El Rancho
The El Rancho was the first casino hotel on the street that would become the Las Vegas Strip. This road was originally U.S. Highway 91, which connected Las Vegas to Los Angeles. The 57-acre El Rancho resort opened on April 3, 1941, with 63 guest rooms housed inside cabin-style buildings, a large horseback riding area, an outdoor swimming pool, a showroom for entertainers and a gas station.
Another 47 guest rooms were added to El Rancho the next year to bring the total to 110. In 1960, the entire resort was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt. The Thunderbird Hotel changed its name to the El Rancho in 1982, but this property was not affiliated with the original El Rancho in any way.
El Rancho
2500 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Pair-O-Dice/New Frontier
The second casino on the Strip opened to the public in 1930 as the Pair-O-Dice nightclub. The name was changed twice during the 1930s before becoming the Last Frontier in 1942, when it was expanded into a large Western-themed resort. It was remodeled again in 1954, becoming the New Frontier and sporting a futuristic space theme.
The New Frontier was the location of Elvis Presley's first Las Vegas performance in 1956 and the last performance by Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1970. In 1967, the resort was purchased by Howard Hughes, who changed the name to the Frontier. It was changed back to the New Frontier in 1998 and remained as such until its demolition in 2007.
New Frontier
3120 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
The Flamingo
The mob's influence on early Las Vegas was made public on Dec. 26, 1946, when Bugsy Siegel opened the Flamingo Hotel. Siegel was gunned down six months later, but the Flamingo is still thriving, even in today's age of the mega-resort.
The hotel's design was patterned after the posh resorts of Miami, complete with pink flamingos on the front lawn. The property has changed hands several times since Siegel's death, passing through owners such as Kirk Kerkorian, the Hilton Corporation, Caesars Entertainment and Harrah's Entertainment.
Flamingo Hotel and Casino
3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(800) 732-2111
flamingolasvegas.com
About The Author
Denise Sullivan has been a professional writer for four years after a long career in business. Her areas of expertise are business, law, gaming, home renovations, gardening, sports, and exercise. She is also a tennis and golf enthusiast and enjoys traveling the Western states.
