John Ascuaga
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John Ascuaga is and has
been one of Nevada's most famous businessmen. He moved to Sparks,
Nevada after graduating from college and opened the Nugget Cafe,
where his business and community ties have grown exponentially.
John’s father, Jose, came to America in 1914 from Orozko Spain in
the Pyrenees Mountains. John’s
mother, Maria, arrived soon after, and they settled in Notus, Idaho.
Their firstborn child was Carmen, then Frank, and in 1925
John and his twin sister, Rose. The children attended school in the area.
When John graduated high school he entered the army.
After his honorable discharge John went on to the University
of Idaho for his bachelor'’ degree in accounting and then
Washington State University for an additional bachelor’s degree in
hotel and restaurant management.
The
original Nugget in Sparks opened in 1955 and was known for serving
the best hamburgers in town. It was in the Nugget’s Steak House that John met Rose
Ardans, his future wife. John
together with his wife Rose built John Ascuaga’s Nugget
Hotel/Casino into the major resort destination in the Reno area.
John maintains a truly family operation.
All of John and Rose’s children are an integral part of
what has grown into a 1,658-room hotel, with eight restaurants,
84,000 square feet of gaming area, and 110,000 square feet of
convention space.
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