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105-542: Business at the resort declined as ownership changed several times. In 1965, Wells and Jones sold the Thunderbird to Del E. Webb Corporation , which later sold it to Caesars World in 1972. Caesars World planned to demolish the Thunderbird and construct a $ 150 million resort in its place, but the project was canceled because of a lack of financing. The Thunderbird was sold to Tiger Investment Company, which leased it to Major Riddle starting in 1977. Riddle renovated and expanded

210-632: A Dallas investment bank for construction of the towers. At that time, LVEN 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. In January 1996, Orion Casino Corporation purchased the El Rancho from LVEN for $ 43.5 million. Orion Casino Corporation was a newly formed Nevada subsidiary of International Thoroughbred Breeders (ITB),

315-657: A homosexual . Greenspun became further entrenched in domestic politics when allegations were made that he held blackmail information against prominent Democratic presidential nominees. On June 17, 1972, Virgilio González , Bernard Barker , James W. McCord, Jr. , Eugenio Martínez and Frank Sturgis were arrested while placing electronic devices in the Democratic Party campaign offices in an apartment block called Watergate , in Washington, D.C. It later emerged that people working for President Richard Nixon wanted to wiretap

420-579: A leaseback , in which Caesars World continued to operate the resort while it was owned by Tiger Investment. The Thunderbird had presented Caesars World with significant financial losses. In December 1976, Major Riddle planned to take over operations at the Thunderbird and rename it as the Silver Bird (later spelled "Silverbird"), consistent with two other casinos he owned in Las Vegas: the Silver Nugget and

525-473: A $ 1.5 million renovation that would include alterations to the facade. One of the Thunderbird statues was replaced by a larger version, and 400 feet of neon signage was added across the front of the building, spelling out the "Thunderbird" name with letters standing two stories tall. The renovation project also included the expansion of the casino, restaurants, and shops, and the construction of an Olympic-size swimming pool . Del E. Webb Construction Company handled

630-497: A 2,000-room hotel, a casino, and a shopping complex. The Thunderbird would continue operations until the near-completion of the Mark Anthony. At the end of 1972, Caesars World planned approximately $ 500,000 in renovation work for the Thunderbird, believing it could bring in a profit before its planned demolition about two years later. The Thunderbird was operated by a Caesars World subsidiary called Paradise Road Hotel Corporation. After

735-561: A 78-room hotel addition at a cost of $ 750,000. The hotel had expanded to 206 rooms by 1950. In 1953, the Thunderbird opened the adjacent 110-room Algiers Hotel , built south of the resort. It served as a sister property to deal with overflow guests of the Thunderbird. In its early years, the Thunderbird served as a popular meeting place for local politicians. In October 1954, articles in the Las Vegas Sun alleged that Jake and Meyer Lansky , both underworld Mafia figures, held hidden shares in

840-458: A Democratic candidate for president. E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy believed Greenspun possessed incriminating information on Edmund Muskie , and wanted to capture the documents in a joint operation with billionaire Howard Hughes 's security team. The operation fell through because Hughes's team refused to go further. As Greenspun was an avowed Republican, it was assumed that Greenspun would use his political influence and connections to sway

945-555: A New Jersey racetrack operator founded by Robert E. Brennan , who had previously organized a penny stock scheme. A month after the purchase, 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 sq ft (2,800 m). Individual partners would each contribute up to $ 100 million to own and operate

1050-486: A casino within the complex. Orion Casino Corporation would own and operate one of the seven casinos. The complex would include 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m) of retail space, as well as 2,400 hotel rooms and a 65-story hotel tower. ITB hoped to begin construction later in 1996, with a planned opening date of April 1998. Some gaming analysts expressed skepticism that the Starship Orion project could get built, citing

1155-471: A controlling interest in a Haitian casino. The tax commission had adopted a new regulation that prohibited Nevada gaming operators from owning interest in out-of-state casinos. Although Jones was no longer involved in the Thunderbird's gaming operations, he still maintained his ownership stake in the resort. The casino was closed in December 1960, for remodeling. In May 1961, a group of businessmen agreed to lease

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1260-569: A dinner party hosted by Maureen Black (née Peres) daughter of Harold Peres of Solomon and Peres and wife of British businessman Roy Keith Black . As a young man, Greenspun became closely involved with Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel and the work he was doing to reopen his Flamingo casino. Greenspun worked as the Flamingos's publicity agent. Following the murder of Siegel in Los Angeles in 1947, Greenspun renewed his interest in his Jewish heritage and became

1365-574: A gaming license for the Silverbird property. Torres' $ 25 million purchase was approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission in April 1982. Torres spent another $ 25 million to renovate the property before reopening it as the El Rancho on August 31, 1982. More than 1,000 people attended the opening. The resort was named after the original El Rancho Vegas. Like the earlier resort, the new El Rancho featured

1470-529: 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. Harry Wald , the former president and chief operating officer of Caesars Palace, was to direct the redevelopment of the El Rancho into a full-time family resort. LVEN purchased the property in November 1993, 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

1575-468: A global search, Caesars World was unable to find financing for the $ 150 million Mark Anthony project, and its cancellation was announced in June 1975. Caesars World initially stated that there was no intention of selling the Thunderbird, and that there were several plans in consideration for the property. In 1976, Caesars World announced that it would sell the Thunderbird for $ 9 million to Tiger Investment Company,

1680-503: A group of Las Vegas bankers that included E. Parry Thomas . At the time, the hotel had 460 rooms. Joan Louise Siegel, a Las Vegas resident, filed a suit to block the sale. During 1975, she had made two offers to purchase the Thunderbird for $ 20 million, but was told that the resort was not for sale. A district court judge dismissed the suit, stating that Caesars World had no obligation to sell the resort to Siegel. Tiger Investment completed its purchase later in 1976. The sale agreement involved

1785-401: A mattress on fire. The Silverbird suffered a two-alarm fire on March 3, 1981, when an arsonist lit up a dressing room under the showroom stage. The hotel was evacuated with no injuries, and only minimal damage was caused. However, 14 fire trucks responded because it was the third fire in four months to occur at local resorts. Riddle died in 1980, and the Silverbird, along with his other casinos,

1890-490: A new sign the following year. Riddle changed the name of the resort because he believed that "Thunderbird" had become synonymous with "poor food and tight slot machines." Riddle leased the Silverbird from Tiger Investment, and operated it through his company, NLV Corporation. The renovation and expansion project took place throughout 1977. The expansion included a new 500-seat buffet, one of the largest in Las Vegas. Joe's Oyster Bar

1995-535: A number of construction projects commissioned by the United States government , including the construction of a rocket engine test stand at Edwards Air Force Base . The company also built military housing on Offutt Air Force Base , Whiteman Air Force Base and Vandenberg Air Force Base . The company's founder, Webb was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson as recognition for these projects. In 1987,

2100-592: A prominent figure in supporting the struggle to establish the State of Israel . In 1947, when the Haganah was already in armed conflict with Arab forces, Greenspun shipped machine guns and airplane parts to that organization (which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces ). This was a violation of the U.S. Neutrality Acts , a crime for which Greenspun was arrested and ultimately convicted on July 10, 1950. He

2205-531: A small contractor who was building a grocery store. The contractor eventually left town without paying Webb or completing the grocery store, so Webb took over the business to complete the job. This became the foundation of his namesake construction company. Among his earliest commissions were grocery store buildings for the Basha family . Webb soon became known as a grocery store builder. However, Webb sought to expand his firm and eagerly sought out public sector jobs during

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2310-432: A success. The show was initially only signed for a few weeks, but ultimately ran for nearly a year before being replaced by South Pacific . Flower Drum Song had attracted more than 360,000 people over the course of its run, and South Pacific was also well received. South Pacific closed in 1963, and was replaced by a summer engagement of Flower Drum Song , marking its return to the Thunderbird theatre. The show's run

2415-520: A three-eighths mile track, operated along Paradise Valley Road . It was successful, prompting relocation to a larger site in 1964. The new Thunderbird Downs was situated across the street, on property owned by Joe W. Brown that was previously used for the Las Vegas Park . In 1965, the Brown family sold the land. The Thunderbird Downs track was closed that November, and was demolished in early 1966, replaced by

2520-427: A topless revue of Japanese women. In the mid-1970s, the resort hosted entertainers such as Cyd Charisse , Keely Smith , and Tony Martin . Redd Foxx was also a frequent performer, and he held his third wedding at the resort in 1976. A year later, the Silverbird launched a show titled Playgirls on Ice '77 . The Continental Theatre had seating for 620 people at the time. Ipi Tombi , a South African show, debuted at

2625-407: A western theme, including a facade of old-western town buildings. The new resort had a wooden interior accompanied by American Indian items, chandeliers, buffalo trophy heads, and western paintings. Torres also added a 52-lane bowling alley. The western theme and bowling alley were part of an effort to attract families, a growing tourist demographic in Las Vegas. A new poker parlor was also added, but

2730-749: The Excalibur (1990). The latter took away some of the middle-class gamblers that the El Rancho had relied upon. Torres announced in May 1992 that the resort would close in two months, giving workers a mandated 60-day notice. At the time, Torres had been trying to sell the resort for $ 25–30 million, but was unsuccessful. The closure announcement came after the Culinary Workers Union voted against Torres' request for concessions. The El Rancho also owed gaming taxes for its 918 slot machines. The bowling alley, sportsbook, and slot machines were shut down on June 30, 1992, and

2835-589: The Las Vegas Country Club . Thunderbird Downs was successful during its two-year run. In September 1964, the Del E. Webb Corporation announced plans to purchase the Thunderbird from Wells and Jones through its subsidiary, Sahara-Nevada Corporation, which owned the nearby Sahara resort. The sale price was $ 9.5 million, and the purchase was approved by the state in January 1965. Two months later, plans were announced for

2940-527: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration . In addition, LVEN was subsequently investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for alleged stock scams and investor fraud. In February 2000, Turnberry Associates acquired a six-month option to purchase the El Rancho from ITB. Two months later, Turnberry agreed to the purchase with plans to demolish the El Rancho. Turnberry considered

3045-951: The Rosenzweig Center all in Phoenix, Campbell Plaza and Wilmont Medical Center in Tucson, Executive and Commerce Plazas in Oak Brook and the Stardust Country Club (renamed Sahara-Nevada Country Club) in Las Vegas. The Webb Corp. also served as leasing agent to many large companies including Prudential Insurance , Travelers Insurance, Arizona-Colorado Land & Cattle Company, Valley National Bank , Feau Realty & Development and Hartford Insurance Company . The company's interest in commercial properties continued until 1987 at which time these properties were sold. Hank Greenspun Herman Milton "Hank" Greenspun (August 27, 1909 – July 23, 1989)

3150-486: The Silver City Casino . At the time, the Thunderbird employed 500 people. Riddle planned a renovation of the resort, and had initially wanted to close the casino for the remodeling, before deciding to keep it open. The casino would be enlarged from 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m) to 53,000 sq ft (4,900 m), and a sportsbook would be added. A high-rise hotel building had also been planned, along with

3255-479: The Turnberry Place condominium towers on the site, located directly east of the El Rancho. By June 1999, a partner company of LVEN was considering a purchase of the El Rancho, with plans to renovate it at a cost of $ 354 million. Ultimately, the sale did not proceed. In the years that it sat vacant, the El Rancho had come to be widely considered as the city's worst eyesore. In 1999, local news channel KVBC News 3

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3360-461: The 1950s Webb began building shopping centers which were also owned or jointly owned by Webb through several wholly owned subsidiaries. The Del E. Webb Building Management Co. was created in 1968 as a subsidiary. It then became the Del E. Webb Realty & Management Co. in 1970. Major properties that fall under this umbrella Include Uptown Plaza Shopping Center, Camelback Village Square, Christown Mall and

3465-412: The 1960s Webb would develop a chain of high-end, multi-story hotels called Towne House. During this time, the corporation was also deeply involved in the development of Oak Brook, Illinois , Clear Lake City, Texas and Alamaden, California . In the late 1960s, the corporation entered a joint venture building infrastructure for several South American countries, which was the firm's first engagement outside

3570-399: The 1970s and early 1980s, the corporation continued to construct many large and small scale projects including housing, schools, hospitals, hotels, high rises, convention centers, athletic venues, and airports. The company would also continue to keep close ties to Las Vegas and its gaming industry, working on a major expansion of Caesars Palace in the mid-1970s. The company was involved in

3675-461: The American Federation of Gaming and Casino Employes, alleged that Sahara and Thunderbird workers were harassed by management after trying to organize into a union. Table game dealers also filed a $ 100,000 lawsuit against the Thunderbird, alleging that the resort refused to pay them overtime wages. Picketing also took place in front of the Thunderbird, accusing the resort of antisemitism after

3780-723: The Del E. Webb Construction Company went public on the New York Stock Exchange trading as WBB. The company also became known as the Del E. Webb Corporation at this time. In 1961, the Webb Corporation acquired the Sahara Nevada Corporation and its holdings of the Sahara and Mint hotels in Las Vegas. This made Webb the first publicly held corporation to be involved in Las Vegas gaming. Webb would go on to purchase, build, and expand several properties throughout Nevada. In

3885-534: The Del E. Webb Development Company, responsible for the design and construction of housing tracts and shopping centers. In 1953 the development company would begin construction on San Manuel, Arizona a mining town built out of nothing. In 1955 the Webb corporation began constructing hotels for the Flamingo Corporation , which Webb was part owner. The following year Webb constructed the first Hiway House Hotel , which

3990-432: The El Rancho and its 20 acres in May 2000. The company had been developing the Turnberry Place high-rise condominiums on 15 acres located behind the El Rancho. The closed resort was considered an eyesore for the new project, so Turnberry Associates had it demolished. The El Rancho's last remaining building, the 13-story hotel tower, was imploded on October 3, 2000. The former property of the El Rancho and Algiers later became

4095-588: The Great Depression of the 1930s. In 1937 the firm opened a small branch office in Los Angeles to oversee construction of a high school there. With the onset of World War II the firm constructed several airfields throughout Arizona, as well as an internment camp for Americans with Japanese lineage at Poston ( Poston War Relocation Center ). In 1943, Webb made trusted employee L. C. Jacobson a 25 percent partner. Jacobson eventually became vice president. In 1946 Webb

4200-672: The Green Valley Ranch, Resort and Spa with interest being held through The Greenspun Corporation . Greenpsun started the first TV station in Nevada, KLAS-TV , in 1953. Greenspun ran for Governor of Nevada in 1962 , but was defeated in the Republican Party primary by Oran Gragson . In 2008, SGP Media produced the feature documentary about the life and times of Hank Greenspun, narrated by Anthony Hopkins . In 1944, he married Northern Ireland native Barbara Joan Ritchie, who also

4305-556: The Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee to stabilize the Las Vegas Wash . The El Rancho's implosion was recorded and featured in the 2004 National Geographic Channel documentary Exploding Las Vegas , along with several other Las Vegas casino implosions. Turnberry initially planned to build a London-themed resort on the El Rancho land, but the project was later canceled. The site of the El Rancho and Algiers

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4410-451: The Nevada supreme court ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to revoke the Thunderbird gaming license. The court also ruled that Brown had acted in error, stating that casino owners shall not be entitled to continue operations under a district court injunction while they are appealing decisions by the tax commission. The commission chose not to pursue the matter any further. Jones disposed of his gaming license in 1958, after purchasing

4515-528: The Silverbird in 1979, but ended due to lack of popularity. In 1981, the financially struggling resort launched a show titled Feminine Touch . In 1990, Rodney Dangerfield opened a comedy club at the El Rancho known as Rodney's Place, which previously had an unsuccessful run at the Tropicana resort. The club presented a variety of comedians. It closed a year later, due to poor business. Del E. Webb Construction Company The Del E. Webb Construction Company

4620-466: The Thunderbird and issued a permanent injunction against the tax commission, while stating that the commission should create and publish clear guidelines declaring what is required by casino licensees. He stated that any licensee "is surely entitled to know what is expected of him under the license obtained, and not be subject to annihilation upon an order of the commission based upon no substantial evidence in support of an alleged violation." Brown wrote that

4725-550: The Thunderbird and surrounding acreage for $ 13.5 million to Caesars World , owner of the Caesars Palace resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The sale was approved later that year. Caesars World planned to build a new resort, the Mark Anthony, on the newly acquired property. The project was named after the Roman politician and general Mark Antony , and the resort would have served as a companion to Caesars Palace. The Mark Anthony would include

4830-518: The Thunderbird and were released in 1963: Caught in the Act, Vol. 2 by Frances Faye , and At The Las Vegas Thunderbird by Gloria Lynne . The Thunderbird offered numerous shows throughout its history. In the late 1950s, The Kim Sisters were among 35 cast members who performed in the resort's China Doll Revue . In 1959, the Thunderbird launched a partially nude ice show known as Ecstasy on Ice . Flower Drum Song opened in December 1961, and proved to be

4935-457: The Thunderbird decreased following the Del Webb purchase and subsequent sales. In January 1967, Del Webb announced the sale of the Thunderbird for $ 13 million, to a group of businessmen known as Lance Inc. The state approved the sale three months later. At the end of 1967, Lance Inc. defaulted on its payments to Del Webb, and Consolidated Casinos was granted temporary approval by the state to take over

5040-515: The Thunderbird from Hicks after he was hospitalized. Hicks had been battling cancer for two years and owned 72 percent of the Thunderbird stock. The new group included Sid Wyman and two other men who had all previously been involved with the Riviera resort nearby. Plans to lease the Thunderbird were canceled in August 1961, as Hicks regained his health and wanted to maintain his control of the resort. He died

5145-410: The Thunderbird. In January 1968, Lance Inc. sought refinancing to take over the Thunderbird once again. The company owed an estimated $ 10 million to $ 14 million in debt, and a payment plan for its creditors was submitted. However, later that year, the company lost its battle to regain control of the Thunderbird, leaving it in Del Webb's ownership. In July 1972, it was announced that Del Webb would sell

5250-478: The Turnberry purchase. On October 3, 2000, the resort's last remaining structure, the 13-story hotel tower, was imploded with 700 pounds of dynamite. The implosion took place at 2:30 a.m., and more than 2,000 spectators came to witness it. For safety reasons, the demolition was a subdued event compared to past implosions in Las Vegas. Turnberry had given only minimal publicity to the implosion, in order to minimize

5355-540: The United States. Also at this time, the corporation formed an additional subsidiary, the Del E. Webb Building Management Company, which was responsible for building management and would eventually become the Del E. Webb Realty and Management Company when the subsidiary expanded to include holding leases on public buildings. In 1971, the corporation acquired Merlin Hotels, which had many properties throughout East Asia. Throughout

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5460-464: The chairman of the tax commission, had been running for re-election in 1954. The allegations against the Thunderbird had come to light a month prior to the election, and the hotel alleged that the timing of the claims was politically motivated, as one member of the tax commission had already known about the Sadlo loan years prior to the 1954 accusation. In December 1955, judge Merwyn H. Brown ruled in favor of

5565-587: The company tried to reward him by nicknaming a star after him in 1993. In 2001 the corporation was purchased by Pulte Homes . The Del Webb name is used by Pulte as a brand name for its age-restricted communities. Works built by the Del E. Webb Construction Company, (1928-1960) later the Del E. Webb Corporation (1960-2001) are listed in the table. Several works by the firm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Properties owned, managed and/or operated by Del E. Webb Corporation. In

5670-450: The company. SunAmerica , the prospective underwriter for Countryland USA, subsequently chose not to proceed with its $ 100 million investment, out of concerns over the project and management. Ultimately, ITB stated that it was unable to raise financing for Countryland USA. At the end of 1997, Turnberry Associates purchased the 15-acre parcel behind the El Rancho, where Thunderbird Downs had previously operated. The company began developing

5775-400: The construction of Youngtown, Arizona , Del E. Webb began planning the construction of a retirement community for senior citizens in 1959. The development was planned as an age-restricted community of modern ranch-style houses , with facilities such as a shopping center , golf course , motel , and swimming pool . On January 1, 1960, the development company unveiled Sun City, Arizona as

5880-667: The conversations of Larry O'Brien , chairman of the Democratic National Committee . The Watergate scandal developed from this incident, leading to wide-ranging investigations, Congressional hearings, and steady media coverage for the next two years. On May 23, 1973, McCord admitted that this group (known as the " Plumbers ") had been involved in several covert activities. This included a plot to steal documents from Hank Greenspun's safe. McCord testified that Attorney General John N. Mitchell had told him that Greenspun had in his possession blackmail type information involving

5985-548: The decision was made to divest the gaming, hotel, and realty management sections of the corporation, all of the Webb-owned properties were sold off, and the corporation was reorganized to focus solely on the concept of master-planned communities for senior citizens . New communities opened in Arizona, Nevada, California, and Texas. During the 1990s, Marco Rubio began holding speaking engagements at these retirement communities, for which

6090-585: The election. Immediately after Greenspun's death, his family entered the Sun into a joint operating agreement with the Las Vegas Review-Journal . As a result, the Sun operated as an afternoon daily from 1990 on. Beginning in October 2005, under an amended joint operating agreement, the paper began delivery with the morning Review-Journal as an insert. Greenspun formed The Greenspun Corporation to manage

6195-445: The enlargement of the coffee shop and keno lounge. Riddle's target clientele included local residents and tourists both looking for cheap food and "loose" slots. Riddle believed that the local market had been forgotten over the years as the Thunderbird continued to change ownership. The name change took effect on January 1, 1977, and the property's roadside sign would be updated to reflect the new name, before being replaced entirely with

6300-517: The family's assets. Greenspun was also heavily involved in real estate , acquiring most of the western portion of Henderson, Nevada for a development that eventually became Green Valley . Much of the original seed money for the real estate investment was acquired through a loan from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters . His family controls the majority of this land and associated real estate developments, including golf courses and

6405-449: The firing of a Jewish table game dealer, Howard Bock. Consolidated Casinos Corporation said Bock was fired because he dumped food on another dealer's head. Hanley alleged that Bock was fired because he was Jewish, and said that Bock was harassed by the other dealer because of his ethnicity. Hanley's attempt to unionize the Thunderbird and other casinos was defeated later in 1966, during a National Labor Relations Board election. Business at

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6510-579: The first community designed for senior citizens. More than 100,000 senior citizens were present at the community's unveiling, which marked the first planned retirement community in the United States. Sun City was a success, with the company selling 237 homes within its first three days of opening. It was followed by Sun City, California , the Kern City , Sun City Center, Florida , and similar developments in Nevada , Illinois , and Massachusetts . In December 1960,

6615-425: The following decades. Along with construction, the corporation was also involved in real estate and owned several hotels and casinos which were built and/or expanded by the company. The company was purchased in 2001 by Pulte Homes. Pulte Homes since merged with Centex Corp. and became PulteGroup . Del Webb continues as a brand of PulteGroup. After moving from Fresno to Phoenix in 1928, Del Webb began working for

6720-402: The following month, at the age of 57. The casino was closed for seven hours so employees could attend Hicks' funeral, marking the second time it had ever been closed. Wells was named as the resort's new managing director, taking over for Hicks. Under Wells, the Thunderbird became heavily affiliated with sporting events such as wrestling and boxing. It also sponsored a deer-hunting contest. Ground

6825-445: The high cost and ITB's lack of casino experience. In an agreement with LVEN, ITB was to come up with financing for Starship Orion, 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

6930-449: The hotel. A state investigation was soon launched to determine whether the reports were true. The Thunderbird's complex ownership setup was a subject of questioning during a Nevada Tax Commission hearing later that month, part of the larger investigation into the resort's ownership. The property beneath the Thunderbird was owned by Bonanza Hotel, Inc, which operated the hotel portion and leased out other portions. Bonanza did not receive any of

7035-401: The interior of a ship, and fresh oysters were flown in to the restaurant daily from New Orleans. The four-story addition, with 205 rooms, was opened in November 1963. The expansion project was also supposed to include a skyscraper hotel building, approximately 17 stories with 350 rooms, to be built on the site of the hotel's pool area. It was to open in 1964, but it never materialized. Wells was

7140-427: The loan to Jake Lansky, without informing Hicks. The investigation revealed that Hicks had made interest payments to Jake Lansky from 1951 to 1954. The loan was perceived by the tax commission as a hidden interest in the Thunderbird. On April 1, 1955, the commission ruled that Hicks and Jones had to dispose of their interest in the Thunderbird within two months. Otherwise, the resort's gaming license would be suspended. It

7245-404: The monthly costs to approximately $ 500,000. Bob Stupak was among those who bid on the Silverbird, but no one bid the minimum amount. Eddy King, the chairman of record promotion company Star Makers Unlimited, offered the highest bid at $ 3.5 million. Last-minute efforts to negotiate a deal with King did not work out. As a result of the failed auction, the Silverbird was closed on December 3, 1981, at

7350-404: The new resort, which would have housed facilities for production and broadcasting. The channel would have promoted events at Countryland USA, as well as other resorts. LVEN also planned to add a country-themed shopping mall and a rodeo production facility to the new resort. Construction of the new hotel towers was delayed because of a lack of financing. In October 1994, LVEN received $ 35 million from

7455-505: The news team. 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

7560-411: The next 12 years. By August 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

7665-498: The number of spectators. Police officers were brought on to keep crowds at a safe distance. The Algiers Hotel was covered in plastic to protect it against dust from the implosion, and it did not have any hotel guests at the time. Site cleanup for the demolition debris was expected to take two months. Approximately 10,000 pounds of concrete from the demolished resort was used by the Southern Nevada Water Authority and

7770-610: The order of a federal bankruptcy judge. The closure affected approximately 850 employees. Two weeks after its closure, Ed Torres announced plans to purchase the Silverbird and its property from Tiger Investment. He intended to renovate the resort and reopen it by May 1982, and planned to add a hotel tower. Torres was the owner of the Aladdin hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, and was also the father of swimmer Dara Torres . Ed Torres knew notorious crime members such as Meyer Lansky and Vincent Alo , but this did not restrict him from acquiring

7875-440: The original El Rancho Vegas across the street. Torres added a 13-story hotel tower in 1988. The El Rancho closed on July 6, 1992, unable to compete with newer mega-resorts. It sat vacant for the next eight years while two companies made several failed attempts to reopen or replace the resort. A news investigation later found the decrepit buildings to be in violation of health and safety regulations. Turnberry Associates purchased

7980-465: The planned hotel tower did not begin construction until several years later. The renovated resort was again designed by Stern, and it employed 1,400 people. The resort's 13-story hotel tower began construction in 1987, and was completed the following year, adding 580 rooms. The El Rancho struggled in its final years because of the early 1990s recession , as well as competition from newly opened mega resorts in Las Vegas, specifically The Mirage (1989) and

8085-652: The president of the Nevada Racing Association. In 1962, he began operating the Thunderbird Speedway in Henderson, Nevada , a city located southeast of the resort. It held auto races for the next two years, and Wells wanted the Thunderbird hotel to serve as the lodging headquarters for racers. Wells also had plans to construct a Quarter Horse race track directly behind the Thunderbird. The track, known as Thunderbird Downs, opened in October 1963. It consisted of

8190-476: The property. 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 sq ft (9,300 m) casino. In February 1997, ITB and LVEN settled their dispute, while the resort was expected to reopen in the first quarter of 1998. However, Coelho and DeSantis feuded with ITB board members who allegedly were trying to help Brennan retain control of

8295-519: The renovations, and Martin Stern Jr. was the architect. The new pool was the largest in Nevada, containing 360,000 gallons of water. The Thunderbird's convention and hotel facilities often handled overflow customers from the Sahara resort. During 1965, a minority stockholder in the Thunderbird sued Wells, Jones, and others over a dispute regarding the Del Webb purchase. In 1966, Tom Hanley's union organization,

8400-444: The resort an eyesore and wanted to remove it for future residents of Turnberry Place ahead of its opening. The sale was finalized in May 2000, at a cost of $ 45 million. Turnberry considered eventually building a hotel-casino or timeshares on the El Rancho property. A sale of the El Rancho's contents was held beginning on June 1, 2000, but was initially restricted to the first two floors because of safety concerns regarding other areas of

8505-508: The resort's gaming revenue, and did not have stockholders. The casino, bars, and restaurants were operated by Thunderbird Hotel Company, of which Jones held an 11-percent interest. Hicks held 51-percent ownership of the resort. Both men denied that the Lanskys were involved in the Thunderbird. Hank Greenspun , the publisher of the Las Vegas Sun , was a critic of Jones, who alleged that Greenspun

8610-400: The resort, and renamed it as the Silverbird, hoping to reinvigorate it. After Riddle's death in 1980, the Silverbird was taken over by his estate. The resort closed on December 3, 1981, after an auction failed to produce a buyer on the lease. Ed Torres subsequently purchased the Silverbird and reopened it as the El Rancho on August 31, 1982. The resort featured a western theme and was named after

8715-409: The resort. Much clean-up work had to be done to the resort to prepare it for the sale, removing dust and disrepair. Among the items for sale were furnishings, bathroom fixtures, and carpeting. The bowling alley was also for sale, at a cost of $ 114,000. Other items for sale included 900 televisions and full-sized horse replicas. Gaming equipment was not part of the sale, having been removed by ITB prior to

8820-413: The resort. The court action was filed on behalf of Thunderbird stockholders, including Hicks, Jones, and Wells. The Thunderbird continued to operate while both sides prepared for a legal battle over a permanent injunction . Final arguments were underway in October 1955, as attorneys for the Thunderbird questioned current and former employees of the tax commission. Nevada governor Charles H. Russell , also

8925-423: The rest of the resort ceased operations on July 6, 1992. The closure affected 324 employees. Workers blamed Torres for the closure, stating that there were years of disinterest and lack of promotion on his part. At the time of its closure, the El Rancho occupied 20 acres. It had a 90,000 sq ft (8,400 m) casino, 1,007 hotel rooms, and four restaurants. The adjacent Algiers Hotel continued to operate for

9030-544: The site of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort, which began construction in 2007 and opened on December 13, 2023, after delays. The resort originally opened as the Thunderbird, owned by building developer Marion Hicks and Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Clifford A. Jones . Hicks had previously built the El Cortez hotel-casino, which opened in downtown Las Vegas in 1941. Joe Wells, the father of actress Dawn Wells ,

9135-475: The tax commission exhibited an "unusual eagerness" to find wrongdoing against Hicks. He also cited a lack of evidence that Jones had any knowledge of the Sadlo loan. Three months later, the tax commission filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court of Nevada . Both sides gave briefs to the supreme court at the end of 1956, and final arguments over the injunction were given several months later. In May 1957,

9240-568: Was Jewish . They had four children: Brian Greenspun, president and editor of the Sun and chairman of The Greenspun Corporation; Daniel Greenspun, president of the Greenspun Media Group and vice president of the Sun ; Susan Greenspun Fine, member of the Anti-Defamation League Board; and Jane Greenspun Gale, animal-rights activist . Barbara died in 2010 at the age of 88. Barbara & Hank Greenspun Junior High School,

9345-455: Was a company owned jointly by Webb and Flamingo. On March 1, 1958, Webb sold his share of the Flamingo hotels and Flamingo sold its share of Hiway House. Thus Webb became full owner of Hiway House, the hotel chain would be sold off in the early 1960s. As well as housing, during the 1950s, the construction company would build hospitals, hotels, and other large and small scale projects. Inspired by

9450-465: Was a construction company that was founded in 1928 and developed by Del Webb . Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona , United States, it became the Del E. Webb Corporation a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 1960. The same year, the corporation unveiled Sun City , outside Phoenix, as the first community designed for senior citizens. Many more Sun Cities were built by the corporation in

9555-424: Was again extended, until the end of 1963, followed by the launch of Ziegfeld Follies in 1964. Two years later, the resort's Continental Theatre hosted Bottoms Up , becoming the only afternoon entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip. The Thunderbird later hosted Thoroughly Modern Minsky , a show by Harold Minsky . Flower Drum Song returned for a third run in 1969. In 1972, the Thunderbird launched Geisha'rella ,

9660-685: Was also a partner in the Thunderbird. The hotel project, originally known as the Nevada Ambassador, was announced in March 1946. It was to cost $ 1 million, and would be built on Highway 91 in the Las Vegas Valley , on what would later become the Las Vegas Strip . Construction was underway in October 1947. The Thunderbird opened on September 2, 1948, with 79 hotel rooms, a casino, and a bar. The cost of construction exceeded $ 2 million. The Thunderbird

9765-403: Was also expanded, and the resort's showroom was renovated as well. Fifty-five hotel rooms were demolished to make room for the casino expansion, and other rooms were renovated. The hotel was reduced to 385 rooms. In August 1977, a fire occurred in the hotel's four-story building, forcing the evacuation of its guests. A cigarette had been left behind by hotel guests in a second-floor room, catching

9870-475: Was broken on November 23, 1962, for a $ 1 million, four-story hotel addition, located directly east of the resort. It was the third phase of a $ 6 million project to expand and modernize the Thunderbird. At the time, the resort also operated 88 rooms at its Thunderbird West building, located on the El Rancho Vegas property and leased to the Thunderbird. Big Joe's Oyster Bar opened several months later; it resembled

9975-526: Was contracted by mobster Bugsy Siegel to build the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. From 1947 to 1948 Webb built distribution centers and warehouses throughout the United States for the Kraft Foods Company . In the early 1950s Webb would be contracted to build facilities for Howard Hughes . The Webb firm would go on to build several plants for Hughes. In 1952 the company founded its first subsidiary,

10080-419: Was creating a "reign of terror" in southern Nevada : "No one is secure. You can't use your phone, you can't be seen with your friends for fear that will be ballooned into a sinister incident." At the end of 1954, the Thunderbird was ordered to show cause at a future hearing as to why its gaming license should not be revoked or suspended. The investigation continued into 1955, and another tax commission hearing

10185-458: Was fined $ 10,000 but received no prison time. On October 18, 1961, President John F. Kennedy granted Greenspun a pardon . Upon Greenspun's death in 1989, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres called Greenspun "a hero of our country and a fighter for freedom". Greenspun began a feud with Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1952, publishing several articles attacking him as a demagogue . He also wrote articles accusing McCarthy of being

10290-466: 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 found throughout the buildings, as well as corroding chemicals which covered the floors. Rats and bugs were found to be inhabiting the resort. Homeless people had also been sneaking inside the closed resort and staying there, and marijuana and empty beer bottles were discovered by

10395-431: Was held that February, during which Jones criticized Greenspun. According to Jones, Greenspun was upset that the Thunderbird would not advertise in the Las Vegas Sun . Jones said that Greenspun had made repeated threats to run Hicks and himself out of town with his newspaper. During construction of the Thunderbird, Hicks had received a loan from George Sadlo, a business associate of the Lanskys. Sadlo later assigned half of

10500-543: Was later used for the Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort, which began construction in 2007. The resort opened on December 13, 2023, following construction delays. Patti Page 's first Las Vegas performance took place at the Thunderbird in 1948. Nat King Cole was also a frequent entertainer at the Thunderbird. Other notable performers included Donald O'Connor , Mel Tormé , Rosemary Clooney , James Melton , Bunny Briggs , Rex Allen , Henny Youngman , Margaret Whiting , Peggy Lee , and Judy Garland . Two albums were recorded at

10605-498: Was placed into his estate. The casinos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy later that year, and a reorganization effort failed to pay off the resort's creditors. An auction of the Silverbird lease was held on December 2, 1981, with a minimum bid of $ 3.8 million. The resort was worth approximately $ 2.5 million. Tiger Investment still owned the resort, and any new leasee would have to make monthly payments of approximately $ 264,000. Other lease expenditures for furniture and equipment would raise

10710-625: 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. In addition, Brennan was ordered by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission to sell his shares of ITB, as he had been fined $ 71.5 million for securities fraud in 1995. In January 1997, Brennan sold his interest in ITB to New Mexico businessman Nunzio DeSantis and former politician Tony Coelho , who were unable to make any progress on plans for

10815-527: Was the first time in Nevada history that such strict action had been taken against a major casino operation. It was part of an effort by the state to prevent underworld involvement in gambling. In May 1955, the Dallas-based Southwest Securities Company expressed interest in leasing the Thunderbird, although this did not come to fruition. Later in the month, Hicks and Jones won a temporary restraining order that blocked their ouster from

10920-550: Was the fourth resort to open on the Strip, and was located diagonally across the street from the El Rancho Vegas . It was named after the mythical Thunderbird creature, and the entrance featured two large, neon Thunderbird statues. The Thunderbird was considered a luxurious resort, and a Southwestern / Navajo theme was featured throughout the property, including portraits of American Indians. In February 1949, there were plans to add

11025-543: Was the publisher of the Las Vegas Sun newspaper. He purchased the Sun in 1949, and served as its editor and publisher until his death. Greenspun was also a prominent real estate developer in the Las Vegas Valley . Greenspun was born into a Jewish family in Brooklyn , the son of immigrants from Russian Congress Poland . During World War II , while stationed in Northern Ireland , Greenspun met his wife, Barbara, at

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