After having been closed for two years, the Stateline has a new name, new owners and a new theme.

An institution for the Amargosa Valley, the Stateline opened its doors three weekends ago with a local "music institution" functioning as the general manager and entertainment director.

Rick Garza is well-known in these parts for his involvement with the local chapter of the Country Music Association and for numerous performances of his own in local establishments over the years.

Garza teamed up with the new proprietor of the Stateline, Harry Haynes, when Haynes took over the bar last May. He signed a seven year lease with an option to buy and is hoping things go well enough for him to exercise the option.

The location (right across the highway from the LongStreet Hotel and Casino) served as a gathering place for locals until the death of the owner Doris Jackson. She was the first woman to hold a gambling license in the state of Nevada and the gaming paid for the bar several times over.

As a new proprietor, Haynes had to go through the process of gaming licensing from the beginning. The process should take about eight months to complete. Beer, wine and liquor licenses are already in place.

The two have taken their time renovating the interior somewhat, adding a new stage, and giving the historic building a new look.

There is a new theme and a new name to go with the renovation part of the process. The Stateline Saloon and Gambling Hall has adopted an "old bar with a New York style night club" attitude, Garza said.

The 4500-square-foot interior has plenty of room for the 2200-square-foot lounge which includes a staging area for live music and room to dance. The bar, of the same size, has plenty of room for pool tables and other games.

Garza said they will be forming a pool team to play in the league when it starts competition in the fall.

The Stateline doesn't have the facilities to serve food as of yet, however, Big T's Texas BBQ is available on big event weekends.

Big T's is portable. The owner, Tony, makes the trip from Las Vegas with huge outdoor cookers and serves freshly made hamburgers, hot dogs, and the famous barbecue right in the bar parking lot.

Big event weekends include races at Death Valley Raceway. Race fans pack the LongStreet Hotel and Garza said the Stateline, being right across the road from the casino, will benefit from the traffic.

Another big event attraction is live music. Where other local bars are gradually, if not completely phasing out live music, the Stateline will host a live band every other weekend. Garza said, "We'll be bringing in local bands -- Country and Western, R&B and Classic Rock." The bands will start around 9 p.m. and play until 1-2 a.m., or "whenever everyone leaves."

For day-to-day entertainment, Garza has karaoke set up. The equipment belongs to him and has been permanently installed in the lounge. Garza said, "It doesn't matter what time of the evening it is. We have karaoke all the time. If someone wants to sing -- it's there." The normal hours of Karaoke begin around 6 p.m.

Garza and Haynes hope to bring the historical landmark back to former glory and attract party-goers from not only Amargosa Valley, but surrounding areas as well. So they are running a by-one-get-one-free promotion to get the word out. The offer is open to anyone who shows up with an out-of-town address on their driver's license.

Call 775-372-5626 for more information.