Harvey Casino Lake Tahoe Bombing

“The bomb appeared early one morning in an upstairs office of Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Casino near Lake Tahoe, an enigmatic box covered in a bewildering array of switches. A neatly typed letter explained that the box contained 1,000 pounds of dynamite. A fact-based drama about a millionaire who tried to cover his gambling losses by planting a 1,000 pound bomb and extorting $3,000,000.00 from a Lake Tahoe casino. Told through the eyes of the extortionist's eldest son, this is a harrowing look at a man driven to some of the most extreme behavior.

By Kathryn Reed

When I first saw the title of the book I thought there should be an S at the end Harvey. After reading “Bombing Harvey” I understood more fully how the man responsible for the explosive device going off at the Stateline casino in 1980 had a vendetta against casino owner Harvey Gross, so the title was appropriate.

While I had already read much that is included in the book by John Birges Jr. and Nina J. Arnold, I chose to read it because of the author. Birges was part of the bombing. It was his father John Birges Sr. – or Big John – who came up with the plan.

Harvey Lake Tahoe Casino Bombing

Sublett, “30 Years Later: Trail of Clues Led Authorities to Harvey’s Casino Bombers,” Tahoe Daily Tribune, Aug. Guy Clifton, “35 Years Ago Today: The Bomb That Shook Lake Tahoe,” Reno Gazette-Journal, Aug. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE -Thursday marks the 35th anniversary of the Harvey's Resort Casino bombing in South Lake Tahoe in 1980. Before the explosion, many in South Lake Tahoe recall the evacuations. Terry Lee Hall registered at the Balahoe Motel on Emerald Bay Road just north of the Lake Tahoe Airport Aug. 25, 1980, the day before the bomb was delivered to Harvey’s Resort Hotel. He signed in under the fake name “Joey Evetto,” but the motel manager wrote down the license plate number of the Dodge van he was in. Photo courtesy of FBI.

I was in high school in the Bay Area when the bombing took place. Honestly, I don’t have any memory of the news coverage from then. I can only imagine it was extensive.

Harveys Resort Casino Lake Tahoe Bomb

However, I have read plenty about it in the years since then, especially at various significant anniversary dates.

“Bombing Harvey” is an easy to read 205-page paperback that came out in 2010. For anyone who lived through the incident, it’s doubtful anything new would be gleaned from reading the book. But for those who weren’t here or aren’t old enough to remember the event, it would probably be worth reading.

It delves into the family life of the Birges. Big John had his two sons and girlfriend working on various aspects of the plot.

Some of the names of people in the book will be familiar to locals. For instance, Ron Pierini who is now sheriff of Douglas County was the captain of the Lake Tahoe substation at the time.

Harveys Casino Lake Tahoe Bombing

While Harvey Gross is no longer alive, plenty of his descendants reside on the South Shore. A bit of the book talks about his anxiety in knowing a 1,000-pound bomb was sitting inside his hotel-casino. One can only wonder with a corporation now owning the casino, if the same concerns for human life would be exhibited.