a museum, an arboretum and a botanical garden, all of which appeal to the entire family, so groups traveling to Reno with kids can hold events at the center while keeping the kids occupied at the same time. Wilbur D. May himself was an eclectic traveler and philanthropist who collected exotic artifacts, which are now housed in the museum. In the garden and arboretum, one finds thousands of plant species, all of which must survive the dramatically fluctuating weather in the immediate area. For groups, the 1,700-square-foot garden court accommodates 73 people in seated configurations or 220 for a stand-up reception. The Double Diamond room holds 200 people or 150 people seated theatre-style, while another space, David’s Discovery Room, holds the same amount of people, but is completely private.
Empire Ranch Golf Course and Mallards Restaurant, Carson City
www.empireranchgolf.com
When it comes to the state capital of Carson City, golf courses surround the destination, with the Divine Nine offering, that’s right, nine courses under 40 minutes apart, equaling more than 70,000 yards across 171 holes of golf. The Empire Ranch Golf Course and Mallards, for instance, is four miles from downtown Carson City and even specializes in large corporate functions, business golf trips and huge banquets, both indoor and outdoor. Featuring transcendental views of the Sierra, the setting is ripe for special occasions. A common schedule might include a meeting in the morning, followed by lunch and an afternoon on the course. Mallards Restaurant will also provide a banquet menu or customized meals of almost any sort.
Zephyr Cove Resort and Tahoe Cruises
www.zephyrcove.com
Located on the waterfront of South Lake Tahoe, Zephyr Cove Resort offers numerous cruises and group snowmobile tours. Three main boats are available for groups The M.S. Dixie II is a Mississippi-style steamboat with three decks. The Tahoe Queen, a paddleboat, is used mostly in the summer months and is common for private charters, weddings and exclusive events on the deck. Tahoe Paradise is the granddaddy of the three ships, being the largest yacht of its style on Lake Tahoe. Weddings, birthday soirees, corporate blowouts and all sorts of affairs are common. If groups want to stay on the shore, spaces include the Pavilion at Zephyr Cover, a kickoff point for snowmobiling or horseback tours. Teri Sweeney, director of sales and marketing, says the experience is not even limited to the South Shore.
“Once groups are on the boat, it’s a must-do excursion in Lake Tahoe,” Sweeney says. “We can even pick up from the North Shore meeting venues, west shore or even Tahoe City and Incline. We work with a lot of DMCs around the entire lake.”PageBreak
Western Folklife Center, Elko
www.westernfolklife.org
Among numerous other endeavors, the Western Folklife Center in Elko organizes the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering every January. During the rest of the year, two spaces are available for public or private events. The G Three Bar Theater is one of the main festival venues and features built-in surround sound, removable seating and hardwood floors. The Pioneer Saloon features a 100-year-old, 40-foot Brunswick bar, plus fabulous hardwood flooring, and is common for all sorts of events, either by itself or in conjunction with the theater. The main lobby area of the saloon is popular for informal gatherings, parties and receptions. Teddi Baer, facilities manager, says the 1890 Brunswick bar, constructed of mahogany and cherry wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl, is always a hit with clients.
“They love the space because of the bar,” Baer says. “They love the bar and the theater, but the bar is always the most memorable. When we do a Christmas party, a wedding party, a birthday party, what people seem to comment the most on is the bar.”
London Bridge Jet Boat Tours and Dirt Road Tours, Laughlin
www.laughlinboattours.com
Participants of Dirt Road Tours get in on the action, following behind the tour guides, driving one of many Polaris RZR 900s, that is, a two-passenger utility terrain vehicle. All tours are two to three hours in duration, and all are led by experienced guides with a passion for driving in the desert. There are three tours to choose from and all are fun, friendly and totally safe. And that’s just the dirt. The river tours add another factor to the equation, traversing the scenic Colorado River in a fantastic jetboat. As with the dirt equivalent, a few different versions of the tour are available, each one beginning in Laughlin and blitzing 58 miles up the river and back, giving passengers a chance to gawk at wildlife and remote scenery in the process.
St. Mary’s Art and Retreat Center, Virginia City
www.stmarysartcenter.org
One of Virginia City’s most legendary historic landmarks and formerly the St. Mary Louise Hospital (1876–1897), this facility now boasts art galleries, a darkroom and studios, plus yoga classes, self-improvement workshops, artist-in-residence programs and historical tours of the property. Back in the 1960s, the building was slotted for the wrecking ball until a priest saved the place and dedicated it to the arts community. Ever since, St. Mary’s has been a meeting place for artists of all disciplines. All in all, it’s a spectacular place for any group to view the sunrise, sunset or the stars at night. Sixteen sleeping rooms are available, and the facility is available for groups year-round.
Eureka Casino Resort, Mesquite
www.eurekamesquite.com
A family-owned and -operated facility 80 miles north of the Las Vegas airport, Eureka Casino is common for meetings and events of up to 200 people. Groups can utilize the 3,600-square-foot Grand Canyon Ballroom in a variety of configurations: as a theater, classroom, banquet hall, reception or simply a hollow square. The ballroom can also be subdivied into smaller space for more intimate gatherings. Since quite a few legendary golf courses sit not too far away, in both Mesquite and St. George, the property has established partnerships with most of them and even has a golf sales team on staff. mf
