Whitney Peak Hotel in downtown Reno has transformed the downtown Reno area with its non-gaming space, a restaurant and bar dedicated to the area's local farmers and an indoor rock climbing center.
Its 164-foot outdoor climbing wall is the tallest in the world and dangles visitors nearly 50 feet over the famous Reno Arch and downtown Reno.
Simply put, Whitney Peak celebrates outdoor sports and life instead of – like so many of its neighbors – the casinos so often associated with the city.
Climb the tallest rock climbing wall in the world at Whitney Peak Hotel in Reno — Photo courtesy of Whitney Peak Hotel
Named after the tallest mountain in the Lower 48, Whitney Peak also borrows its decor from the natural elements of the Sierra Nevada mountains – with some funkiness thrown in.
The beautiful lobby looks like a flowing river and the 310 pet-friendly guest rooms have forest-inspired wallpaper, driftwood side tables and some seating options made from colorful seat belts.
Whitney Peak Hotel is downtown Reno's first non-gaming hotel — Photo courtesy of Whitney Peak Hotel
But what is really drawing many visitors to the hotel is the 7,000-square-foot indoor bouldering park that also includes a children's area, as well as the 164-foot outdoor climbing wall on the side of the hotel.
The climbing space with its 40-foot walls caters to both advanced and beginner rock climbing enthusiasts, and an indoor gym offers yoga and boot camp classes. The space also has a slackline above the padded floor.
This space is especially nice when the winter weather sets in. A drop-in day pass for a visitor is $17 for adults ($10 for guests) and $12 for kids ($5 for guests).
The BaseCamp bouldering space caters to both experts and beginners — Photo courtesy of Whitney Peak Hotel
The hotel's restaurant and bar Heritage serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, featuring seasonal produce and meat from northern Nevada and Northern California farms. The menu features items like White Gazpacho with green grapes, almonds and herbs ($5); locally raised lamb with garden vegetables; and the Heritage Cheeseburger on a brioche bun ($15).
The Heritage bar has an extensive and interesting cocktail menu and a great deal on the happy hour menu. Try the Sage and the Pine cocktail ($10) with rye whiskey, angostura bitters, pine needle simple syrup and muddled sagebrush.
Heritage Restaurant & Bar has a great happy hour and cocktails — Photo courtesy of Whitney Peak Hotel
A day of playing and eating can be topped off with a night at Cargo, Whitney Peak's concert hall. Cargo features regular events with award-winning artists and nationally known rock bands, as well as local talent.
Cargo includes a 1,000-capacity room (that can be rented for special events) and a full-service bar with domestic and craft beers and locally inspired cocktails.
Cargo Concert Hall features world-renowned artists and local talent — Photo courtesy of Whitney Peak Hotel