- The Strat was originally called the Hotel Tower, but we know it as the Strat today.
- Treasure Island opened its doors in 1993 with a pirate theme, which it outgrew in 2003.
- Aladdin was one of the first megaresorts on the Strip but is now known as Planet Hollywood.
The Las Vegas Strip has undergone tremendous changes over the past six decades. Some classic Las Vegas casinos are no longer with us (R.I.P., Dunes), while others still stand — although they aren’t exactly the same as they once were.
Today, I want to take a quick look back at some of the older Las Vegas Strip casinos that still exist in one form or another. To be clear, I won’t be discussing the Wynn or Aria – both of which opened in 2005.
online casino games real money usaInstead, you’ll learn about hotels/casinos like the Strat, Bally’s, and Treasure Island. If you’ve always been fascinated by Sin City’s history, this one is for you.
The Strat: From Hotel Tower to the Tallest Building in Las Vegas
Anybody who has flown into McCarran International Airport over the last few decades can’t help but notice the Stratosphere Tower.
New Online Casinos in Michigan for 2023 (plus 6 moreComing Soon)Standing at 1,149 feet, it was (and is) the tallest freestanding tower on the planet. But do you know how the Strat came to be?
The site used to house a small roadside tepee that offered snacks and drinks to travelers on the old US-91 (now Las Vegas Blvd. South).
In 1962, the Hotel Tower Condominium, as it was then known, opened to the public. It consisted of 21 stories and 1,100 rooms.
Just three years later, the Circus Circus hotel-casino opened to the north, and business started to suffer.
To remain relevant, Texas entrepreneur Simon Sarem purchased the property in 1979 and unveiled his “Stardust” vision in 1980. This included such amenities as an observation deck, two revolving restaurants, and five outdoor observatory decks.
But the real game-changer arrived in April 1996, when the infamous Stratosphere Tower opened. As you might have guessed, this was home to several of the world’s highest thrill rides.
I remember visiting the tower back in the day and being too scared to try the Big Shot or Tower Drop. Granted, I was only 14 at the time…
When Caesars Entertainment bought the Strat in 2009, it cost them just $39 million – but they’ve since invested significantly in restoring the property to its former glory.
Following a $130-million renovation in 2021, the Strat is now known as the Strat Hotel, Casino, & Skybar. You’ll find over 2,400 guest rooms and suites, a 100,000 square foot casino floor, and much more.
If you’ve never visited the Strat, I highly recommend doing so the next time you’re in Vegas. Who knows? You might even get a picture with that iconic sign!
Best New Online Casinos in UK (2023) - Up & Coming BrandsBally’s: From MGM Grand to Bally’s
Back in 1962, MGM constructed the MGM Grand Hotel right next to the company’s movie studio. Designed by architects Wyer & Seid, it featured a distinctive “M” monogram along its roofline.
With 1,972 rooms and plenty of modern conveniences, the MGM Grand quickly became the place to stay in Sin City. Elvis Presley was among its first guests, staying there a total of 637 times!
Those familiar with the Las Vegas Strip will know that Bally’s now occupies the site. So, what happened to the MGM Grand?
Palms Casino (Closed) - An Honest Review and Exclusive Bonus OfferBing Crosby and Frank Sinatra helped MGM file for bankruptcy in 1970, leading to the sale of the property two years later. It would change hands many times over the following four decades before being renamed the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in 2000.
A $150-million makeover saw the venue reopen as the Borgata (not to be confused with Atlantic City’s Borgata) in 2001 before closing again the following year.
It eventually reopened as Bally’s in 2003 and remains one of Caesars Entertainment’s most popular resorts to this day. While it isn’t exactly as it was way back when, there is still plenty to enjoy at Bally’s.
Did you know that the Jubilee! show has been running since 1981? It has evolved over time but remains one of the best cabaret shows on the Strip.
Tropicana: Original Designed by Architect Martin Stern Jr.
The Tropicana has retained its core aesthetic and vibe since opening its doors in 1957. Why fix something if it ain’t broke?
Casino Review NJ - Top Slots and Games to Play OnlineAs it stands, the hotel still boasts a south-of-the-border feel complete with palm trees, sombreros, and fake volcanoes. It’s safe to say that you’ll struggle to find anything else like it on the Strip!
The Trop opened to the public on April 3, 1957, and cost a cool $3 million to build. Almost 65 years later, parts of the original building remain intact.
Cleansed by fire in the early nineties, the resort enjoyed a $160-million facelift in 1995 before reopening under the ownership of IGT. Another $150 million was poured into the venue in 2002, expanding the gaming floor and adding new restaurants.
But perhaps the most defining moment in the Tropicana’s recent history came in 2009. This was when Poker Atlas declared it the poker room capital of the world, with around 120 tables spread across three rooms.
Things have quieted down somewhat in recent years but the Trop remains a favorite among tourists and gamblers alike.
Its 500,000-square-foot lawn makes it an ideal spot for large events, with as many as 150,000 people packing in to witness Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s victories between 2002 and 2015.
Treasure Island: From a Pirate Theme to Its Current State
Treasure Island has gone through numerous transformations over the years. I’m willing to bet that many of you millennials and Gen Zers have no idea that it started life as a sophisticated, classy establishment.
Circus Circact owner Steve Wynn purchased 21 acres of land on the Strip in March 1986, opening the Mirage just eight months later. He soon turned his attention to Treasure Island, breaking ground in December 1987.
Treasure Island was designed to go head-to-head with competitors like the Golden Nugget and Trump Plaza. Things didn’t quite go to plan, however, with CityCenter president Richard Mooney later admitting that “Wynn made a big mistake trying to compete with those properties.”
Although the initial plan was to open the doors in January 1989, various issues pushed this back until September 1989. At a cost of $250 million, the establishment featured a tropical island design and attracted masses of customers.
However, falling revenue prompted Wynn to explore selling the resort in 1993. New owners MGM Mirage decided to shake things up by introducing a pirate-themed revue known as “Secret Ways.” This formed the basis of the infamous “Treasure Island Pirate Show,” which ran from 1994 to 2003.
Let’s be honest; the pirate ship exterior wasn’t the classiest look for a casino. Still, it worked, and Treasure Island welcomed over 5 million visitors per year during the late 90s/early noughties.
Essential Poker Tips For Beginners - Learn How To PlayThe ship was reduced in size in 2008 and is now used for special events. These days, Treasure Island is a more subdued affair. However, it still offers a top-class casino experience supplemented by an array of world-class dining options.
Aladdin: One of the First Mega-Resorts on the Strip
The Aladdin Hotel and Casino was one of the largest and most lavish venues on the Strip when it opened in 1962.
Costing a colossal $18 million to construct, it had everything from waterfalls and a giant dome to simulate the sky outside. More than 2,000 rooms and suites complemented a vast casino floor, putting the Aladdin among the elite in Sin City.
Following a number of ownership changes in the late sixties/seventies, the Aladdin went bankrupt in 1979. It managed to dig itself out of trouble before being sold to a group of investors in 1982.
They spent millions updating the property, including the installation of computerized slot machines. Revenue rocketed from $115 million in 1983 to $210 million two years later.
online casino bonus codeTrump Hotels & Casino Resorts purchased the Aladdin in 1988 for $298 million and began mooted plans to expand the resort in 1992. The project fell through, leaving the door open for the Venetian/Palazzo duo that we know today.
The Aladdin closed in 2000 and was torn down to make way for the $1.6 billion mega-resort. It officially opened as the Venetian Las Vegas on May 3, 1999.
Fun fact: The Palazzo was built on the site of the old Sahara hotel and casino between 2006 and 2007. It opened its doors to the public on Friday the 13th!
While the Venetian/Palazzo are among the finest places to gamble online, there is nothing quite like experiencing these phenomenal properties in person.
Benjamin Franklin once said: “Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its students.”
7Casino – Online Casino Review NZ 2023 | Bonuses, Win Rate & Games - Indivisible GamingLuckily, the teachings of time can be preserved and shared with future generations. Much like the classic Las Vegas casinos that still exist today, they serve as a constant reminder of where Vegas came from and how far it has come.
Adam is a sports tipster, sportswriter, and devoted Arsenal fan from the UK. His background is in sport psychology, whereas his passion lies with writing about sport.
Alongside his work for GamblingSites.com, Adam produces betting tips and prejudicial content for various sites on the internet.
When he's not working, Adam can usually be found exercising or supporting one of his sports teams. He's a bit too enthusiastic when it comes to cheering the Gunners on, so apologizes in advance for any absences following another crushing Arsenals defeat.
