The historic Odeon Saloon in Dayton has been awarded a $50,000 grant from Travel Nevada to install a wheelchair lift, enhancing accessibility for all guests. This funding is part of the tourism organization’s Special Projects initiative, aimed at modernizing historic spaces while preserving their integrity. The announcement was made on January 14, 2024, by representatives from the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and project partners.
Enhancing Community Access
The business owner, Chris Pattison, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. “We do a lot of community events upstairs, a lot of things that we don’t charge the community for, and we want to make it accessible for everybody,” he stated. The installation of the lift is expected to allow greater access to the venue’s upper level for guests with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the events hosted there.
Pattison and his wife, Svetlana Pattison, acquired the Odeon Saloon, which was built in 1863, in July 2023. Since then, they have been focused on restoring the building to reflect its traditional Western décor and offerings. The Odeon is recognized as the town’s oldest facility and is listed as a historic building by the State Historic Preservation Office.
To maintain the building’s historical accuracy, the lift will be installed without requiring structural modifications to the existing layout. A more invasive exterior lift option was considered but ultimately rejected due to potential changes to the building’s appearance and higher costs.
“Everything historical is going to stay historically accurate,” Pattison emphasized. “Nothing has changed.”
Community Engagement and Future Plans
Since taking over, the Pattisons have collaborated with local nonprofits, such as the Misfits and the Historical Society of Dayton Valley, to host various community events at the two-story saloon. Jennifer Reed and Spencer Davidson, managers at the Odeon, have played key roles in this outreach effort.
Josh Thieriot, a partner in the project and owner of Javelin Ventures LLC, highlighted the significance of the lift’s design. “It’s fortunate that we were able to figure out a way to do it inside, which still provides room for foot traffic when it’s not being used, and it shouldn’t be too much of a visual impairment,” he noted. “We wanted to make sure it was clean.”
The project is slated for completion in the spring of 2024, with Pattison expressing his excitement about the enhanced accessibility. “It’s going to be exciting to accommodate anybody with any needs,” he said. “It’ll be good to see the Odeon alive again and full of energy.”
