List of Las Vegas casinos that never opened
Encyclopedia
Over the years there have been several casino
s and resorts planned for Las Vegas that never opened. The stages of planning may have been just an announcement or groundbreaking
.
. For several years, that was all that stood on the property. The empty lot was the source of many jokes by the locals until the ship, which was later damaged by a fire started by a homeless person, was torn down in the 1990s and the lot became the site of the Tuscany Suites and Casino co-owned by Charles Heers, the same man that has owned the property since the 1960s.
. The project was rejected in favor of the Swiss-themed Montreux, which itself was canceled in favor of the Plaza Las Vegas, modeled after the Plaza Hotel
in New York City
.
(itself formerly the Thunderbird Casino
, now the Turnberry Place condominium complex). For some years, the El Rancho sign stood with the words "Coming Soon - Future Home of Countryland USA".
was to have been a supertall skyscraper
built on the former site of the Wet 'n Wild Water Park. In March 2008, the project was canceled and the property put up for sale.
casino, and had announced plans to develop the large parking lot into a Balinese
themed resort to compliment the Desert Inn. The project was never developed and the site is now the location of Wynn Las Vegas
.
, developer Frank Carroll later built the DeVille Casino across the street from the Landmark on 900 Convention Center Drive in 1969. Chips were made for the casino (and are sought after collectibles), but the casino never opened. The building was renovated in 1992 as a race book parlor named Sport of Kings which closed after nine months. It became the location of The Beach nightclub which was later demolished in 2007, leaving only the small parking structure.
was proposed, complete with hotel towers shaped like gigantic exhaust pipes, but was never built.
resort at 3700 Las Vegas Blvd South. Plans were to have a casino, and chips were made for its use, but the casino was never opened.
, and featuring replicas of the city's landmarks. No construction ever took place.
in New York City
will be built.
and a 600 feet (182.9 m) tall Ferris wheel
type attraction dubbed a "Sky Wheel". It never left the planning stages.
.
Originally planned to open in the late 1990s, it was to be one of the largest hotels in Las Vegas. However because of the bankruptcy by Planet Hollywood Restaurants, the hotel never was built. However in the 2000s, a group of investors bought the new Aladdin Hotel and Casino and remodeled it with a modern Hollywood theme. The hotel does not feature a Planet Hollywood Restaurant.
.
Property developer Michael Mona Jr. built the hotel-casino, bragging that he was going to break tradition by starting a "casino without a theme". He failed to get an unrestricted gaming license when suspicions arose concerning Mona's associations with alleged organized crime figures. Chips were made for the casino, but were never used. The building still stands and is now Arizona Charlie's East.
.
Leonard Shoen
, co-founder of U-Haul
truck rental, purchased the property of what had been the Chaparral Hotel & Casino in 1996, renovating it into the World Trade Center Hotel. A gaming license was applied for, but when it was discovered that two of Mr. Shoen's closest partners were convicted felons, the application was denied in 1998. He withdrew his application, and later died in a car crash in 1999 that was ruled a suicide
. Cards and gaming chips were produced for the World Trade Center Casino, but were never used. The property has since been demolished and is now a parking lot, part of the Sands convention center annex.
was proposed for a property near Interstate Highway 15 across from Mandalay Bay. The project never went past the proposal stage.
WWE also proposed to open on the property best known as the Debbie Reynolds Hotel and Casino, but now known as the Clarion Hotel and Casino.
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s and resorts planned for Las Vegas that never opened. The stages of planning may have been just an announcement or groundbreaking
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and...
.
Asia Resort and Casino
Where the Palazzo Casino Resort currently stands (adjacent to the Venetian Hotel and Casino and the Sands Expo and Convention Center), an Asian themed casino was proposed but was rejected for the present Palazzo project.Beau Rivage
Steve Wynn, who had purchased and demolished the Dunes, had originally planned to build a modern hotel in the middle of a man-made lake. He later built the Bellagio with a man-made lake in the front of the hotel. The name was later used by Wynn for a resort built in Biloxi, Mississippi.Caribbean Casino
In 1988, a sign for a proposed casino was erected on a fenced vacant lot on Flamingo Road. Standing near the sign was a scale model galleonGalleon
A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.-Etymology:...
. For several years, that was all that stood on the property. The empty lot was the source of many jokes by the locals until the ship, which was later damaged by a fire started by a homeless person, was torn down in the 1990s and the lot became the site of the Tuscany Suites and Casino co-owned by Charles Heers, the same man that has owned the property since the 1960s.
Cascada
A proposed resort that was to have been built on a parcel of land across the street from the Sahara Hotel and Casino. The parcel is now partially taken by the Hilton Grand Vacation Timeshares.City by the Bay Resort and Casino
A San Francisco-themed resort was proposed for the site of the New Frontier Hotel and CasinoNew Frontier Hotel and Casino
The New Frontier was a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip that had operated continuously since October 30, 1942. Actually located within the unincorporated suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA, it was the second resort that opened on the Las Vegas Strip. The Frontier closed its doors for...
. The project was rejected in favor of the Swiss-themed Montreux, which itself was canceled in favor of the Plaza Las Vegas, modeled after the Plaza Hotel
Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel in New York City is a landmark 20-story luxury hotel with a height of and length of that occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. Fifth Avenue extends along the east side of Grand Army Plaza...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Countryland USA
A Country Music themed resort that was planned for construction of the site of the former El Rancho CasinoEl Rancho Casino
The El Rancho Casino was a hotel and casino located on The Las Vegas Strip.-History :Constructed on the site of the Thunderbird that opened in September 1948. In 1976, it was renamed the Silverbird. On August 31, 1982, it was renamed Ed Torres' El Rancho...
(itself formerly the Thunderbird Casino
Thunderbird (resort)
The Thunderbird Hotel was a Paradise, Nevada, hotel and casino that operated from September 2, 1948 to July 6, 1992, and was the fourth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel was founded by developer Marion Hicks and attorney/Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Clifford A. Jones...
, now the Turnberry Place condominium complex). For some years, the El Rancho sign stood with the words "Coming Soon - Future Home of Countryland USA".
Crown Las Vegas
Formerly known as Las Vegas Tower, the Crown Las VegasCrown Las Vegas
Crown Las Vegas, formerly known as the Las Vegas Tower, was a proposed supertall skyscraper that would have been built on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada, an unincorporated suburban community of Las Vegas...
was to have been a supertall skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
built on the former site of the Wet 'n Wild Water Park. In March 2008, the project was canceled and the property put up for sale.
Desert Kingdom
In 1993, ITT Sheraton purchased the Desert InnDesert Inn
The Desert Inn was a Paradise, Nevada, hotel/casino that operated from April 24, 1950, to August 28, 2000. Designed by noted New York architect Jac Lessman, it was the fifth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The property included an 18-hole golf course. Locals nicknamed the resort "The D.I."...
casino, and had announced plans to develop the large parking lot into a Balinese
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
themed resort to compliment the Desert Inn. The project was never developed and the site is now the location of Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas is a resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The US $2.7 billion resort is named after casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts Limited. The resort covers . It is located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sands Avenue Wynn Las...
.
DeVille Casino
After building the Landmark Hotel and Casino on Convention Center Drive and selling it to Howard HughesHoward Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
, developer Frank Carroll later built the DeVille Casino across the street from the Landmark on 900 Convention Center Drive in 1969. Chips were made for the casino (and are sought after collectibles), but the casino never opened. The building was renovated in 1992 as a race book parlor named Sport of Kings which closed after nine months. It became the location of The Beach nightclub which was later demolished in 2007, leaving only the small parking structure.
Harley-Davidson Hotel and Casino
A resort themed after the motorcycle manufacturer Harley-DavidsonHarley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
was proposed, complete with hotel towers shaped like gigantic exhaust pipes, but was never built.
Jockey Club Casino
The Jockey Club is a timeshareTimeshare
A timeshare is a form of ownership or right to the use of a property, or the term used to describe such properties. These properties are typically resort condominium units, in which multiple parties hold rights to use the property, and each sharer is allotted a period of time in which they may use...
resort at 3700 Las Vegas Blvd South. Plans were to have a casino, and chips were made for its use, but the casino was never opened.
London Resort and Casino
An announced project by the Voyager company that was to have been themed around the city of LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and featuring replicas of the city's landmarks. No construction ever took place.
Montreux Resort
A Swiss-themed resort to have been built on the property of the former New Frontier Casino (chosen after a proposed San Francisco-themed "City by the Bay" was rejected). Instead, a casino modeled after the Plaza HotelPlaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel in New York City is a landmark 20-story luxury hotel with a height of and length of that occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. Fifth Avenue extends along the east side of Grand Army Plaza...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
will be built.
Moon Resort and Casino
Proposed by Vancouver, BC, Canada developer Michael Henderson, this is a planned 10,000-room, 250 acres (1 km²) lunar-themed casino resort. Gaming experts doubt it will ever be built in Las Vegas, simply because the space planned for it is too large for the Strip.Palace of the Sea Resort and Casino
To have been built on the former Wet 'n Wild waterpark site. Conceptual drawings included yacht-shaped towers that housed suites, a casino resembling the Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
and a 600 feet (182.9 m) tall Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
type attraction dubbed a "Sky Wheel". It never left the planning stages.
Planet Hollywood Resort (The Original)
Not to be confused by the current Planet Hollywood Resort and CasinoPlanet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, previously known as The Aladdin, is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, in the unincorporated locale of Paradise, Nevada, United States. Westgate Resorts operates the condo portion of the property, known as PH Towers by Westgate.Planet Hollywood is owned by Caesars...
.
Originally planned to open in the late 1990s, it was to be one of the largest hotels in Las Vegas. However because of the bankruptcy by Planet Hollywood Restaurants, the hotel never was built. However in the 2000s, a group of investors bought the new Aladdin Hotel and Casino and remodeled it with a modern Hollywood theme. The hotel does not feature a Planet Hollywood Restaurant.
Playboy Hotel and Casino
A proposed casino resort themed after Playboy Magazine was rejected in favor of a nightclub and suites built at the top two floors of the new Palms tower. The planned location for the Playboy Hotel and Casino is the site of the current Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.Sunrise
To have been located at 4575 Boulder Highway, Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Property developer Michael Mona Jr. built the hotel-casino, bragging that he was going to break tradition by starting a "casino without a theme". He failed to get an unrestricted gaming license when suspicions arose concerning Mona's associations with alleged organized crime figures. Chips were made for the casino, but were never used. The building still stands and is now Arizona Charlie's East.
Titanic
Themed after the doomed luxury liner RMS Titanic, this resort was to have been modeled after the ship and would have been 400 feet (121.9 m) long with 1,200 rooms, standing across the street from the Sahara Hotel and Casino. The project was rejected by the Las Vegas City Council.World Trade Center
To have been located at 925 East Desert Inn Road, Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Leonard Shoen
Leonard Shoen
Leonard Shoen was an American entrepreneur who founded the U-Haul truck and trailer organization in Ridgefield, Washington. After growing up in the farm belt of the United States during the Great Depression, he envisioned the market for rental vehicles for families who wished to avoid the expense...
, co-founder of U-Haul
U-Haul
U-Haul International, Inc. is an American equipment rental company, based in Phoenix, Arizona, that has been in operation since 1945. The company was founded by Leonard Shoen U-Haul International, Inc. is an American equipment rental company, based in Phoenix, Arizona, that has been in operation...
truck rental, purchased the property of what had been the Chaparral Hotel & Casino in 1996, renovating it into the World Trade Center Hotel. A gaming license was applied for, but when it was discovered that two of Mr. Shoen's closest partners were convicted felons, the application was denied in 1998. He withdrew his application, and later died in a car crash in 1999 that was ruled a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Cards and gaming chips were produced for the World Trade Center Casino, but were never used. The property has since been demolished and is now a parking lot, part of the Sands convention center annex.
World Wrestling Federation
A casino resort themed after the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
was proposed for a property near Interstate Highway 15 across from Mandalay Bay. The project never went past the proposal stage.
WWE also proposed to open on the property best known as the Debbie Reynolds Hotel and Casino, but now known as the Clarion Hotel and Casino.