Dr. Lonnie Hammargren and his Nevada Home of History...

Whether you love him or hate him Former Nevada Lieutenant Governor Dr. Lonnie Hammargren is indisputably one of this states most colorful individuals. For years Dr. Hammargren opened up his fabulous home during Nevada Day to throngs of residents who stood in line, sometimes for hours, just to get a glimpse of the treasures inside. Recently the flap over his home have ended up at the Clark County Commission with complaints from neighbors that his home has become a nuisance.

As a friend of mine and someone who I have admired since I first saw him on Robin Leach's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, I have to say that it is unfortunate that Lonnie's neighbors have come out so forcibly against this icon of history. But my biggest concern are with the recent comments that were made by his neighbor Barbara Robinson at the Clark County Commission meeting on January 20 which was reported in the Las Vegas SUN. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jan/20/commissions-decision-probably-spells-end-hammargre/

It is one thing to complain about a persons home, what they have done with it and the parties they may host, but it is another thing to call someone a "racist" in such a public forum. That is exactly what former Las Vegas/ Clark County Library Trustee and Dr. Hammargren's neighbor Barbara Robinson did. As a gay American of Latin descent I will tell you this, Dr. Lonnie Hammagren is no racist and furthermore I challenge Barbara Robinson to prove her comments. Robinson should be ashamed for making such libelous comments when her record in this community can be very easily picked apart.

In the end I am most certain that this will not be the last we hear from Dr. Hammargren and he will always have friends that will support him and his Home of Nevada History.

If you have not had a chance to see Dr. Hammargren's "Castillo Del Sol" (Castle of the Sun) I would encourage you to drive by the Paradise Crest compound. The house is a Mayan Revivalist Modern that looks more like a temple to the G-d Quetzalcoatl then a mansion. The house is located off of Sandhill and Flamingo at 4318 Ridgecrest Drive.

Photo credit is http://www.vegasstranger.com/