<PAGE>   1

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 1999

                                                           Registration No. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    Form S-8
                             Registration Statement
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

                                   ----------

                       CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

             Nevada                                       86-0748219
 (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                      Identification Number)

        City Center West
  7201 West Lake Mead Boulevard
            Suite 400
        Las Vegas, Nevada                                    89128
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

          Citadel Communications Corporation 1996 Equity Incentive Plan
                              (full title of plan)

                               Lawrence R. Wilson
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                                City Center West
                          7201 West Lake Mead Boulevard
                                    Suite 400
                             Las Vegas, Nevada 89128
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (702) 804-5200
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==================================================================================================================

      Title of                                   Proposed maximum       Proposed maximum
    Securities to           Amount to be          offering price            aggregate             Amount of
    be registered           registered(1)          per share (2)       offering price (2)   registration fee (2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>                  <C>                   <C>                  <C>
    Common Stock             973,224
   $.001 par value            Shares             $31.00 to $33.25         $30,777,444            $8,556.13

==================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  If, as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions,
     the number of securities purported to be registered on this registration
     statement changes, the provisions of Rule 416 shall apply to this
     registration statement, and this registration statement shall cover the
     additional securities resulting from such split, dividend or similar
     transaction.

(2)  Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) on the basis of the exercise
     prices of options granted as follows: 270,00 shares ($33.25); and, with
     respect to 703,224 shares not subject to options granted, in accordance
     with Rule 457(c) on the basis of the average of the high and low sales
     prices of the registrant's common stock on August 16, 1999.


<PAGE>   2


                             INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT


         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the Citadel
Communications Corporation 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is being
filed to register additional securities of the same class as other securities
for which an earlier-filed registration statement on Form S-8 relating in part
to the Plan is effective. Pursuant to Instruction E of Form S-8, such earlier
registration statement (No. 333-65279) is incorporated herein by reference,
except as to the items set forth below.


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  The following documents heretofore filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission by Citadel Communications Corporation (the "Company")
under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
are incorporated herein by reference: (1) the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998; (2) the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1999; (3) the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1999; (4)
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event: February 16, 1999)
filed February 17, 1999; (5) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of
Event: June 25, 1999) filed July 7, 1999; and (6) the description of the
Company's Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, contained in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, filed
on June 30, 1998, as amended by the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1999 and any further amendment or report filed
hereafter for the purpose of updating such description.

                  All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this registration
statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained in a document all or a portion of which is
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this registration statement.


<PAGE>   3



ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

                  Section 78.7502 of the Nevada General Corporation Law (the
"NGCL") empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party to
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of
any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
corporation, and with respect to any criminal proceeding, he had reasonable
cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

                  Section 78.7502 of the NGCL also empowers a corporation to
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses
(including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action or suit if he acted under similar standards, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after
exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for
amounts paid in settlement to the corporation unless, and only to the extent
that, the court in which such action or suit was brought or other court of
competent jurisdiction shall determine upon application that in view of all the
circumstances of the case, that despite the adjudication of liability such
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which
the court shall deem proper.

                  Section 78.7502 of the NGCL further provides that, to the
extent that a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the
merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred
to above or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he must be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith. Section 78.751 of the NGCL provides
that indemnification provided for by Section 78.7502 of the NGCL shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be
entitled, except that such indemnification may not be made to any director or
officer if a final



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4




adjudication establishes that his acts or omissions involved intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and was material to the
cause of action, unless a court of competent jurisdiction orders otherwise,
utilizing the standard described in the immediately preceding paragraph.

                  The articles of incorporation, the bylaws or an agreement made
by the corporation may provide that the expenses of the officers and directors
incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be
paid by the corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final
disposition of the action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by
the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the
corporation; these provisions do not affect any rights to advancement of
expenses to which corporate personnel other than officers and directors may be
entitled under any contract or otherwise by law.

                  Any discretionary indemnification referred to above, unless
ordered by a court or paid as incurred in advance of final disposition upon
receipt of a proper undertaking to repay the same, must be made by the
corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the
circumstances. The determination must be made: (i) by the stockholders; (ii) by
the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who
were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding; (iii) if a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or
proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (iv)
if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or
proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion.

                  The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides as follows:

                           To the full extent permitted by law, the Corporation
                  shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a
                  party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil,
                  administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he
                  or she is or was a director of the Corporation or any
                  predecessor of the Corporation or serves or served any other
                  enterprise as director at the request of the Corporation or
                  any predecessor of the Corporation.

                  The Company's Bylaws further implement the permissive
provisions of Section 78.751 of the NGCL discussed above.

                  As permitted by Section 78.037 of the NGCL, the Company's
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides as follows:

                           To the full extent permitted by the General
                  Corporation Law of the State of Nevada in effect from time to
                  time and to no greater extent, no officer or member of the
                  Board of Directors shall be liable for monetary damages for




                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5




                  breach of fiduciary duty in his or her capacity as an officer
                  or a director in any action brought by or on behalf of the
                  Corporation or any of its shareholders.

                  Section 78.037 currently provides that any such provision of a
corporation's articles of incorporation may not eliminate or limit the liability
of a director or officer for (a) acts or omissions which involve intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law; or (b) the payment of dividends
in violation of the NGCL.

                  The Company maintains insurance to protect persons entitled to
indemnification pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws and the NGCL against expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement, to the fullest extent permitted by the NGCL.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

4.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Quarterly
         Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998).

4.2      Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998).

5        Opinion of Lionel Sawyer & Collins (including consent).

23.1     Consent of Lionel Sawyer & Collins (included in its opinion filed
         herewith as Exhibit 5).

23.2     Consent of KPMG LLP.

24      Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

                  (a)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                           (1) To file, during any period in which offers or
                  sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                  registration statement to include any material information
                  with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
                  disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
                  to such information in the registration statement.





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6



                           (2) That, for the purpose of determining any
                  liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective
                  amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
                  relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
                  of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
                  initial bona fide offering thereof.

                           (3) To remove from registration by means of a
                  post-effective amendment any of the securities being
                  registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
                  offering.

                  (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Lawrence R. Wilson and Donna L. Heffner and each of them, his true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or
their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by venture
hereof.


                                   SIGNATURES


                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada, on August 20, 1999.


                                      CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION


                                      By: /s/ LAWRENCE R. WILSON
                                         ------------------------------------
                                          Lawrence R. Wilson
                                          Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
                                            Officer and President




                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8


                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Signature                                  Title                              Date
                  ---------                                  -----                              ----
<S>                                              <C>                                        <C>
/s/ LAWRENCE R. WILSON                           Chairman of the Board, Chief               August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------            Executive Officer and
Lawrence R. Wilson                               President (Principal Executive
                                                 Officer)

/s/ DONNA L. HEFFNER                             Vice President and Chief                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------            Financial Officer (Principal
Donna L. Heffner                                 Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ PATRICIA DIAZ DENNIS                         Director                                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------
Patricia Diaz Dennis

/s/ IKE KALANGIS                                 Director                                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------
Ike Kalangis

/s/ TED L. SNIDER, SR.                           Director                                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------
Ted L. Snider, Sr.

/s/ JOHN E. VON SCHLEGELL                        Director                                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------
John E. von Schlegell
</TABLE>



                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9


                       CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

4.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Quarterly
         Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998).

4.2      Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998).

5        Opinion of Lionel Sawyer & Collins (including consent).

23.1     Consent of Lionel Sawyer & Collins (included in its opinion filed
         herewith as Exhibit 5).

23.2     Consent of KPMG LLP.

24       Power of Attorney (included on signature page).



                                      -9-
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS CORP", "cik": "0000921742", "assigned-sic": "4832", "irs-number": "860748219", "state-of-incorporation": "NV", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-85703", "film-number": "99697097"}, "business-address": {"street1": "CITY CENTER WEST, SUITE 400", "street2": "7201 WEST LAKE MEAD BLVD.", "city": "LAS VEGAS", "state": "NV", "zip": "89128", "phone": "(702) 804-5200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "CITY CENTER WEST SUITE 400", "street2": "7201 WEST LAKE MEAD BOULEVARD", "city": "LAS VEGAS", "state": "NV", "zip": "89128"}}
1

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 1999

                                                           Registration No. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    Form S-8
                             Registration Statement
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

                                   ----------

                       CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

             Nevada                                       86-0748219
 (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                      Identification Number)

        City Center West
  7201 West Lake Mead Boulevard
            Suite 400
        Las Vegas, Nevada                                    89128
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

          Citadel Communications Corporation 1996 Equity Incentive Plan
                              (full title of plan)

                               Lawrence R. Wilson
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                                City Center West
                          7201 West Lake Mead Boulevard
                                    Suite 400
                             Las Vegas, Nevada 89128
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (702) 804-5200
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==================================================================================================================

      Title of                                   Proposed maximum       Proposed maximum
    Securities to           Amount to be          offering price            aggregate             Amount of
    be registered           registered(1)          per share (2)       offering price (2)   registration fee (2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock             973,224
   $.001 par value            Shares             $31.00 to $33.25         $30,777,444            $8,556.13

==================================================================================================================
(1)  If, as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions,
     the number of securities purported to be registered on this registration
     statement changes, the provisions of Rule 416 shall apply to this
     registration statement, and this registration statement shall cover the
     additional securities resulting from such split, dividend or similar
     transaction.

(2)  Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) on the basis of the exercise
     prices of options granted as follows: 270,00 shares ($33.25); and, with
     respect to 703,224 shares not subject to options granted, in accordance
     with Rule 457(c) on the basis of the average of the high and low sales
     prices of the registrant's common stock on August 16, 1999.
2

                             INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to the Citadel
Communications Corporation 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is being
filed to register additional securities of the same class as other securities
for which an earlier-filed registration statement on Form S-8 relating in part
to the Plan is effective. Pursuant to Instruction E of Form S-8, such earlier
registration statement (No. 333-65279) is incorporated herein by reference,
except as to the items set forth below.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  The following documents heretofore filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission by Citadel Communications Corporation (the "Company")
under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
are incorporated herein by reference: (1) the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998; (2) the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1999; (3) the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1999; (4)
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event: February 16, 1999)
filed February 17, 1999; (5) the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (Date of
Event: June 25, 1999) filed July 7, 1999; and (6) the description of the
Company's Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, contained in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, filed
on June 30, 1998, as amended by the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1999 and any further amendment or report filed
hereafter for the purpose of updating such description.

                  All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this registration
statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained in a document all or a portion of which is
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this registration statement.
3

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

                  Section 78.7502 of the Nevada General Corporation Law (the
"NGCL") empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party to
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the
request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of
any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
corporation, and with respect to any criminal proceeding, he had reasonable
cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

                  Section 78.7502 of the NGCL also empowers a corporation to
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such
person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses
(including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action or suit if he acted under similar standards, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after
exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for
amounts paid in settlement to the corporation unless, and only to the extent
that, the court in which such action or suit was brought or other court of
competent jurisdiction shall determine upon application that in view of all the
circumstances of the case, that despite the adjudication of liability such
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which
the court shall deem proper.

                  Section 78.7502 of the NGCL further provides that, to the
extent that a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the
merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred
to above or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he must be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith. Section 78.751 of the NGCL provides
that indemnification provided for by Section 78.7502 of the NGCL shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be
entitled, except that such indemnification may not be made to any director or
officer if a final

                                      -3-
4

adjudication establishes that his acts or omissions involved intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and was material to the
cause of action, unless a court of competent jurisdiction orders otherwise,
utilizing the standard described in the immediately preceding paragraph.

                  The articles of incorporation, the bylaws or an agreement made
by the corporation may provide that the expenses of the officers and directors
incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be
paid by the corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final
disposition of the action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by
the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the
corporation; these provisions do not affect any rights to advancement of
expenses to which corporate personnel other than officers and directors may be
entitled under any contract or otherwise by law.

                  Any discretionary indemnification referred to above, unless
ordered by a court or paid as incurred in advance of final disposition upon
receipt of a proper undertaking to repay the same, must be made by the
corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the
circumstances. The determination must be made: (i) by the stockholders; (ii) by
the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who
were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding; (iii) if a majority vote of a
quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or
proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (iv)
if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or
proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion.

                  The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides as follows:

                           To the full extent permitted by law, the Corporation
                  shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a
                  party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil,
                  administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he
                  or she is or was a director of the Corporation or any
                  predecessor of the Corporation or serves or served any other
                  enterprise as director at the request of the Corporation or
                  any predecessor of the Corporation.

                  The Company's Bylaws further implement the permissive
provisions of Section 78.751 of the NGCL discussed above.

                  As permitted by Section 78.037 of the NGCL, the Company's
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides as follows:

                           To the full extent permitted by the General
                  Corporation Law of the State of Nevada in effect from time to
                  time and to no greater extent, no officer or member of the
                  Board of Directors shall be liable for monetary damages for

                                      -4-
5

                  breach of fiduciary duty in his or her capacity as an officer
                  or a director in any action brought by or on behalf of the
                  Corporation or any of its shareholders.

                  Section 78.037 currently provides that any such provision of a
corporation's articles of incorporation may not eliminate or limit the liability
of a director or officer for (a) acts or omissions which involve intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law; or (b) the payment of dividends
in violation of the NGCL.

                  The Company maintains insurance to protect persons entitled to
indemnification pursuant to its Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws and the NGCL against expenses, judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement, to the fullest extent permitted by the NGCL.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

4.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Quarterly
         Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998).

4.2      Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998).

5        Opinion of Lionel Sawyer & Collins (including consent).

23.1     Consent of Lionel Sawyer & Collins (included in its opinion filed
         herewith as Exhibit 5).

23.2     Consent of KPMG LLP.

24      Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

                  (a)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                           (1) To file, during any period in which offers or
                  sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                  registration statement to include any material information
                  with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
                  disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
                  to such information in the registration statement.

                                      -5-
6

                           (2) That, for the purpose of determining any
                  liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective
                  amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
                  relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering
                  of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
                  initial bona fide offering thereof.

                           (3) To remove from registration by means of a
                  post-effective amendment any of the securities being
                  registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
                  offering.

                  (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      -6-
7

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Lawrence R. Wilson and Donna L. Heffner and each of them, his true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or
their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by venture
hereof.

                                   SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada, on August 20, 1999.

                                      CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ LAWRENCE R. WILSON
                                         ------------------------------------
                                          Lawrence R. Wilson
                                          Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
                                            Officer and President

                                      -7-
8

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature                                  Title                              Date
                  ---------                                  -----                              ----
/s/ LAWRENCE R. WILSON                           Chairman of the Board, Chief               August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------            Executive Officer and
Lawrence R. Wilson                               President (Principal Executive
                                                 Officer)

/s/ DONNA L. HEFFNER                             Vice President and Chief                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------            Financial Officer (Principal
Donna L. Heffner                                 Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ PATRICIA DIAZ DENNIS                         Director                                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------
Patricia Diaz Dennis

/s/ IKE KALANGIS                                 Director                                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------
Ike Kalangis

/s/ TED L. SNIDER, SR.                           Director                                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------
Ted L. Snider, Sr.

/s/ JOHN E. VON SCHLEGELL                        Director                                   August 20, 1999
-------------------------------------
John E. von Schlegell
-8-
9

                       CITADEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

4.1      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Quarterly
         Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998).

4.2      Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998).

5        Opinion of Lionel Sawyer & Collins (including consent).

23.1     Consent of Lionel Sawyer & Collins (included in its opinion filed
         herewith as Exhibit 5).

23.2     Consent of KPMG LLP.

24       Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

                                      -9-