141-578: The Dunes Hotel & Country Club was a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada . It opened on May 23, 1955, as the tenth resort on the Strip. It was initially owned by a group of businessmen from out of state, but failed to prosper under their management. It also opened at a time of decreased tourism, while the Strip was simultaneously becoming overbuilt with hotel rooms. A few months after
282-500: A Cessna . He worked as a general aviation pilot and made his first visit to Las Vegas in 1944. After spending much time in Las ;Vegas during the 1940s, Kerkorian quit gambling and in 1947 paid $ 60,000 for Trans International Airlines , which was a small air-charter service that flew gamblers from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. He then bid on some war surplus bombers, using money on loan from Seagram's . Gasoline, and especially airplane fuel,
423-528: A Pontiac Firebird , Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Ford Taurus . Kerkorian died in Beverly Hills, California , on June 15, 2015, nine days after his 98th birthday. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California , near Los Angeles. Kerkorian was married four times, first to Hilda Schmidt from 1942 to 1952. His next marriage, to Jean Maree Hardy, lasted from 1954 to 1984. The two had met at
564-490: A Ford Taurus and Jeep Cherokee. Kerkorian once owned 9.9 percent of General Motors (GM). According to press accounts from June 30, 2006, Kerkorian suggested that Renault acquired a 20 percent stake in GM to rescue GM from itself. A letter from Tracinda to Rick Wagoner was released to the public, to pressure GM's executive hierarchy, but talks failed. On November 22, 2006, Kerkorian sold 14 million shares of his GM stake (it
705-518: A casino and 20-story boutique hotel next to Harry Reid International Airport began construction in 2022 for an opening originally scheduled for 2024. Construction was halted in March 2023 due to stalled funding plans. It could resume construction in January 2024 and the opening has been rescheduled to the end of 2025. Astral Hotels planned to start building Astral, a 34-story, 620-room hotel and casino on
846-576: A county extension, allowing time to raise $ 13.5 million needed to bring the facilities up to standard. In February 1986, the Dunes won additional extensions to meet the fire-safety requirements. Later that month, a series of arson fires were set to several Strip resorts, including the Dunes, the Holiday Casino , and the Sands . As a precaution, 1,650 hotel guests were evacuated from the Dunes just before midnight. On
987-431: A dedicated broadcast booth, and the ability to watch up to 15 sporting events at once. The sports network ESPN is broadcasting sports betting shows from a dedicated studio at The Linq. Some sportsbooks are now offering self-service betting kiosks. The Las Vegas Strip is known for its lounges, showrooms, theaters and nightclubs, most on the hotel casino properties. Some of the more popular free attractions visible from
1128-436: A faux pirate ship at Treasure Island shot its cannon several times, simulating the Dunes' destruction by cannonballs as the implosion began. The tower was brought down around 10:10 p.m., following a six-minute fireworks show. The $ 1.5 million demolition event attracted 200,000 spectators. The Dunes was the first Las Vegas resort to be imploded, and numerous others would follow suit into the next decade. The tower's implosion
1269-766: A film based on the history of the Armenian genocide would be made. The resulting film, called The Promise , premiered in April 2017 in the United States. In 2000 Time magazine named him the 10th largest donor in the US. Kerkorian was declared an honorary citizen of Armenia. He was bestowed the title of National Hero of Armenia , the highest state award. Kirk Kerkorian was born on June 6, 1917, in Fresno, California , to Armenian parents who escaped present-day Turkey via cattle boat during
1410-565: A golf course in 1964. A 21-story hotel tower, initially known as the Diamond of the Dunes, was opened in May 1965, to mark the resort's 10th anniversary. It was part of a $ 20 million expansion project, and later became the North Tower, following the addition of another hotel building to the south. In 1969, M&R merged with Continental Connector Corporation, a New York-based electronics firm. M&R became
1551-476: A key point in transforming Las Vegas Strip entertainment. In an effort to attract families, resorts offered more attractions geared toward youth, but had limited success. The Wet 'n Wild water park opened in 1985 and was located on the south side of the Sahara hotel. It closed at the end of the 2004 season and was later demolished. The current MGM Grand opened in 1993 with MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park , but
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#17328445841291692-489: A month. Gaming executive Richard Goeglein led a team which helped operate the Dunes in the months leading up to its closure. The Dunes closed on January 26, 1993. Wynn said: "It's becoming in death a much better place than it was in life. This thing about melancholy in its passing is sorta strange. No one felt that while it [the Dunes] was laying there, terminally ill. It's been laying there on life support systems for many years". At
1833-477: A new hotel tower and the demolition of the original motel-style structures, although little work had been done by mid-1989. He blamed the limited gaming license, stating that financiers were hesitant to lend money because of uncertainty about whether he would remain licensed in the near future. The first phase of Nangaku's multimillion renovation eventually began in September 1989. The following year, Nangaku announced
1974-633: A new total of 1,282. The Dunes opened its Emerald Green golf driving range in November 1961. The Emerald Green golf course debuted in 1964, and had its formal opening in April 1965. Since then, the resort was sometimes known as the Dunes Hotel and Country Club, reflecting its golf amenities. The Emerald Green measured 7,240 yards, making it the longest course in Las Vegas. It stretched south from Flamingo Road to Tropicana Avenue , occupying roughly 80 acres along
2115-536: A partnership that was interested in purchasing the Dunes, while a separate group led by Kerkorian was also in discussions. Talks with the two prospective buyers ended in February 1987, without a deal. Shortly thereafter, Texas-based lender Southmark Corporation purchased the first and second mortgages of the Dunes from Valley Bank and First Security Leasing, the Dunes' two major creditors. Later in 1987, Hilton Hotels and Japanese investor Masao Nangaku both considered buying
2256-458: A planned $ 200 million remodeling project. He also hired the architectural firm Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum to design the new high-rise tower. Nangaku eventually received a permanent gaming license in May 1991, at which point he was seeking a partner to help renovate and operate the Dunes. The resort had laid off hundreds of workers that year, due to financial troubles brought on by the early 1990s recession . Despite Nangaku's expansion plans for
2397-551: A purchase, as did Golden Nugget chairman Steve Wynn , who made a $ 115 million offer. In May 1984, the Dunes was sold to John Anderson, a farmer in Davis, California , who also owned the Maxim hotel-casino in Las Vegas. Shenker maintained a 26-percent stake. M&R filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 1985. Later that month, Wynn made another $ 115 million offer, which was rejected by Anderson and Shenker, deeming it too low and valuing
2538-554: A second gaming facility, the Oasis Casino , in 1982. The Dunes experienced financial problems in the 1980s, and had many prospective buyers during this time, including businessman Steve Wynn . Japanese investor Masao Nangaku eventually bought the resort in 1987, at a cost of $ 157 million. Nangaku intended to renovate and expand the Dunes, although his plans were derailed by an unusually lengthy control board investigation, which dissuaded financiers. Wynn's company, Mirage Resorts , bought
2679-423: A six-week period, resulting in financial trouble for each of them. The Las Vegas Valley had been overbuilt with hotel rooms during a time of lessened demand, and the Dunes was also the southernmost resort on the Strip, located a considerable distance from other properties. A Dunes attorney blamed the resort's financial trouble on a persistent losing streak in its casino. Rice believed that the financial problems were
2820-399: A subsidiary of Continental Connector, which owned the Dunes and the land beneath it. Later in 1969, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed suit against Continental Connector, accusing it of making inaccurate financial statements regarding earnings at the Dunes. The company subsequently sought a buyer for the resort. In 1970, businessman Howard Hughes was in discussions to purchase
2961-407: A tactical advantage in the divorce proceedings, an allegation that was later proven true. Pellicano also took a strand of Bing's used dental floss (surreptitiously acquired from rubbish) and used it to prove that it was Bing and not Kerkorian who fathered Bonder's daughter. Attorney Terry Christensen was subsequently convicted of racketeering for hiring Pellicano to tap Bonder's phone, and received
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#17328445841293102-549: A three-year prison sentence that was confirmed on appeal. Kerkorian's short-lived fourth marriage (2014) was to Una Davis, born in 1966. The marriage lasted only 57 days and divorce proceedings were underway when Kerkorian died on June 15, 2015. Kerkorian was active in philanthropy through his charitable foundation, The Lincy Foundation, named after his daughters, Linda and Tracy. The foundation reportedly donated more than $ 1 billion, though Kerkorian never allowed anything to be named in his honor. The foundation covered half of
3243-501: A two-story hotel building and eventually spread across the property. More than 200 firefighters responded, and six blocks of the Strip were closed off for more than four hours until the fire was contained. The original North Tower was demolished on the night of October 27, 1993, one day after the opening of Wynn's new Strip resort Treasure Island , located about a mile north. The tower was imploded with great fanfare in an event emceed by Wynn that incorporated his new resort; on his command,
3384-540: Is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada , that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos . The Strip , as it is known, is about 4.2 mi (6.8 km) long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city limits in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester , but is often referred to simply as "Las Vegas". Many of the largest hotel, casino, and resort properties in
3525-407: Is now occupied by parts of Park MGM (opened in 1996) and CityCenter (2009), as well as T-Mobile Arena (2016). The Dunes originally featured a 30-foot-(9-meter-)high sultan statue above its entrance. The fiberglass statue was created by sculptor Kermit Hawkins. The sultan's turban included a diamond that lit up at night, and which was actually a car headlamp that had been put in place. In 1964,
3666-520: Is speculated that this action was due to GM's rejection of Renault and Nissan's bids for stakes in the company as both of these bids were strongly supported by Kerkorian); the sale resulted in GM's share price falling 4.1% from its November 20 price, although it remained above $ 30/share. The sale lowered Kerkorian's holding to around 7% of GM. On November 30, 2006, Tracinda said it had agreed to sell another 14 million shares of GM, cutting Kerkorian's stake to half of what it had been earlier that year. By
3807-496: Is the southernmost resort considered to be on the Strip (the Klondike was the southernmost until 2006, when it was closed, although it was not included in the Strip on some definitions and travel guides). According to Clark County, the southern end of the Strip is the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign; the county acknowledges that some argue for Russell Road at the southernmost terminus. The first casino to be built on Highway 91
3948-510: The Armenian Genocide . Armenian was his first language and he "didn't learn the English language until he hit the streets." His family moved to Los Angeles following the depression of 1920–21 . Dropping out of school in eighth grade, Kerkorian became a fairly skilled amateur boxer under the tutelage of his older brother Nish Kerkorian, fighting under the name "Rifle Right Kerkorian" to win
4089-595: The Dunes golf course in the mid-90s. Steve Wynn , founder of previously owned Mirage Resorts , purchased the Desert Inn and golf course for his new company Wynn Resorts and redeveloped the course as the Wynn Golf Club. This course closed in 2017, but the development planned for the course was cancelled and the course was renovated and re-opened in late 2019. In 2000, Bali Hai Golf Club opened just south of Mandalay Bay and
4230-632: The International Hotel (opened in 1969), the original MGM Grand Hotel (1973) and the current MGM Grand (1993). He purchased the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio in 1969. Of Armenian descent, Kerkorian provided over $ 1 billion for charity in Armenia through his Lincy Foundation, which was established in 1989 and particularly focused on helping to rebuild northern Armenia after the 1988 earthquake . Kerkorian also provided money to ensure that
4371-485: The Justice Department who filed an antitrust suit due to his owning stock in two studios. In 1979, Kerkorian issued a statement claiming that MGM was now primarily a hotel company; however, he also managed to expand the overall film library and production system with the purchase of United Artists from Transamerica in 1981, becoming MGM/UA Entertainment Company. In March 1986, he sold MGM to Ted Turner . After
Dunes (hotel and casino) - Misplaced Pages Continue
4512-629: The Las Vegas Hilton and the Flamingo Hilton , respectively. After he purchased the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio in 1969, Kerkorian (with architect Martin Stern Jr.) opened the original MGM Grand Hotel and Casino , larger than the Empire State Building and the largest hotel in the world at the time it was finished. On November 21, 1980, the original MGM Grand burned in a fire that
4653-440: The Las Vegas Strip . The opening attracted many celebrities, including Cesar Romero , Spike Jones , and Rita Moreno . Gottesman and Sullivan were majority stockholders, and also served as 50-50 partners in the operation of the casino. Businessman Kirk Kerkorian bought a three-percent interest a couple months after the opening, marking his first Las Vegas investment. The Dunes was one of four new Las Vegas resorts to open within
4794-722: The SLS Las Vegas continued to transform the Strip in 2014. The Las Vegas Festival Grounds opened in 2015. In 2016, T-Mobile Arena , The Park, and the Park Theater (now known as Dolby Live) opened. On October 1, 2017, a mass shooting occurred on the Strip at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, adjacent to the Mandalay Bay hotel. 60 people were killed, and approximately 867 were injured. The gunman, Stephen Paddock , opened fire on concertgoers with several rifles from his suites on
4935-580: The Sands Hotel and Casino , to lease and operate the struggling Dunes. To mark the management change, a three-day celebration was held starting on September 9, 1955. Singer Frank Sinatra headlined the ceremony and entered on a camel. Sands closed the casino portion in January 1956, due to falling profits. It was the third Las Vegas casino to close in recent months, following the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Royal Nevada . Live entertainment also ceased, although
5076-478: The Thunderbird resort in Las Vegas. Hardy, a dancer from England, traveled the world instructing dance troupes. They met and fell in love while she was sent to check opportunities to choreograph a performance in Las Vegas. The marriage produced Kerkorian's two daughters, Tracy and Linda, whose names serve as a portmanteau for Kerkorian's personal holding company, Tracinda Corporation, and his charitable organization,
5217-468: The "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. Clark County uses the phrase Resort Corridor to describe the area including Las Vegas Boulevard between 215 Beltway and Sahara Avenue and surrounding areas. The Sahara is considered the Strip's northern terminus by Clark County, though travel guides typically extend it to the Strat 0.4 miles (0.64 km) to the north. Mandalay Bay , just north of Russell Road
5358-483: The 163-acre resort. Nangaku ultimately prevailed, offering a $ 157.7 million bid in August 1987. His purchase was finalized four months later. While Nangaku waited to receive a gaming license, he hired Dennis Gomes to operate the Dunes, replacing Cohen as president. Nangaku underwent an unusually long gaming control board probe. Investigators suspected that unlicensed people from Nangaku's company, Minami Group, were involved in
5499-520: The 1990s, more than 12 new hotels opened, including themed hotels like the Luxor , Excalibur , and Mandalay Bay . At $ 1.7B, the most expensive hotel in the world at the time, The Bellagio , was built in the 1990s. These huge facilities offer entertainment and dining options, as well as gambling and lodging. In 1993, the launch of the Mystère show at the new Treasure Island hotel by Cirque du Soleil marked
5640-479: The 1990s, several pedestrian footbridges were erected over Las Vegas Boulevard to increase pedestrian safety and alleviate traffic congestion at popular intersections. The first was the Tropicana – Las Vegas Boulevard footbridge. Some mimic the theme of nearby resorts. . The footbridges include: Pedestrians have complained that they must walk as much as a quarter-mile to reach a footbridge or intersection to cross
5781-901: The 4,500 bollards will be shortened from 54 inches to 36 inches. The shortened bollards line 20 driveways. Studies conducted by Clark County in 2012 and 2015 identified issues with congestion. The studies resulted in $ 5 million of improvements, including LED lights, ADA ramps, containment fencing, widening sidewalks, and removing permanent obstructions, such as signs, signposts, trash cans, and fire hydrants. The studies also identified non-permanent obstructions causing congestion, such as street performers, vendors, handbillers, sign-holders, and illegal street gambling. Modifications to non-obstruction zones and increased enforcement were implemented in order to reduce congestion. Taxis are available at resorts, shopping centers, attractions, and for scheduled pickups. The Nevada Taxicab Authority provides information about taxi fares and fare zones. In 2021, there
Dunes (hotel and casino) - Misplaced Pages Continue
5922-529: The British Royal Air Force was ferrying Canadian-built de Havilland Mosquitos over the North Atlantic to Scotland . The Mosquito's fuel tank carried enough fuel for 1,400 miles (2,300 km), while the trip directly was 2,200 miles (3,500 km). Rather than take the safer Montreal – Labrador – Greenland – Iceland –Scotland route (although, going further north could mean the wings icing, and
6063-458: The Chrysler arm of Daimler-Chrysler was sold to Cerberus for $ 7.4 billion. Kerkorian began buying Ford Motor Company stock in April 2008, and spent about $ 1 billion to accumulate a 6% stake in the automaker. By October 2008, the investment had lost two-thirds of its value, and he began selling. Tracinda explained, "In light of current economic and market conditions, it sees unique value in
6204-462: The Chrysler division on February 14, large investors such as Cerberus Capital Management , The Blackstone Group and Magna International each announced intentions to bid on the company. Kerkorian's bid, while not expected, was not surprising given his long involvement in the U.S. automobile industry. During the bidding process, he sought the aid of his close associate Jerome York who was a former CFO at both Chrysler and IBM . On May 14, 2007, 80% of
6345-541: The City of Las Vegas. Caesars Palace was established in 1966. Opening in 1969, the International Hotel , with 1,512 rooms, began the era of mega-resorts. The International is known as Westgate Las Vegas today. The first MGM Grand Hotel and Casino opened in 1973 with 2,084 rooms. On November 21, 1980, MGM Grand suffered the worst resort fire in the history of Las Vegas as a result of electrical problems, killing 87 people. It reopened eight months later. In 1986, Kerkorian sold
6486-463: The Dunes as a consultant. The Dunes had numerous Mafia connections for much of its history. Sullivan's early ownership in the resort was actually held by Raymond Patriarca , and Gottlieb was affiliated with Jimmy Hoffa , president of the Teamsters Union . During the 1950s and 1960s, the union financed many casino expansions in Las Vegas through its pension fund. This included a $ 5 million loan for
6627-465: The Dunes at $ 143.5 million. Numerous other offers would be made over the next two years, including one by New York businessman Donald Trump . Blumenfeld Properties, a Philadelphia real estate development company, made a $ 145.5 million offer for the Dunes, but ultimately did not purchase the resort. Burton Cohen was named as the resort's president in January 1986, following the departure of its previous president. Financial firm EF Hutton eventually formed
6768-434: The Dunes in November 1992, paying $ 75 million. Plans were announced to replace it with a lake resort. The Dunes closed on January 26, 1993. The original North Tower was imploded on October 27, 1993, during a highly publicized ceremony which helped promote Wynn's new Treasure Island resort, located about a mile north. The demolition event garnered 200,000 spectators. The newer South Tower was imploded on July 20, 1994, without
6909-524: The Dunes through stock holdings in Continental Connector, and he sought to buy out the remainder, prompting the control board to reopen and expand its investigation into his financial background. It was one of the most extensive investigations in Nevada gaming history, as state officials had concerns about Mafia figures with whom Shenker was associated. Shenker later denied allegations that his ownership in
7050-436: The Dunes' casino area, all put out by on-site firefighters. Both facilities were bulldozed following the implosion. A three-month clean-up project began to remove the debris left from the imploded tower. During the clean-up, workers discovered hundreds of $ 100 Dunes casino chips in the resort's foundation; some casinos executives would dispose of outdated chips by burying them in the foundation of their buildings. The South Tower
7191-438: The Dunes' original hotel tower. Allen Dorfman , who handled negotiations on behalf of the pension fund, was alleged to have hidden ownership in the Dunes. The Dunes occasionally provided first-class treatment to Mafia figures such as Anthony Giordano , who was arrested at the resort in 1969, while visiting Wyman. The FBI planted surveillance bugs at the Dunes during the 1960s, and certain resort employees worked as informants for
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#17328445841297332-473: The Dunes, although negotiations ended without a deal. Rapid-American Corporation began discussions to acquire the resort, but eventually dropped out. Rice, Wyman, Duckworth and three other top resort officials were indicted in 1971 by a federal grand jury, alleging that they filed false corporate income tax returns and that they conspired to skim money from the gaming tables. The officials pleaded innocent, and Wyman later divested his ownership, but remained with
7473-461: The Dunes, including Mary Tyler Moore and Grant Tinker (1962), Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon (1965), and Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim (1965). Mike Goodman , author of the best-selling 1963 book How to Win: At Cards, Dice, Races, Roulette , was a pit boss at the Dunes during the 1960s. Gambling author Barney Vinson also worked there. During the 1960s, the resort's western edge was condemned for construction of Interstate 15 . The resort added
7614-412: The Dunes. Foreclosure was delayed to allow more time for a possible purchase. Hilton offered $ 122.5 million, and planned to refurbish the existing rooms while adding a third tower, at an additional cost of $ 110 million. Cohen believed that the resort needed 2,000 hotel rooms to adequately compete with other resorts. Kerkorian re-emerged as a prospective buyer, and Sheldon Adelson also considered purchasing
7755-475: The Dunes. The resort also offered amenities such as the Emerald Green golf course, which opened in 1964. The Dunes was one of two Strip resorts to include a golf course, the other one being the Desert Inn . The Emerald Green was the longest course in Nevada, at 7,240 yards. The Dunes opened with 194 rooms, while a 21-story tower brought the total to 960. The tower was among the tallest buildings in Nevada , and
7896-474: The Lincy Foundation. Although divorced, they remained close friends and confidants. Kerkorian's short-lived third marriage (1999) was to professional tennis player Lisa Bonder , 48 years his junior, which lasted only one month. The two had signed a prenuptial agreement before marrying. Kerkorian subsequently was involved in a breach of privacy suit filed against him by Steve Bing . Kerkorian claimed Bing
8037-537: The MGM Grand and the Sahara at each end of the route. The stations include: The monorail began operating in 1995 with two trains from Walt Disney World . In 2020, the monorail was acquired by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Tens of thousands of pedestrians are walking along the Strip at any given time. As of 2019, about 50,000 pedestrians walked the Strip on an average day. In
8178-421: The MGM Grand to Bally Manufacturing , and it was renamed Bally's . The opening of The Mirage in 1989 set a new level to the Las Vegas experience, as smaller hotels and casinos made way for the larger mega-resorts. Some of the key features of The Mirage included tropical landscapes with waterfalls, an erupting volcano, restaurants with world-class chefs, and a show with illusionists Siegfried & Roy . In
8319-673: The Mandalay Bay's 32nd floor. Paddock's motive was never determined, and he committed suicide after the massacre. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history. In 2018, the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino was renamed the Park MGM and in 2019, the SLS changed its name back to Sahara Las Vegas . In 2021, the Pinball Hall of Fame moved near the "Fabulous Las Vegas" sign at
8460-561: The North and South Las Vegas Strip routes are classified as Nevada Scenic Byways and National Scenic Byways . Historically, casinos that were not in Downtown Las Vegas along Fremont Street sat outside the city limits on Las Vegas Boulevard. In 1959, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was built exactly 4.5 miles (7.2 km) outside the city limits. The sign is currently located in
8601-609: The Oasis Casino. In December 1982, it was announced that the resort would be sold to brothers Stuart and Clifford Perlman for $ 185 million, which would include the assumption of $ 105 million in debt. The Perlmans provided a $ 10 million loan to prevent the Dunes from being seized by the Internal Revenue Service , but later backed out of the purchase after learning that the debt would be $ 20 million more than initially expected. Circus Circus Enterprises subsequently considered
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#17328445841298742-798: The Pacific amateur welterweight championship. Kirk Kerkorian also had an older sister, Rose Kerkorian. Sensing the onset of World War II , and not wanting to join the infantry , Kerkorian learned to fly at the Happy Bottom Riding Club in the Mojave Desert —adjacent to the United States Army Air Corps 's Muroc Field, now Edwards Air Force Base . In exchange for flying lessons from pioneer aviator Pancho Barnes , he agreed to milk and look after her cattle. On gaining his commercial pilot's certificate in six months, Kerkorian learned that
8883-938: The Strip include the water fountains at Bellagio , the volcano at The Mirage , and the Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain at Caesars Palace . There are several Cirque du Soleil shows, such as Kà at the MGM Grand, O at Bellagio, Mystère at Treasure Island, and Michael Jackson: One at Mandalay Bay . Many notable artists have performed in Las Vegas, including Elvis Presley , Frank Sinatra , Wayne Newton , Dean Martin , Sammy Davis Jr. , Rod Stewart and Liberace , and in more recent years Celine Dion , Britney Spears , Barry Manilow , Cher , Elton John , Bette Midler , Diana Ross , Donny and Marie Osmond , Garth Brooks , Jennifer Lopez , Reba McEntire , Mariah Carey , Janet Jackson , Kylie Minogue , Shania Twain , Criss Angel , Olivia Newton-John , Queen + Adam Lambert , Lady Gaga , and Gwen Stefani have had residencies in
9024-420: The Strip trended towards the luxurious high-end segment through most of the 2000s, while some older resorts added major expansions and renovations, including some de-theming of the earlier themed hotels. High end dining, specialty retail, spas and nightclubs increasingly became options for visitors in addition to gambling at most Strip resorts. There was also a trend towards expensive residential condo units on
9165-851: The Strip, including: The Strip also hosts the Las Vegas Grand Prix which has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 2023 . It will also house the New Las Vegas Stadium for the Oakland Athletics in 2028 when the team relocates to the Las Vegas Valley. The Aladdin had a nine-hole golf course in the 1960s. As land values on the Strip have increased over the years, the resort-affiliated golf courses have been removed to make way for building projects. The Tropicana Country Club closed in 1990 and
9306-672: The Strip. In 2004, MGM Mirage announced plans for CityCenter , a 66-acre (27 ha), $ 7 billion multi-use project on the site of the Boardwalk hotel and adjoining land. It consists of hotel, casino, condo, retail, art, business and other uses on the site. Most elements of the project opened in late 2009. In 2012, the High Roller Ferris wheel and a retail district called The Linq Promenade broke ground in an attempt to diversify attractions beyond that of casino resorts. Renovations and rebrandings such as The Cromwell Las Vegas and
9447-441: The Strip. In 2016, a TopGolf opened near the Strip. Adventuredome indoor amusement park at Circus Circus on the Strip is a major tourist attraction; it is enclosed in glass, with a carousel, mini-golf, two roller coasters, bowling, spinning rides, an arcade, virtual reality rides, a carnival midway, and clown shows. Kirk Kerkorian Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian ( Armenian : Քըրք Քըրքորյան ; June 6, 1917 – June 15, 2015)
9588-523: The Strip. Most of the resorts have a showroom, nightclub and/or live music venue on the property and a few have large multipurpose arenas. Major venues include: The Strip is populated with many restaurants and fine dining establishments, many of which are inside the casinos and resorts. In recent years, many celebrity chefs have opened restaurants along the Strip, including Wolfgang Puck , Michael Mina , Gordon Ramsay , Guy Savoy , and Joël Robuchon . Professional sports are found at venues on or near
9729-813: The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and South Strip Transfer Terminal to the Bonneville Transit Center (BTC) and the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas , with stops near every casino. Several free trams operate between properties on the west side of the Strip: While not on the Strip itself, the Las Vegas Monorail runs a 3.9-mile route on the east side of the Strip corridor from Tropicana Avenue to Sahara Avenue, with stops every 4 to 8 minutes at several on-Strip properties including
9870-562: The agency during the 1970s. In 1972, a new group emerged as a prospective buyer for the resort, still under the ownership of Continental Connector. The group included San Diego developer Irvin Kahn and partner Morris Shenker , a St. Louis attorney who was representing Wyman and other resort officials in their case. The Nevada Gaming Control Board launched a routine investigation into Shenker and Kahn's financing, but halted its probe in 1973, following Kahn's death. In 1974, Shenker owned 37 percent of
10011-591: The arrest of the arsonist. A man was eventually arrested for the arson spree and sentenced to 10 years in prison. In light of the recent fires, the county reconsidered the extensions previously granted to the Dunes. By May 1986, the resort had made significant progress on its fire retrofit work. The Dunes featured an Arabian theme, and was designed by Robert Dorr Jr. and John Replogle. The resort initially occupied 85 acres. The casino opened with 120 slot machines. The 6,600 sq ft (610 m) convention center, opened in 1959, included seating for 800 people. The casino
10152-507: The average trip gambling budget, $ 591.06, was increased from 2018. About nine in ten (89%) visitors who gambled did so on the Strip Corridor. UNLV reported that in 2019, Big Las Vegas Strip Casinos (defined as Strip casinos with more than $ 72M in annual gaming revenues) had more than $ 6B in annual gaming revenues, corresponding to about 26% of total annual revenues. From the time period spanning 1985 to 2019, there have been some changes in
10293-417: The casino floor, many gamblers refused to leave and continued playing. Firefighters quickly determined that the fires posed no threat to the casino area. Crews battled a total of five fires at the Dunes, and guests were allowed to return to their rooms after three hours. Six people were treated for smoke inhalation, and damage was estimated at $ 55,000. The Dunes offered a $ 10,000 reward for information leading to
10434-517: The central Strip. The Dunes failed to stay competitive against new megaresorts opening on the Strip, including The Mirage in 1989, and the Excalibur a year later. During 1990, the resort was losing $ 500,000 monthly. Wynn's company, since renamed as Mirage Resorts , agreed to purchase the Dunes in October 1992. It was sold the following month for $ 75 million. At the time, the property was losing $ 2 million
10575-581: The city's rising debt. Instead, Gus Greenbaum of the Flamingo led a group of casino executives to lobby the Clark County commissioners for town status. Two unincorporated towns were eventually created, Paradise and Winchester . More than two decades later, the Supreme Court of Nevada struck down a 1975 Nevada state law that would have folded the Strip and the rest of the urban areas of Clark County into
10716-587: The completion of the Flamingo construction with mob money. The Flamingo casino opened in December 1946, and the hotel opened in March 1947. Wilbur Clark 's Desert Inn resort opened in 1950. The funding for many Las Vegas projects was provided through the American National Insurance Company , which was based in the then-notorious gambling empire of Galveston, Texas . Las Vegas Boulevard South
10857-506: The cost of an 80-kilometer highway in Armenia. Over the next decade, Kerkorian financed more than $ 200 million of infrastructure projects in Armenia, including $ 60 million to the reconstruction of schools and streets and the renovation of many museums, theaters and concert halls. The Lincy Foundation was dissolved in 2011 after 22 years of charitable activities after dispensing its last $ 200 million to University of California, Los Angeles . Half
10998-513: The eastern edge of I-15. Riddle bought the site from banker Jerry Mack and Mel Close, bringing the resort a total of 163 acres. The Emerald Green's closure in 1993 left the Desert Inn as the only other Strip resort with a golf course. At the time, the Emerald Green had seen an average of 65,000 golfers each year, second only to the Las Vegas Municipal Golf Course. It was especially popular among celebrities. The Emerald Green site
11139-470: The end of November 2006, he had sold substantially all of his remaining GM shares. After Kerkorian sold, GM lost more than 90% of its value, falling as low as $ 1/share by May 2009, and filed bankruptcy on June 1, 2009. On April 5, 2007, Kirk Kerkorian made a $ 4.58 billion bid for the Chrysler Group , the U.S. arm of Daimler-Chrysler . After Daimler-Chrysler announced they were interested in selling
11280-504: The entrance to the NASA nightclub in Bangkok. The club closed some time after that, and the whereabouts of the palms are unknown. The Dunes opened with 194 rooms, and plans for additional rooms were already in the works, although it would be years before they came to fruition. In 1957, plans were announced for a $ 2 million expansion that would include a 14-story tower. A year later, the proposed tower
11421-458: The fanfare of the first implosion; it attracted 3,000 spectators. Wynn's new resort, Bellagio , eventually opened on the former Dunes site in 1998. The Dunes was initially owned by a group of businessmen that included Robert Rice of Beverly Hills, James A. Sullivan of Rhode Island, Milton Gettinger of New York, and Alfred Gottesman, a wealthy theater operator in Florida. Rice and Gottesman were new to
11562-509: The former Dunes site in 1998. The resort's lake covers much of the land once occupied by the Dunes' casino and hotel structures. New fire-safety rules were implemented in Las Vegas following the MGM Grand fire (1980) and Las Vegas Hilton fire (1981). In 1985, the Dunes was one of seven hotels that failed to comply with the new safety rules, receiving six citations. The Dunes agreed to close its main showroom and convention center in exchange for
11703-524: The gaming and hospitality and oil and gas industries and has, therefore, decided to reallocate its resources and to focus on those industries." On October 21, Tracinda sold the 7.3 million Ford shares at an average price of $ 2.43, and said it planned to cut further its existing 6.1 percent stake in Ford, for a potential total loss of more than half a billion dollars. Kerkorian sold his remaining stake in Ford on December 29, 2008. Kerkorian's net worth in 2008
11844-569: The gaming company, dropping from 53.8 percent to 39 percent and even after pledging to purchase 10 percent of the new stock offering they now remain minority owners. Kerkorian had an on-again/off-again relationship with the American auto industry. His involvement began in 1995 when with the assistance of retired Chrysler chairman and CEO Lee Iacocca , Kerkorian staged a takeover attempt of the Chrysler Corporation . Chrysler's management treated
11985-653: The gaming industry. The group proposed the project, originally called the Araby, in July 1953. It was later renamed the Vegas Plaza, and then Hotel Deauville. Groundbreaking took place on June 22, 1954, with the resort now known as the Dunes. It was built by the Los Angeles-based McNeil Construction Company, which spent 11 months working on the resort. The Dunes opened on May 23, 1955, as the tenth resort on
12126-512: The hands of the French bank, Crédit Lyonnais . Crédit Lyonnais invested significant sums to revive the moribund company and eventually sold it back to Kerkorian in 1996. Kerkorian soon expanded the company, purchasing Orion Pictures , The Samuel Goldwyn Company and Motion Picture Corporation of America from John Kluge 's Metromedia in 1997, and bought the pre-April 1996 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment library in 1999 from its parent Philips , which
12267-616: The hotel remained open. Rice blamed disagreements within Sands for the casino's failure. The group lost $ 1.2 million operating the Dunes, and relinquished control of the resort on February 1, 1956. Businessman Major Riddle subsequently partnered with local hotel operator William Miller to reopen the casino. They would be equal partners with 44-percent ownership, while Rice would own the remainder. The Dunes casino reopened in June 1956. Seven months later, plans were announced for Sullivan and Gottesman to sell
12408-537: The hotel's enormous Showroom Internationale were Barbra Streisand and Elvis Presley . Presley brought in some 4,200 customers (and potential gamblers) every day for 30 days straight, breaking in the process all attendance records in the county's history. Kerkorian's International Leisure also bought the Flamingo Hotel ; eventually, both hotels were sold to the Hilton Hotels Corporation and were renamed
12549-407: The land from Kerkorian. The rent and eventual sale of the land to Caesars in 1968 made Kerkorian $ 9 million ($ 70 million today). In 1967, he bought 82 acres (33 ha) of land on Paradise Road in Las Vegas for $ 5 million and, with architect Martin Stern Jr. , built the International Hotel , which at the time was the largest hotel in the world. The first two performers to appear at
12690-484: The loan could not be granted because Continental Connector owned a trucking company which employed teamsters who had contributed to the pension fund. Shenker criticized the pension fund's reasoning, saying that Continental Connector had already divested itself of ownership in the trucking company. A second tower, rising 17 stories, eventually opened in 1979. In 1980, members of the Colombo crime family received comped stays at
12831-465: The lot was sold to Sony Corporation's Columbia Pictures Entertainment in exchange for the half of Warner's lot that it had rented since 1972. Also in 1990, the MGM film company was purchased by Italian financier Giancarlo Parretti , who then merged the former Cannon with the MGM purchase to create the short-lived MGM-Pathé Communications . Parretti defaulted on the loans he'd used to buy MGM, leaving MGM in
12972-430: The median just south of Russell Road (which is 4.2 miles (6.8 km) from The Sahara. ), across from the location of the now-demolished Klondike Hotel and Casino and about 0.4 miles (0.64 km) south of the southernmost entrance to Mandalay Bay , which is the Strip's southernmost casino. In the strictest sense, the Strip refers only to the stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that is roughly between Sahara Avenue and
13113-610: The mix of table games in casinos on the Strip: Casino operators have been expanding sports betting facilities and products, as well as renovating and upgrading equipment and facilities. Although sports betting has a relatively low margin, the high-end sportsbooks can generate significant amounts of revenue in other areas, such as food and drink. As a result, sportsbooks have been expanding and upgrading food and drink offerings. High-end sportsbooks include features such as single-seat stadium-style seating, large high-definition screens,
13254-560: The most extensive routine investigations ever conducted by the Nevada Gaming Control Board . The Dunes had frequent connections with Mafia figures, some of whom were alleged to have hidden ownership in the resort, and state officials were concerned about Shenker's association with such figures. In 1957, the Dunes debuted Las Vegas' first topless show, Minsky Goes to Paris , prompting other resorts to follow suit. Two other successful shows, by Frederic Apcar , would later debut at
13395-508: The opening, management was taken over by the operators of the Sands resort, also on the Strip. This group failed to improve business and relinquished control less than six months later. Businessman Major Riddle turned business around after taking over operations in 1956. He was involved with the resort until his death in 1980. He had several partners, including Sid Wyman , who worked for the Dunes from 1961 until his death in 1978. Mafia attorney Morris Shenker joined in 1975, following one of
13536-500: The park closed in 2000 due to lack of interest. Similarly, in 2003 Treasure Island closed its own video arcade and abandoned the previous pirate theme, adopting the new ti name. In addition to the large hotels, casinos and resorts, the Strip is home to many attractions, such as M&M's World , Adventuredome and the Fashion Show Mall . With the opening of Bellagio , Venetian , Palazzo , Wynn and Encore resorts,
13677-408: The plane crashing), Kerkorian preferred the direct "Iceland Wave" route, which blew the planes at jet-speed to Europe—but it was not constant, and could mean ditching . The fee was $ 1,000 per flight. Although accounts claim the risk was that one in four planes failed to make it, the actual rate was closer to one in forty . In May 1944, Kerkorian and his Wing Commander John de Lacy Wooldridge rode
13818-493: The poker room. The gaming control board accused him of treating the Dunes as his personal office, and questioned Shenker and Riddle as to why he was allowed on the premises, given his Black Book status. The men denied knowing Spilotro or his background, and said they only had an outdated photograph of him from 20 years earlier, making it difficult to identify him. The control board alleged that management was, in fact, aware of Spilotro and had already been warned about his presence at
13959-442: The pre-May 1986 MGM library, Associated Artists Productions (the pre-1950 Warner Bros. Pictures library and Fleischer Studios / Famous Studios Popeye cartoons) and RKO Radio Pictures libraries, as well as Gilligan's Island and its animated spin-offs The New Adventures of Gilligan and Gilligan's Planet . The MGM studio complex was sold to Lorimar-Telepictures , which was later acquired by Warner Bros.; in 1990,
14100-433: The property to Jacob Gottlieb, owner of a Chicago trucking firm. Gottlieb became the resort's landlord through Western Realty Company, and Miller departed the property as president and general manager. The resort was managed through Riddle's operating company, M&R Investment. The Dunes was sold in a Clark County sheriff's auction at the end of 1957, to satisfy the debt owed to McNeil Construction. It sold for $ 115,000, but
14241-483: The purchase was made, Turner sold the United Artists subsidiary back to Kerkorian. Turner kept ownership of MGM from March 25 to August 26, 1986. He racked up huge debts and Turner simply could not afford to keep the studio under those circumstances. To recoup his investment, Turner sold the production/distribution assets and trademarks of MGM (including its post-April 1986 libraries) to United Artists while retaining
14382-439: The resort was a front for Nick Civella , whom Shenker had represented previously as attorney. Civella had a comped visit at the resort in 1974, but Shenker noted that he had not yet taken control of the Dunes at that time, and said he would not have allowed Civella to stay there if he had been in charge. In 1975, Tony "The Ant" Spilotro began spending extensive time in the Dunes casino, where he would take phone calls routed to
14523-441: The resort, he ultimately invested only $ 12 million in basic repairs. The Las Vegas Review-Journal had written in 1988 that the Dunes had lost its "mystical luster" over the past 20 years, with its high rollers migrating to "more attractive" resorts. The newspaper's John L. Smith wrote that the Dunes had lost its "classy resort" reputation and had become "a dump by Strip standards" despite its name recognition and prime location on
14664-592: The resort. M&R had negotiated a $ 40 million loan from the Teamsters Union pension fund in 1974. A $ 75 million expansion was planned to begin in 1976, and would include two additional hotel towers. The project would be financed in part by the Teamsters loan. However, the union withheld the funds, citing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 . Specifically, the union stated that
14805-484: The resort. Wyman died of cancer in June 1978, and gaming at the Dunes was halted for two minutes in his honor. In 1979, Continental Connector was renamed Dunes Hotels and Casinos Inc., amid plans for a second Dunes resort in Atlantic City. Riddle died in 1980, and Shenker suffered a heart attack that year, prompting him to seriously consider selling the Dunes. In 1982, the resort added a second casino building, known as
14946-426: The resort. In 1961, St. Louis businessmen Sid Wyman , Charlie Rich, and George Duckworth invested in the Dunes and became the new operators through a lease agreement. Wyman was put in charge of casino operations, and Riddle remained as the majority owner. The following year, he sold 15 percent of the operating corporation to the three men, reducing his interest to 37 percent. Several notable individuals were married at
15087-464: The resort. The control board encountered difficulty when looking into Nangaku's business associates because of differences in how Japan handles documents, which are generally kept confidential. Investigators also suspected that the associates were making attempts to hinder their efforts. In December 1988, Nangaku received a limited two-year gaming license while investigators continued their probe. Nangaku planned up to $ 280 million in renovations, including
15228-436: The result of it competing with other resorts for expensive live entertainment. In addition, the Dunes had numerous creditors . Among these was McNeil Construction, which filed a $ 166,000 lien against the ownership group, representing unpaid salary. The group said it would not pay the balance, stating that the construction contract had been violated. In August 1955, an agreement was reached for Sands Hotel Corporation, owner of
15369-470: The second floor, which was unfinished and sealed off. The Oasis Casino featured curved neon palm trees at its entrance, standing 70 feet with fronds 20 feet in length. They were designed by Ad-Art sign designer Jack DuBois, based on early design work by Raul Rodriguez. The palms were dismantled in April 1993, after being sold during the liquidation sale to a buyer in Taiwan. By 1999, the palms had been installed at
15510-416: The site of the former El Rancho Hotel and Casino and Algiers Hotel . The Tropicana closed in April 2024 and was demolished in October 2024. It will be replaced with a new Bally's Las Vegas resort and New Las Vegas Stadium which will become the home of the Oakland Athletics after they relocate to Las Vegas. The Mirage also closed in July 2024. BLVD is opening in 2025. Dream Las Vegas ,
15651-431: The sky as far as you can make it". At 181 feet (55 meters), it was the tallest free-standing sign in the world. The foundation measured 80 feet in width, and supported two white-colored columns forming a bulbous onion dome or stylized spade shape at the top. Contained within this shape were two-story-high letters spelling out "Dunes", with a large diamond atop the lettering. Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip
15792-527: The south end of the Strip. Later that year, Resorts World Las Vegas , opened on the site of the former Stardust Resort and Casino . Resorts World incorporates portions of a previously planned resort known as Echelon Place , which was canceled in 2008. In 2022, Bally's was renamed the Horseshoe Las Vegas . The Sphere venue opened in 2023. Also, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened on
15933-454: The southern Las Vegas Strip, but the project is delayed. In 2022, businessman Tilman Fertitta received approval to eventually build a 43-story resort at the southeast corner of Harmon Avenue. LVXP Las Vegas , a planned 752-tall resort project and an arena, is opening in 2029. RTC Transit (previously Citizens Area Transit, or CAT) provides bus service on the Strip with double decker buses known as The Deuce . The Deuce runs between
16074-513: The street. After a driver drove into pedestrians on the sidewalk in front of Paris Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood in December 2015, 800 bollards began to be installed on Las Vegas Blvd. starting in 2017. The construction of the bollards resulted in the removal of 49 of the 82 stars of the Las Vegas Walk of Stars . In 2019, the bollards on Las Vegas Blvd. were shortened after drivers complained that they were obstructing street views. 283 of
16215-655: The struggling MGM and sold off massive amounts of historical memorabilia, including Dorothy's ruby slippers from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz , the majority of the studio's backlots in Culver City and overseas operations such as the British MGM studio at Borehamwood. Kerkorian sold MGM's distribution system in 1973, and gradually distanced himself from the daily operation of the studio. He also owned minority interest in Columbia Pictures but his holdings were thwarted by
16356-470: The sultan was moved to the edge of the golf course along I-15, serving as an advertisement to motorists. The sultan was destroyed by fire, caused by a short circuit, on the night of December 31, 1985. Lee Klay of the Federal Sign and Signal Company designed a roadside sign for the Dunes, activated on November 12, 1964. Klay recalled that the resort owners asked him to create "a big phallic symbol going up in
16497-407: The takeover as hostile, and after a lengthy battle, Kerkorian canceled his plans and sold his Chrysler stake in 1996. As part of the settlement, Iacocca was placed under a gag order forbidding him from discussing Chrysler in public or print for five years. Two years later, Chrysler management agreed to be acquired by German automaker Daimler-Benz . Kerkorian always drove an American vehicle, including
16638-410: The time of its closing, the Dunes employed more than 1,200 people. Employees held reunions each year following the closure. An on-site sale of the Dunes inventory, including light fixtures and carpeting, began in March 1993. Demolition started on September 16, 1993. A four-alarm fire began on-site that afternoon, after workers accidentally ran over an electrical outlet in a bulldozer. The fire affected
16779-605: The various resorts on the Strip. The only movie theatre directly on the Strip was the 10-screen Regal Showcase Theatre in the Showcase Mall. The theater opened in 1997 and was operated by Regal Entertainment Group , until its closure in 2018. During 2019, 51% of visitors attended shows, which was down from 2015, 2017, and 2018. Among visitors who saw shows, relatively more went to Broadway/production shows than in past years, while relatively fewer saw lounge acts, comedy shows, or celebrity DJs. Numerous entertainment venues populate
16920-411: The wave and broke the old crossing record. Wooldridge got to Scotland in six hours, 46 minutes; Kerkorian, in seven hours, nine minutes. In two and a half years with RAF Ferry Command , Kerkorian delivered 33 planes, logged thousands of hours, traveled to four continents and flew his first four-engine plane. After the war, having saved most of his wages, Kerkorian spent $ 5,000 on
17061-432: The world are on the Strip, known for its contemporary architecture, lights, and wide variety of attractions. Its hotels, casinos, restaurants, residential high-rises, entertainment offerings, and skyline have established the Strip as one of the most popular and iconic tourist destinations in the world and is one of the driving forces for Las Vegas's economy. Most of the Strip has been designated as an All-American Road , and
17202-603: Was $ 16 billion according to Forbes magazine, making him the 41st richest person in the world and the richest person in California at that time. By 2011, Kerkorian was among those hardest hit by the stock market recession as his net worth tumbled to $ 3.2 billion. In 2013, he was listed as the 412th richest person with a net worth of $ 3.9 billion. Kerkorian was an "intensely private person". He almost never gave interviews and seldom appeared in public. "Kerkorian rarely attended board meetings and never gave speeches. He
17343-514: Was among the tallest buildings in Nevada . The tower was originally known as Diamond of the Dunes, and was later called the North Tower, following the addition of the South Tower. Construction of the latter began on July 26, 1978, part of a $ 100 million expansion and remodeling project. The 17-story South Tower was topped off on April 12, 1979, and was opened that December. The second tower was designed by Maxwell Starkman and included 464 rooms, for
17484-418: Was an Armenian-American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He was the president and CEO of Tracinda Corporation , his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California . Kerkorian was one of the important figures in the shaping of Las Vegas and, with architect Martin Stern Jr. , is described as the "father of the mega-resort ". He built the world's largest hotel in Las Vegas three times:
17625-414: Was an increase in taxi passengers due to declines in rideshare drivers and rideshare surge pricing. Rideshare services, including Uber and Lyft , are available on the Strip. In 2019, about eight in ten (81%) visitors said they gambled while in Las Vegas, the highest proportion in the past five years. The average time spent gambling, 2.7 hours, represents an increase over the past three years. Also,
17766-447: Was approved by the county in 1981. The expansion cost $ 15 million, and included the Oasis Casino, which opened on August 20, 1982. The structure, with an exterior of black mirrored glass, was built at a cost of $ 17 million. The Oasis provided the Dunes property with an additional 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m) of gaming space. Although the Oasis was a two-story building, it opened without
17907-430: Was briefly used as a job center for Treasure Island. It was eventually imploded on the morning of July 20, 1994, without the fanfare of the first implosion. Mirage Resorts had urged people not to show up for the second implosion, which attracted approximately 3,000 spectators. Commenting on the end of the Dunes, Wynn said, "This is not an execution; this is a phoenix rising". His new resort, Bellagio , eventually opened on
18048-497: Was earmarked for medical research, scholarships and other projects while the other half was earmarked to create the "Dream Fund" for charitable causes around the country. Most of the $ 2 billion estate was left to charity, with a three-person committee left to distribute the funds within three years. In December 2018, the estate settled with his 4th wife for $ 12.5 million, along with $ 10 million and $ 50 million for two philanthropic foundations, advised by his 4th wife. Armenia issued
18189-427: Was handled by Controlled Demolition, Inc. The demolition required 365 pounds of dynamite, and 550 gallons of aviation fuel were also used, creating fireballs that went up each floor of the tower's east side, facing the Strip and spectators. The Oasis Casino and the Dunes' two-story casino building were not part of the implosion. Fireworks sparked two small fires on the roof of the Oasis, and numerous small fires began in
18330-555: Was in process to sell PolyGram to Seagram . In 2005, Kerkorian sold MGM once more to a consortium led by Sony. He retained a 55% stake in MGM Mirage. On November 22, 2006, Kerkorian's Tracinda investment corporation offered to buy 15 million shares of MGM Mirage to increase his stake in the gambling giant from 56.3% to 61.7%, if approved. In May 2009, following the completion of a $ 1 billion stock offering by MGM Mirage, Kerkorian and Tracinda lost their majority ownership of
18471-494: Was in short supply at the time, so he sold the fuel from the planes' tanks, paid off his loan, and still had the airplanes. He operated the airline until 1968 when he sold it for $ 104 million to the Transamerica Corporation . In 1962, Kerkorian bought 80 acres (32 ha) in Las Vegas , across the Las Vegas Strip from the Flamingo for $ 960,000. This purchase led to the building of Caesars Palace , which rented
18612-496: Was increased to 18 stories. An additional 246 rooms were eventually added in 1960, with the opening of the Olympic Wing, joining the existing Seahorse Wing. Groundbreaking for the tower eventually took place on October 20, 1962. It was designed by Milton Schwartz, and the opening was pushed back because of design changes. The tower eventually opened in May 1965. It had 510 rooms, bringing the total room count to 960. At 21 stories, it
18753-513: Was one of the worst disasters in Las Vegas history. The Clark County Fire Department reported 84 deaths in the fire; there were 87 deaths total, including three which occurred later as a result of injuries sustained in the fire. After only 8 months the MGM Grand reopened. Almost three months after the MGM fire, the Las Vegas Hilton caught fire, killing eight people. In 1986, Kerkorian sold the MGM Grand hotels in Las Vegas and Reno for $ 594 million to Bally Manufacturing . The Las Vegas property
18894-494: Was opened in 1965. By this time, the resort also had the tallest free-standing sign in the world, rising 181 feet. Several popular restaurants were also added in the 1960s, including the underwater-themed Dome of the Sea, and the Top O' the Strip, located at the top of the hotel tower. Another tower, 17 stories in height, was opened in 1979, giving the resort a total of 1,282 rooms. The Dunes added
19035-672: Was previously called Hwy 91, or the Arrowhead Highway , or Los Angeles Highway. The Strip was named by Los Angeles police officer and businessman Guy McAfee , after his hometown's Sunset Strip in Hollywood. In 1950, Mayor Ernie Cragin of the City of Las Vegas sought to annex the Las Vegas Strip, which ran through unincorporated Clark County territory, in order to expand the city's tax base to fund his ambitious building agenda and pay down
19176-474: Was remodeled in 1961, and a keno lounge would be added 10 years later, part of a $ 2 million renovation project. In 1965, the Dunes became the first Strip business to offer a nursery, which would supervise children while their parents enjoyed the resort's amenities. By that point, the Dunes also had two swimming pools and a dozen shops, while additional retailers would be added in 1979. An 85,000 sq ft (7,900 m) addition, containing various amenities,
19317-588: Was shy, but was a tough negotiator. Those who knew him describe him not as a Hughesian hermit, but as a gentle, gracious, normal guy." Kerkorian was an avid tennis player , played in tournaments, associated with other players like Lornie Kuhle, and routinely played with Alex Yemenidjian , a former MGM executive, and former owner of the Tropicana Las Vegas resort. He had a penchant for expensive clothes (especially custom-made outfits by Italian designer Brioni ), but drove relatively inexpensive vehicles, such as
19458-784: Was subsequently renamed Bally's . Spun off from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , MGM Resorts International owns and operates several properties, including the current MGM Grand , the Bellagio , the New York-New York , Mandalay Bay , The Luxor , Excalibur , Park MGM , the Cosmopolitan and the CityCenter complex in Las Vegas. MGM sold its Treasure Island Hotel and Casino property to billionaire and former New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin for $ 750 million. In 1969, Kerkorian appointed James Thomas Aubrey Jr. as president of MGM. Aubrey downsized
19599-607: Was the Pair-o-Dice Club in 1931, but the first full service casino-resort on what is currently called the Strip was the El Rancho Vegas , which opened with 63 bungalow hotel rooms on April 3, 1941. Its success spawned a second nearby hotel, the Hotel Last Frontier in 1942. Organized crime figures such as Bugsy Siegel took an intense interest in the growing Las Vegas gaming center and funded another resort; financing
19740-601: Was the father of Bonder's daughter, an allegation which was later confirmed by DNA paternity testing . On August 10, 2006, the Los Angeles Times reported that Kerkorian's attorneys were being sued by Bonder because of their connection to former high-profile private investigator Anthony Pellicano , who in 2008 began serving a fifteen-year prison sentence for running a wiretapping scheme. Bonder's attorney alleged that Kerkorian's lawyers hired Pellicano to wiretap telephone calls between him and Kerkorian's ex-wife in order to gain
19881-407: Was valued at $ 3.5 million. Gottesman, Sullivan, and Gettinger bought it back in November 1958. The resort thrived under Riddle, who added several new shows and facilities. On April 15, 1959, the Dunes hosted the first double groundbreaking ceremony in Las Vegas history: one for a convention center, built south of the existing resort facilities, and another for a 500-space parking lot directly north of
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