Riviera Casino Las Vegas
History of the Riviera Casino Las Vegas
The Riviera Casino Las Vegas was a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip that operated from 1955 to 2015. It was the first high-rise casino on the Strip and was known for its distinctive pink exterior. The casino was owned by the Riviera Hotel and Casino Corporation, which was founded by Alex Shoofey.
The Riviera Casino Las Vegas opened on April 20, 1955, as the first high-rise casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The casino was built at a cost of $10 million and had 500 rooms. The casino was designed by architect Wayne McAllister and featured a pink exterior that made it one of the most recognizable buildings on the Strip.
The Riviera Casino Las Vegas was a popular destination for celebrities and high rollers. In 1960, Frank Sinatra opened his own show at the casino. The casino also hosted the Miss Universe pageant in 1960 and 1961.
The Riviera Casino Las Vegas continued to be a popular destination for tourists and gamblers throughout the 1960s and 1970s. However, the casino began to decline in the 1980s as newer casinos opened on the Strip. The casino was also hit hard by the recession of the early 1990s.
In 2009, the Riviera Casino Las Vegas was sold to the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. The casino closed on May 16, 2015, and was demolished in 2016.
Notable Features of the Riviera Casino Las Vegas
The Riviera Casino Las Vegas was known for its distinctive pink exterior. The casino also had a number of notable features, including:
- A 100-foot-tall (30 m) sign that was visible from all over the Las Vegas Strip
- A 1,000-seat showroom that hosted a variety of shows, including Frank Sinatra’s
- A casino floor with over 2,000 slot machines and table games
- A swimming pool and a spa
- A number of restaurants and bars
Closure of the Riviera Casino Las Vegas
The Riviera Casino Las Vegas closed on May 16, 2015, after 60 years of operation. The casino was closed due to financial problems. The casino’s owner, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, had been struggling financially due to the recession of the early 2010s. The company decided to close the Riviera Casino Las Vegas in order to focus on its other properties on the Strip.
The closure of the Riviera Casino Las Vegas was a major blow to the Las Vegas Strip. The casino was one of the oldest and most iconic casinos on the Strip. Its closure also marked the end of an era in Las Vegas history.
Legacy of the Riviera Casino Las Vegas
The Riviera Casino Las Vegas was a major part of Las Vegas history. The casino was one of the first high-rise casinos on the Strip and was known for its distinctive pink exterior. The casino also hosted a variety of shows, including Frank Sinatra’s. The closure of the Riviera Casino Las Vegas was a major blow to the Las Vegas Strip and marked the end of an era in Las Vegas history.
Despite its closure, the Riviera Casino Las Vegas continues to be a popular tourist destination. The casino’s former site is now home to the Las Vegas Convention Center. The site also features a number of memorials to the casino, including a pink sign and a statue of Frank Sinatra.
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