Hotel to break ground today in Virginia City

VIRGINIA CITY - After more than 20 years on the drawing board, the $3.8 million AmeriHost Hotel of Virginia City will break ground today at 100 E St.

Hugh R. Marshall, president of Silverland USA, said Wednesday the 12:30 p.m. event will attract local officials, business owners and the curious. The building's renderings will be on display.

"A company called Cendant wanted to work with us to put two franchise motels in the area and that's precisely what we needed," he said. "What we're doing is going to boost tourism in the area."

Marshall signed a contract last year with Cendant Corp. to build two franchise hotels in Virginia City.

The second larger hotel will be a $15 million Ramada Express and will be 120,000 square feet with 120 rooms.

It will be on D Street above the cemetery. Marshall plans to construct a four-story tower in this hotel.

Foundation construction on the AmeriHost begins June 13. The general contractor will be Lars Sterner LLC, of Carson City, which also worked on the Holiday Inn Express. The AmeriHost should be completed by April.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

At a glance

AmeriHost Hotel

67 rooms

48,832 square feet

Three floors with four large meeting rooms, a small bar and casino on the first floor

The lower floor will overlook the Comstock Park Arena, which is used for the camel races

Will employ about 25 people

Located along the route of the V&T Railroad

Projected to have a net profit of about $1 million in its third year of operation

Ramada Express

Construction to begin three or four years after the completion of the AmeriHost

120 rooms

120,000 square feet

Four floors with an entertainment complex, convention space and a casino

Source: Silverland USA