The Las Vegas skyline has changed dramatically over the last six decades. What started as a desert oasis with a few small roadside casinos has blossomed into a world-renowned mecca for entertainment and gambling.
Naturally, thousands of businesses have opened their doors over the years hoping to make a quick buck in Sin City. But the ones that failed to keep up with demand or simply run out of funds were forced to shutter their operations.
I’m sure you can name a few casinos off the top of your head that fell to the wayside. The Last Frontier, Sahara, and the Aladdin spring to mind. Even the original Las Vegas Hotel and Casino met its maker in 1962.
If you count yourself among a group of diehard gambling fanatics, I suggest visiting our Las Vegas blogs page. In this post, I’m focusing on some of Vegas’ most notorious lost casinos to honor where we came from.
#9
Name: Moulin Rouge
Location: 900 West Bonneville Street (approx.)
Year Opened: June 1954
Year Closed: November 1955
One of the first Las Vegas casinos to be owned and operated by African Americans, the Moulin Rouge was doomed from the start.
Twelve investors pooled $300,000 to construct the three-story building, which featured 97 hotel rooms, a showroom, restaurant, coffee shop, lounge, beauty shop, and swimming pool.
But they failed to secure a bank loan, thus crippling their chances of success before even opening their doors.
Marion Hicks Caville, who co-owned the establishment with her brother, later said “We couldn’t get credit from anyone in Las Vegas. We had to take in our own supplies and pay cash.”
Most Popular Playing Card Games You Can Play OfflineThe Moulin Rouge also faced resistance from other local casinos like the New Frontier, who didn’t want any more competition for business.
Clarence E. Poe, manager of the New Frontier, publicly stated, “We don’t want any more casinos built here. There are too many now; there is too much gambling.” Of course, another motive may have been that a casino owned by black people wasn’t supposed to exist in Sin City. Racism was (and still is) rampant in Las Vegas.
All these factors led to financial ruin after only 18 months in operation. The Moulin Rouge became a nightclub in 1956 but met its grisly end two years later after being burned down in a suspected arson case.
No one was around when the fire broke out, and authorities were never able to find the person responsible for the crime.
#8
Name: Silverbird
Location: 3521 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Year Opened: January 2, 1963
Year Closed: August 11, 1966
When the Cosmopolitan opened in 2008, it replaced the old City Center Associates building that once housed several businesses including the travel agency my dad worked at back in the 80s and 90s.
But long before the City Center megalomania took shape, the Silverbird ruled supreme.
Designed to look like a giant silvery bird, the casino-hotel complex cost $4 million to build and featured an aviary on the roof complete with several flamingos, ducks, and pigeons.
For whatever reason, the Silverbird didn’t attract enough customers to stay afloat. It may have had something to do with its location way down the Strip (next to the original Las Vegas Hilton).
After closing its doors in 1966, the Silverbird sat empty until 1967, when it was demolished and turned into a parking lot.
A Holiday Inn Express now stands in its place. Too bad they don’t have a petting zoo on the roof like the good ol’ days.
#7
Name: Basque House
Location: 121 California Avenue
Year Opened: 1933
Year Closed: 1951
Located just a short drive from modern day casinos like the Stratosphere and the Plaza, the Basque House opened its doors during the height of the Great Depression.
As you might have guessed, this establishment catered to the Basque community — primarily shepherds— passing through Nevada on their way to California to find work.
Naturally, nourishment was provided in the form of delicious food. But curious travelers could also enjoy traditional Basque games like mus and lu zero pelota for real money.
casino near ft lauderdale airportMus was similar to dominoes and rummy, while lu zero pelota was played on a court resembling a square with walls ranging from 10 to 20 feet high.
Gamblers could also play poker, blackjack, gin, and craps.
So, the Basque House was really more of a casino-motel-restaurant hybrid. Unfortunately, it wasn’t hydrated enough to survive the desert.
Reports say the Basque House closed because a well on the property ran dry. Others claim it shuttered in 1941 and was torn down to make room for a new business called Basque Burger Haven.
Funnily enough, the Basque Burger Haven later transformed into the California Hotel & Casino before finally meeting its maker in 2008. The land is now home to the Fremont East Entertainment District.
#6
Name: El Paradise
Location: 1600 North Las Vegas Boulevard
Year Opened: March 19, 1964
Year Closed: February 11, 1972
El Paradise was a U-shaped resort with a 34-story tower and 1,024 rooms that cost $17 million to build.
It was designed to rival Las Vegas heavyweights like the Sahara, Dunes, and Riviera, but that wasn’t enough to turn a profit.
To make matters worse, El Paradise was located directly across the street from the newly constructed International Hotel (now Westgate Resort and Casino), which opened in 1969.
Being in the shadows of such a massive structure likely contributed to its demise, especially since the property didn’t undergo a major renovation after the Aladdin next door built the worlds tallest glass hotel skyscraper in 1962.
Hawaiian airline owner John Accuccini bought the ailing casino-resort in 1971 in hopes of turning things around. But he filed for bankruptcy less than a year later, forcing El Paradise to close on February 11, 1972.
Demolition began four months later, making way for the Las Vegas Hilton — which opened in December 1971. The only part of El Paradise that still exists today is the neon sign, which now resides at the Neon Museum.
Interestingly enough, Accuccini died in a plane crash near Bali, Indonesia, in 1977 at the age of 61. All 204 people aboard the aircraft perished in the worst single-location aviation disaster in Indonesian history.
#5
Name: The Latin Quarter
Location: 3625 Las Vegas Boulevard South
PayPal Casino Sites That Accept New Players in December 2023Year Opened: October 1966
Year Closed: April 1981
Anyone born after the 80s probably hasn’t heard of The Latin Quarter, but this extravagant casino-hotel attracted big names like Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis in its heyday.
A replica of a 16th century French-Canadian chateau, The Latin Quarter boasted a 22-foot waterfall made of pink Georgia marble, hanging gardens, Venetian glass windows, and sculptures carved out of solid pieces of wood.
🎰 The Sun Vegas Casino Review 2023 - Top-Rated Slots & Table GamesAdditionally, a large stage was erected behind a 30-foot waterfall so performers could sing and dance right in the middle of a manmade river filled with koi fish.
But high operating costs and mounting debt eventually sank The Latin Quarter. Caesars Palace purchased the property in 1980 for $13 million, razing it to make room for the Ceasar’s Palace Convention Center and Augustus luxury hotel tower.
If you wander through the convention center, you’ll come across a section of the original Venetian glass back wall that now serves as a photographic backdrop for conventioneers.
#4
Name: Liberace Theater
Location: 3754 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Year Opened: September 1, 1979
Year Closed: 2010
Glitter Gulch used to be home to one of the tackiest casinos on the Strip — the Libérrace Gulf Course & Grill, named after famous pianist Liberace, who passed away in 1987.
Liberace’s flashy personality and bedazzled piano inspired his family to open the Liberace Museum and Liberace Theater in Mirage Towers shortly after his death.
The 2,200-seat theater hosted popular entertainers like Liza Minnelli, Wayne Newton, and Engelbert Humperdinck until 2004, when it was renamed to the Liberace Gulf Course & Grill Showroom.
But even Liberace’s larger than life image couldn’t save this joint from sinking into obscurity. It was eventually rebranded as the Libérrace Gulf Course Casino & Grill in 2008 and remodeled to feature a race and sports book, 300 slot machines, four table games, and a 18-hole miniature golf course.
Sounds awesome, right? Wrong. Just two years later, the casino-theater hybrid was shuttered for good.
Some sources say the property was sold to make way for a new, luxurious resort. But as you can see, Glitter Gulch is still standing strong. So, what gave?
Truth be told, I can’t find any concrete information regarding the liberation of the Liberace Theater. If you know the scoop, hit us up on Facebook or Twitter and share your insight.
#3
Name: Landers Casino
Location: 4100 Boulder Highway
Year Opened: 1972
Year Closed: 1997
You can’t talk about lost Las Vegas casinos without mentioning the Landers Casino. Also known as the World’s Largest Cadillac, this bizarre building looked like a car dealership from the outside and a casino on the inside.
How did this peculiar property rank among others? Well, the Landers had all the makings of a true Vegas legend — it went bankrupt.
Another strange characteristic was the hundreds of Cadillacs lined up like a kid’s matchbox car collection. Of course, these weren’t just any cars … they belonged to owner Norman Landers.
Landers originally bought his first Caddy back in 1947 as a graduation gift. From that moment forward, he collected them like most people chase slots jackpots.
At the time of his death in 1972, Landers allegedly owned 138 Cadillacs spread throughout a 10-acre compound he dubbed “Cadillac Ranch.” This is long before the infamous Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, which features 10 colorfully spray-painted Cadillacs half-buried nose first in the ground.
Virtual Casino Bonus Offers Worth Taking Advantage Of (2023)As you might expect, the casino struggled to compete with bigger, better resorts on the Strip. Landers declared Chapter 11 in 1983 and again in 1988. The final nail in the coffin came in 1997, when the casino closed its doors forever.
Today, the Landers looks almost unrecognizable following a face lift in 2000 that removed the iconic twin tailfins. Now known as Eastside Cannery Hotel and Casino, this joint features 304 rooms, a 400-seat bingo hall, two restaurants, a pub, fitness center, and everything else you’d expect from a modern casino.
They still have dozens of Cadillacs scattered around the property, though. And yes, they’re still lined up like a toy collection waiting to be admired.
#2
Name: The Aladdin
Location: 3542 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Year Opened: March 10, 1962
Year Closed: April 6, 2000
The Aladdin was the first truly modern resort on the Strip. Costing $9 million to construct, this Mid-Century Modern masterpiece featured gold carpeting, fountains, an artificial lake, swanky rooms, and a casino.
Elvis Presley married Joanne Mars in 1978 and again in 1979 at the Aladdin. He also performed nearly 50 sold out shows at the resort in ‘70 and again in ’73, serenading fans under the world’s largest golden chandelier.
Awesome Casino Barr Lounges You Need to See to BelieveBut the Aladdin wasn’t immune to hard times. Occupancy rates dropped below 70 percent in the late 90s, prompting owners to file for bankruptcy in 1999. The casino closed on April 6, 2000, kicking off one of the biggest and most expensive deconstruction projects in Vegas history.
Every inch of the Aladdin had to go — even the gold carpeting. It was sold for $38,000 to a businessman who promised to auction if off to the highest bidder. As far as I know, that never happened.
The property sat vacant for nearly three years before being reborn as Planet Hollywood in 2007. The exterior still retains some of the Aladdin’s signature style, including those iconic blue glass windows.
Notable Aladdin artifacts that didn’t make the cut include the chandelier (which was destroyed on purpose), the palm trees out front (replaced with phony towers), and Elvis’ gold carpeting.
200% Deposit Bonus - Best 200% Casino Bonuses & PayoutsSpeaking of the King, a life size bronze statue of him dressed in a white jumpsuit now sits out front to commemorate the hundreds of shows he put on at various Las Vegas casinos — including the International, Hacienda, and Aladdin.
#1
Name: Liberation Casino
Location: 3800 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Year Opened: Early 1970s
Year Closed: Mid 1970s
Rounding out my list of top Vegas casinos that are no longer around is the Liberation Casino. You wouldn’t think a casino themed after the female form would be successful, but I suppose there’s a chance it could work.
Apparently, some guys will gamble their life savings to catch a glimpse of cleavage.
That must have been the thought process of Liberation founder Jack Bartell, a wealthy lingerie entrepreneur looking to strike it rich in Sin City. His vision for the casino included curvaceous black clad women adorning each corner of the ceiling.
And I mean every corner. Even the women’s restroom had boobs watching over patrons.
On paper, the Liberation should have been a smash hit. But that infamous Vegas curse struck again, sending this joint packing sooner rather than later.
Bankruptcy forced the Liberation to close its doors in the mid 70s. Bartell tried to sell his booby trapped baby, but nobody wanted to buy a cursed casino. So, he blew up the place and used the land to expand the nearby Bartell Hot Springs.
Nowadays, you won’t find a trace of the Liberation, except for some old pictures and a couple stories your grandpa tells you when you visit for the holidays.
If you liked this piece, consider checking out some of our other blog posts below! As always, good luck and happy spins!
Kevin Roberts, previously published as Alexander Popov, is a freelance writer for Buyessay.net and other online publications. He graduated from University of Southern California with a master’s degree in English and specializes in creating content related to literature, cinema, history, and science.
No Deposit Casinos That Offer a Free Signup Bonus in 2023In his spare time, Kevin enjoys writing fiction and poetry. He also loves swimming, reading literary criticism, and walking his dog Mary.
