Monthly Archives: May 2017

On This Date: May 4, 2015 The Riviera Closes its doors

May 4, 2017
The Riviera Closes after 60 years

The Riviera Closes after 60 years

After barely 60 years on the Las Vegas Strip the classic Riviera Hotel and Casino will close forever today on May 4, 2015.  The hotel opened on April 20, 1955.  It was the first high-rise of 9 stories to open on the Las Vegas Strip.  The Riviera opened its doors on April 20th, 1955.  Liberace and his brother, George were the headliners and actress Joan Crawford was the official hostess.

The hotel had over 2,100 rooms and 110,000 sq. ft. casinoof gaming space.

In February of 2015, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority acquired the Riviera hotel and its land for $182.5 million. The hotel will be demolished to make way for a planned expansion of LVCVA’s Las Vegas Global Business District exhibit and meeting center project.

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Wall sized photo in the entrance of the hotel

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Front of the Riviera side from the Las Vegas Strip

 

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“No Ifs and or butts

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Valet entrance from Las Vegas Blvd.

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The Entrance of the Riviera from the Strip

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The Pool at the Riviera

 

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South side of the Riviera stretching from Las Vegas Blvd. to Paradise Rd.

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The Riviera having its 60th Anniversary

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Looking at the north end of the hotel from the Las Vegas Strip heading south

Photos by: LasVegas360.com
Date Taken: May 2, 2015

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On this Day May 3, 1999 The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino Opened on the Las Vegas Strip

May 3, 2017
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Venetian Las-Vegas opened on May 3, 1999

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and resort located on the Las Vegas Strip.on the site of the hotel is 36 stories high and rises 475 feet and was built on the on Sands Hotel made famous by the Rat Pack. The hotel opened on May 3, 1999. The design of the hotel uses Venice, Italy, as its design inspiration and features architectural replicas of various Venetian landmarks, including the Palazzo Ducale, Piazza San Marco, Piazzetta di San Marco, the Lion of Venice Column and the Column of Saint Theodore, St Mark’s Campanile, and the Rialto Bridge. At the opening, it was one of the most expensive hotels constructed at a cost of over 1.5 billion dollars.

The Venetian resort complex with Sands Expo Convention Center and The Palazzo Hotel and Casino Resort is the world’s second-largest hotel, with 4,049 rooms, 3,068 suites with a 120,000-square-footcasino.

Photo: Creative Commons – Ricky Barnard

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On This Date: May 3, 1844 John C Fremont Camps at the Las Vegas Springs

John C. Fremont

John C. Fremont camped at the Las Vegas Springs on May 3, 1844

On This Date, May 3, 1844 John C. Fremont led an overland expedition west and camped at Las Vegas Springs. His name is remembered today in neon as well as museums and history books. The Fremont Hotel-Casino in Downtown Las Vegas bears his name as does Fremont Street.

The credit of discovering Las Vegas  goes to an experienced young scout, Rafael Rivera. In 1829 was traveling with a 60 man party who veered off the main route of the Old Spanish Trail. A scouting party rode west in search of water.  Rivera separated from the scout party and ventured into the unexplored desert. Within two weeks, he discovered Las Vegas Springs. The actually date of Rivera’s discover is unknown.

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