El Rancho Hotel and Casino

Not to be confused with the El Rancho Vegas, previously in Las Vegas.

El Rancho Hotel and Casino
Location	Winchester, Nevada
Address	2755 Las Vegas Blvd South
Opening date	September 2, 1948
Closing date	July 6, 1992
Theme	Western
Number of rooms	1,000
Total gaming space	90,000 sq ft (8,400 m^2)
Casino type	Land-based
Owner	Ed Torres
Architect	Marion Hicks
Previous names	Thunderbird Silverbird
Renovated in	1964, 1976, 1982, 1987
Coordinates	36°8′15″N 115°9′32″W / 36.13750°N 115.15889°WCoordinates: 36°8′15″N 115°9′32″W / 36.13750°N 115.15889°W

The El Rancho Hotel and Casino (formerly known as The Thunderbird and The Silverbird) was a hotel and casino that operated on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada from 1948 to 1992.

After its closure, the El Rancho sat vacant for eight years while two companies made several attempts to reopen or replace the resort, which was eventually demolished in 2000, after a news report found the decrepit buildings to be in violation of health and safety regulations.

The site later became part of the land used for the un-opened Fontainebleau Resort Las Vegas.

History

Thunderbird (1948-1976)

On September 2, 1948, the Thunderbird Hotel was the fourth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The resort was built by developer Marion Hicks and owned by Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Clifford A. Jones. The resort had a Native American theme and featured portraits, a Navajo-based restaurant, the only bowling alley ever on the Strip, and a showroom. In 1955, articles surfaced in the Las Vegas Sun saying that Meyer Lansky and other underworld figures held hidden shares in the hotel.

In 1964, the casino was purchased by Del Webb for $10 million. He ran the resort until 1972, when he sold it to Caesars World, owner of Caesars Palace, for $13.6 million.^[1] A $150-million, 2,000-room resort called the Mark Anthony was planned for the site, but Caesars was unable to find financing,^[2] and sold the property four years later to banker E. Parry Thomas at a loss of $5.7 million.^[3] Thomas later sold it to Major Riddle, owner of the Dunes Hotel, who renamed the resort as the Silverbird in 1976.

The Thunderbird has the distinction of being the resort where singer Rosemary Clooney made her first appearance in Las Vegas in 1951, and where Judy Garland made her final Vegas appearance in 1965.

The Silverbird (1976-1982)

The Silverbird opened on January 1, 1977. By 1980, the resort had 400 hotel rooms. In 1981, Major Riddle sold the resort to Ed Torres for $500,000. Torres also owned the Aladdin Hotel and Casino. Torres renamed the Silverbird to the El Rancho, named after the nearby El Rancho Vegas, which burnt down in 1960.^[4]

El Rancho (1982-1992)

In 1982, Torres hired casino architect Martin Stern, Jr. to add a new entrance and expand the hotel,^[4] by adding a 13-story 600-room hotel tower, for a total of 1,000 rooms. On August 31, 1982, the El Rancho opened its doors. According to the Gaming Control Board, Torres had close ties with some of the most notorious crime characters of the time. However, this did not restrict him from owning a gaming license.^[5] Rodney Dangerfield opened the "Rodney's Place" comedy club inside the El Rancho in 1982. In 1987, Stern was hired again to expand the hotel and casino.^[4]

The El Rancho closed on July 6, 1992. By October 1993, Las Vegas Entertainment Network Inc. (LVEN), a Los Angeles-based television production company, had plans to redevelop the resort and reopen it in 1994 as El Rancho's Countryland USA. The new resort would have included a family-oriented theme park with country-style entertainment and attractions. LVEN also planned to construct two 20-story hotel towers meant to resemble a gigantic pair of Western-style boots. The new towers would have brought the El Rancho up to a total of 2,001 hotel rooms.^[6] LVEN purchased the property in November 1993,^[7] for $36.5 million.

By January 1994, LVEN planned to open El Rancho's Countryland USA with its own 24-hour cable television channel based inside the new resort, which would have housed facilities for production and broadcasting. The channel would have promoted events at the resort, as well as other resorts. LVEN had also planned to add a country-themed shopping mall and a rodeo production facility to the new resort.^[8] Construction of the new hotel towers was delayed because of a lack of financing. In October 1994, LVEN received $35 million from a Dallas investment bank for construction of the towers. At that time, LVEN had also planned to launch the Las Vegas Country Television Network, which would have featured country-western entertainment and other shows on the Las Vegas Strip.^[9]

In January 1996,^[10] Orion Casino Corporation–a newly formed Nevada subsidiary of International Thoroughbred Breeders (ITB), a New Jersey racetrack operator founded by notorious penny-stock operator Robert E. Brennan–purchased the El Rancho from LVEN for $43.5 million.^[11] The following month, ITB announced plans to demolish the El Rancho and construct Starship Orion, a $1 billion hotel, casino, entertainment and retail complex with an outer space theme, covering 5.4 million square feet. The resort was to include seven separately owned casinos, with each one being approximately 30,000 square feet.^[5][11] Each potential casino owner was to contribute up to $100 million to own and operate a casino within the complex.^[12] The complex would have also included 300,000 square feet of retail space, as well as 2,400 hotel rooms and a 65-story hotel tower. ITB hoped to begin construction later that year (1996), with a planned opening date of April 1998.^[11]

In an agreement with LVEN, ITB was to come up with financing for the project, with a deadline of October 25, 1996. If ITB were unsuccessful, LVEN had an option to seek alternative financing for a less-expensive project, such as re-opening the El Rancho. A week before the deadline, ITB told LVEN that the Starship Orion project had not generated any financing from potential investors. ITB was pursuing other possible options for the property at that time. ITB and LVEN subsequently got into a dispute regarding control of the El Rancho.^[13] By January 1997, ITB had plans for a $100 million renovation of the El Rancho, which they planned to reopen as Countryland USA. The new resort would have included a 1,700-room hotel and a 100,000-square-foot casino.^[14] By February 1997, the two companies had settled their dispute, while the resort was expected to reopen in the first quarter of 1998.^[10] These plans did not materialize. By June 1999, a buyer was considering a purchase of the resort.^[15]

In December 1999, local news channel KVBC News 3 was granted access to the El Rancho after being invited by two unnamed workers. KVBC conducted and aired an investigation of the resort's structures. Asbestos and exposed wiring were reportedly found throughout the buildings, as well as corroding chemicals which covered the floors. Rats and bugs were found to be inhabiting the resort. While most of the structures were decomposing, another section of the El Rancho was found to have been renovated with working slot machines, which had been lent to the owners by Bally Gaming three years earlier to showcase to potential investors for the Countryland USA project. After the investigation aired, the property's owners were fined for health and safety violations by the local building and fire departments, as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.^[16]

In February 2000, Turnberry Associates acquired a six-month option to purchase the El Rancho, which Turnberry described as "an eyesore". Turnberry was in the process of developing Turnberry Place, a series of luxury high-rise condominium towers directly east of the El Rancho.^[17] In May 2000,^[7] Turnberry purchased the resort from ITB for $45 million.

On October 3, 2000, the resort's last remaining structure, the 13-story hotel tower, was imploded with 700 pounds of explosives in front of 2,000 spectators.^[4] After the implosion, 10,000 pounds of concrete from the demolished resort was used by the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee to stabilize the Las Vegas Wash.^[18][19][20] The site later became part of the land used for the un-opened Fontainebleau Resort Las Vegas.

Algiers Hotel

In 1953, the Thunderbird opened the 110-room Algiers Hotel, a sister property to deal with an overflow of guests.^[18] The hotel included a lounge.^[21] The Algiers was closed in August 2004,^[21][22] and had been demolished by March 2005, to make way for Krystle Sands, a $400 million, 45-story condominium/hotel tower planned to be constructed on the 3.6-acre property. The Krystle Sands project was cancelled in March 2005.^[23] The property is currently occupied by a portion of the Fontainebleau Resort.

In media

The Thunderbird sign was featured in the 1975 Sanford and Son episode, "Earthquake II."^[24] The El Rancho sign is briefly featured in the 1997 film, Con Air. The El Rancho's demolition and implosion was recorded and featured in the 2004 National Geographic Channel documentary, Exploding Las Vegas.^[25]

References

1. "Caesars World closes hotel deal". Miami News. 1 November 1972. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
2. "Las Vegas hotel plan canceled". Press-Courier (Oxnard). Associated Press. 12 June 1975. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
3. "Large motel sold at loss". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. 16 September 1976. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
4. Ponte, Rob; Lyle, Michael. "Implosions". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
5. "Ghosts of El Rancho". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Las Vegas Review Journal. December 1, 1999. Archived from the original on 2003-05-08.
6. Handley, John (October 17, 1993). "More Tall Orders". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
7. "Property ownership history". Clark County Assessor's office. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
8. "Las Vegas Entertainment Network 'El Rancho's Countryland U.S.A.' To Have 24-Hour Cable Television Operation". TheFreeLibrary.com. January 3, 1994. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
9. "A Hee Haw Play In Vegas". Bloomberg Business. October 30, 1994. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
10. "Firms Settle Dispute, to Build Casino". Los Angeles Times. February 6, 1997. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
11. Buntain, Rex (February 22, 1996). "N.J. firm’s plans for the El Rancho rapped". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
12. "ITB loaned $30 million for Orion". Las Vegas Sun. June 6, 1996. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
13. Thompson, Gary (October 31, 1996). "Starship Orion may not take flight". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
14. Mastrull, Diane (January 16, 1997). "Firm Takes Reins At N.j. Track". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
15. "Sale possible of old El Rancho on the strip". Las Vegas Sun. Las Vegas Sun. June 7, 1999. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
16. Spears, Darcy (February 23, 2000). "El Rancho Eyesore". KVBC.
    Transcription

    • Things have changed for the better since the News 3 Investigators first exposed conditions inside the El Rancho. You wouldn't know it by looking at the outside of the place, but county and state documents prove local leaders have now gone through the inside with a fine-toothed comb. LIKE A HAUNTED HOUSE, the old El Rancho generates curiosity. Richard Acosta turned down a job at the El Rancho. “I would definitely describe it as a ghost town,” he says. “Why is this still in this condition?” wonders nearby business owner, Louise Goranson.
      News 3 first exposed what's behind the El Rancho's closed doors and found a property falling apart. Speculation, rumor, even fear surrounds the old hotel-casino. “It looks like it's been burnt down,” speculate tourists Travis Moen and Helen Anderson. “They figure that the mob somehow is involved,” Louise Goranson comments. “It's very creepy,” business neighbor Connie Witt confesses. “I wouldn't want to be near it,” admits Travis Moen and Helen Anderson. Tourists Kimberly Carter and Raquel Twine agree. “In Vegas with all of the growth and the expansion, it's very surprising. It makes you wonder what's behind it.” News 3 first exposed what's behind the El Rancho's closed doors a few months ago at the invitation of some workers who asked us to conceal their identities. We found a property falling apart.
      ‘I couldn't believe when I read that the deep fryers still had the fat in them. I mean, what kind of vermin could be in there? ' —Myrna Williams Clark County Commissioner “Be careful of this register, that's about 75 pounds and one of them came down and missed me by about two inches,” a worker warned us during the tour. “There's roaches and rats running all over, a chemical room that could kill you, asbestos falling out of the ceilings, wiring that if you touch it you're gonna get fried.” “The condition of the property has been this way for the entire length that I've been employed,” another worker told us. And longer than that, according to Richard Acosta. Four years ago, Acosta was asked to inventory the El Rancho's contents. “I saw your story. It just brought back so many memories,” he disclosed. Acosta says his memories of El Rancho are dark enough for him to decline what could have been a lucrative job. “I just wasn't gonna bring my people in under those unsafe conditions, not being able to see properly, and again the exposed wiring and chemicals all over the place. It just felt very– health risks were definitely there.” he said. “I would imagine someone would be doing inspections on that place.”
      EL RANCHO UNDER INSPECTION Eight years after El Rancho closed its doors, that finally did happen once we brought the hazards to light and government leaders took action. Both the Building and Fire Departments inspected and drafted dozens of pages of violations News 3 had documented on video. “I couldn't believe when I read that the deep fryers still had the fat in them,” said a shocked County Commissioner Myrna Williams. “I mean, what kind of vermin could be in there, the odors, the difficulty. I mean– and the hazard– of course is number one.” Even OSHA, who had never stepped foot on the property until our investigation aired, cited and fined El Rancho for the very violations we had uncovered. They fined El Rancho especially for the live exposed electrical wires and the corroding chemicals covering some floors. “Unbelievable,” said Acosta.” One, that the El Rancho was still standing. And two, that those chemicals and the conditions were all still there.” The property managers won't let us back in to show you how much has changed, but county officials assure us the place has been cleaned up. “Things were cleaned up beyond his expectations,” says Steve Lasky with the Clark County Fire Department. “Floors were mopped, it looked like a different place.” We're told other conditions have changed too.
      COUNTRYLAND USA? While most of El Rancho is decomposing, we found another part had been given new life and transformed into the promise of Countryland USA and laid out for potential investors as if development was just around the corner. They even showcased new slots, in perfect working order, raising questions from long-time local newspaperman John L. Smith. “If you're not licensed, then what are you doing with the slot machines?” asked Smith. That too is the subject of speculation over investment opportunities gone bad, but our story ensured the slots could no longer be used to entice investors. Bally Gaming reclaimed the machines they had lent out three years ago and returned them to current inventory. Even so, everyone we talked to remains skeptical. “I don't understand why the county commissioners, for instance, could not exercise some of their power and condemn the place,” said business neighbor Connie Witt. “The idea of neglecting something that large speaks volumes in its silence. Are they asleep at the switch? I can only say yes,” said John L. Smith. Why has the county started clean-up but has not initiated a knockdown? County leaders say that legally, their hands are tied. But locals don't buy it. As a band-aid, Commissioner Williams has promised to contact El Rancho's out-of-state owners for the first time to begin pressuring them to erase the eyesore. The strip is in for some big changes as new development pushes north and we may have a bidding war brewing between two big wigs that could breathe new life into El Rancho. News 3 corners the county and forecasts El Rancho's future in our next report.
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17. "Developer takes option on shuttered casino". Las Vegas Sun. February 4, 2000. Archived from the original on 2000-08-16.
18. "Thunderbird history". A2ZLasVegas.com. Archived from the original on 2001-02-01.
19. "Recycling Las Vegas History at the Wash". LVWash.org. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
20. "Wash Weir Construction". Southern Nevada Watering Authority. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
21. "Algiers closes its doors". Las Vegas Sun. August 30, 2004. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
22. "50-Year-Old Algiers Hotel Closes". KLAS-TV. September 2, 2004. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
23. "Business briefs for March 23, 2005". Las Vegas Sun. March 23, 2005. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
24. Sanford and Son [Earthquake II] (Television series). September 12, 1975.
25. "National Geographic Channel Takes an Explosive Journey With the 'First Family' of Implosions". PRNewswire. November 15, 2004. Retrieved 2015-05-22.