Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon closed on February 4, 2013

Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon closed on February 4, 2013. Originally opened as the Barbary Coast on March 2, 1979.  The casino was built by Michael Gaughan and opened in March at a cost of $11.5 million. Over time, this property, along with others owned by Gaughan would become Coast Casinos Inc. Gaughan shared partnership in the Barbary Coast with Kenny Epstein, Tito Tiberti, Frank Toti and Jerry Herbst.

In July 2005, the Barbary Coast Hotel & Casino was bought by Boyd Gaming. again, in September of 2005, Boyd purchased the 4.3 acres of land under the hotel for $16 million. The hotel had previously been leasing the land.

In 2007, Boyd gave the Barbary Coast to Harrah’s Entertainment in exchange for the 24-acre site of the demolished Westward Ho, to be used for the Echelon Place project. The Barbary Coast closed at 2:00 a.m. on February 27 and reopened on March 1, newly rebranded as Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon, in honor of company founder Bill Harrah.

After nearly six years of continuous operations, Bill’s closed on February 4, 2013 for renovation into a boutique hotel. Plans call for remodeling of the guest rooms and casino floor, a new restaurant, and construction of a 65,000 square foot rooftop pool and dayclub/nightclub and will reopen as the Cromwell.

Photo by: Larry D. Moore CC BY-SA 3.0
Date Taken: 2 November 2, 2007

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