Friday, Aug. 1, 1997 | 9:36 a.m.
It's the longest drive in the valley, yet it's right next door.
So say managers of the historic Bob Taylor's Original Ranch House, whose doors have been closed temporarily because of ongoing construction on the Ann Road interchange at U.S. 95.
"People who live across the highway in the Painted Desert residences have come to find that what used to be a five-minute trip to get here has now turned into a 20- to 30-minute journey," said General Manager Dennis Hupp.
The restaurant, near Rancho Drive and Ann Road, was opened by Bob Taylor in September 1955. In those days, it was way out in the boonies and gained a reputation as a place to go to escape the city. Taylor turned his ranch-style home into a restaurant specializing in steaks and grilled items in a unique dining setting.
Celebrities such as Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra would come and eat. Taylor would work the grill while drinking whiskey and spitting ice onto the hot coals.
Although Taylor and his wife, Ila, still live in the Las Vegas Valley, he sold the restaurant and management changed several times. Bob Ratner took the reins in 1983 and has remained since. He said business was booming before construction on the interchange began.
"We knew that the project was going to take place and were financially prepared to deal with the construction," Ratner said. "We were not, however, prepared to handle delays such as what has occurred."
Ratner said that generally, the restaurant serves 100 to 150 meals on weeknights and around 250 on weekends. Since construction started, those numbers have dropped to between 40 and 60.
"We got to the point where we were losing money and kept throwing more and more into keeping the place up and running," he said.
The Nevada Department of Transportation was contacted numerous times in what Ratner called "lengthy discussions" on the construction. While he said he remained optimistic, the situation seemed to get more and more frustrating.
"We had customers who had been coming here for 20-25 years that knew where we are located but got lost in the construction process," he said. "Others would call us on the phone and ask if the construction was still going on. When we said yes, they'd say they were going someplace else."
Ratner said he is not angry at anyone, just frustrated over the situation. The restaurant recently was listed in the esteemed Zagat restaurant guide to fine dining. The construction, he said, has kept people away at a time it was really doing well.
NDOT officials acknowledged construction on the interchange, which began in January 1995, is behind schedule. The $15.7 million project that will put an overpass at Lone Mountain Road and an interchange at Ann was slated to last 18 months at the most.
The main contractor, Max Riggs Construction Co., has run into trouble with soils. According to Kris Ballard, general counsel, the dirt that was mandated for use in supporting the ramps was too thin to be properly compacted. The delays came when the company had to spend extra time and money to make sure that dirt would properly support freeway ramps.
"We are trying to do the best we can," Ballard said. "We understand that the people at the Taylor Ranch House are unhappy, but there is little we can do. We all have to try to work together on this."
Ratner said the restaurant will remain closed until Labor Day. In the meantime, he has to deal with valuable staff members leaving and financial concerns. He has put the restaurant up for sale and is open to any offers.
"It's like having a family broken up," Hupp said. "It is too bad because everyone here is like family. We feel like we have been kicked out of the house."
archive
