Thunderbird (1948–77) The resort originally opened as the Thunderbird, owned by building developer Marion Hicks and
Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Clifford A. Jones. was also a partner in the Thunderbird. Originally known as the Nevada Ambassador, the hotel project was announced in March 1946. It would cost $1 million and be built on
Highway 91 in the
Las Vegas Valley, on what would later become the
Las Vegas Strip. The Thunderbird opened on September 2, 1948, with 79 hotel rooms, a casino, and a bar. The cost of construction exceeded $2 million. The Thunderbird was the fourth resort to open on the Strip and was located diagonally across the street from the
El Rancho Vegas. It was named after the mythical
Thunderbird creature, The Thunderbird was considered a luxurious resort, and a
Southwestern/
Navajo theme was featured throughout the property, including portraits of American Indians. In February 1949, there were plans to add a 78-room hotel addition for $750,000. The hotel had expanded to 206 rooms by 1950.
Alleged Mafia ties In October 1954, articles in the
Las Vegas Sun alleged that
Jake and
Meyer Lansky, both underworld Mafia figures, held hidden shares in the hotel. A state investigation was soon launched to determine whether the reports were true. The Thunderbird's complex ownership setup was questioned during a Nevada Tax Commission hearing later that month, part of the larger investigation into the resort's ownership. The property beneath the Thunderbird was owned by Bonanza Hotel, Inc, which operated the hotel portion and leased out other portions. Bonanza did not receive any of the resort's gaming revenue, and did not have stockholders. The casino, bars, and restaurants were operated by Thunderbird Hotel Company, of which Jones held an 11-percent interest.
Hank Greenspun, the publisher of the
Las Vegas Sun, was a critic of Jones, who alleged that Greenspun was creating a "reign of terror" in
southern Nevada: "No one is secure. You can't use your phone, you can't be seen with your friends for fear that will be ballooned into a sinister incident." The investigation continued into 1955, and another tax commission hearing was held that February, during which Jones criticized Greenspun. According to Jones, Greenspun was upset that the Thunderbird would not advertise in the
Las Vegas Sun. Jones said that Greenspun had made repeated threats to run Hicks and himself out of town with his newspaper. During construction of the Thunderbird, Hicks had received a loan from George Sadlo, a business associate of the Lanskys. Sadlo later assigned half of the loan to Jake Lansky, without informing Hicks. It was the first time in Nevada history that such strict action had been taken against a major casino operation. It was part of an effort by the state to prevent underworld involvement in gambling. In May 1955, the Dallas-based Southwest Securities Company expressed interest in leasing the Thunderbird, although this did not come to fruition. Later in the month, Hicks and Jones won a temporary restraining order that blocked their ouster from the resort. The court action was filed on behalf of Thunderbird stockholders, including Hicks, Jones, and Wells. The Thunderbird continued to operate while both sides prepared for a legal battle over a permanent
injunction. Final arguments were underway in October 1955, as attorneys for the Thunderbird questioned current and former employees of the tax commission. Nevada Governor
Charles H. Russell, also the chairman of the tax commission, had been running for re-election in 1954. The allegations against the Thunderbird had come to light a month before the election, and the hotel alleged that the timing of the claims was politically motivated, as one member of the tax commission had already known about the Sadlo loan years before the 1954 accusation. In December 1955, Judge Merwyn H. Brown ruled in favor of the Thunderbird and issued a permanent injunction against the tax commission, stating that the commission should create and publish clear guidelines declaring what casino licensees require. He stated that any licensee "is surely entitled to know what is expected of him under the license obtained, and not be subject to annihilation upon an order of the commission based upon no substantial evidence in support of an alleged violation." Brown wrote that the tax commission exhibited an "unusual eagerness" to find wrongdoing against Hicks. He also cited a lack of evidence that Jones had any knowledge of the Sadlo loan. Both sides gave
briefs to the supreme court at the end of 1956, and final arguments over the injunction were given several months later. In May 1957, the Nevada supreme court ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to revoke the Thunderbird gaming license. The court also ruled that Brown had acted in error, stating that casino owners shall not be entitled to continue operations under a district court injunction while they are appealing decisions by the tax commission. The commission chose not to pursue the matter any further.
Changes Jones disposed of his gaming license in 1958, after purchasing a controlling interest in a Haitian casino. The tax commission had adopted a new regulation that prohibited Nevada gaming operators from owning interest in out-of-state casinos. Although Jones was no longer involved in the Thunderbird's gaming operations, he still maintained his ownership stake in the resort. The casino was closed in December 1960, for remodeling. In May 1961, a group of businessmen agreed to lease the Thunderbird from Hicks after he was hospitalized. Hicks had been battling cancer for two years and owned 72 percent of the Thunderbird stock. The new group included
Sid Wyman and two other men who had all previously been involved with the
Riviera resort nearby. Plans to lease the Thunderbird were canceled in August 1961, as Hicks regained his health and wanted to maintain his control of the resort. He died the following month, at the age of 57. Ground was broken on November 23, 1962, for a $1 million, four-story hotel addition, located directly east of the resort. It was the third phase of a $6 million project to expand and modernize the Thunderbird. At the time, the resort also operated 88 rooms at its Thunderbird West building, located on the El Rancho Vegas property and leased to the Thunderbird. Big Joe's Oyster Bar opened several months later; it resembled the interior of a ship, and fresh oysters were flown in to the restaurant daily from New Orleans. The four-story addition, with 205 rooms, was opened in November 1963. The expansion project was also supposed to include a skyscraper hotel building, approximately 17 stories with 350 rooms, to be built on the site of the hotel's pool area. It was to open in 1964, and Wells wanted the Thunderbird hotel to serve as the lodging headquarters for racers. Wells also had plans to construct a
Quarter Horse race track directly behind the Thunderbird. The track, known as Thunderbird Downs, opened in October 1963. It consisted of a three-eighths mile track, operated along
Paradise Valley Road. It was successful, prompting relocation to a larger site in 1964. The new Thunderbird Downs was situated across the street, on property owned by Joe W. Brown that was previously used for the
Las Vegas Park. In 1965, the Brown family sold the land. The Thunderbird Downs track was closed that November, and was demolished in early 1966, replaced by the
Las Vegas Country Club. Thunderbird Downs was successful during its two-year run.
Del Webb In September 1964, the
Del E. Webb Corporation announced plans to purchase the Thunderbird from Wells and Jones through its subsidiary, Sahara-Nevada Corporation, which owned the nearby
Sahara resort. The sale price was $9.5 million, Two months later, plans were announced for a $1.5 million renovation that would include alterations to the facade. One of the Thunderbird statues was replaced by a larger version, and 400 feet of neon signage was added across the front of the building, spelling out the "Thunderbird" name with letters standing two stories tall. The renovation project also included the expansion of the casino, restaurants, and shops, and the construction of an
Olympic-size swimming pool. Del E. Webb Construction Company handled the renovations, and
Martin Stern Jr. was the architect. The new pool was the largest in Nevada, containing 360,000 gallons of water. The Thunderbird's convention and hotel facilities often handled overflow customers from the Sahara resort. During 1965, a minority stockholder in the Thunderbird sued Wells, Jones, and others over a dispute regarding the Del Webb purchase. In 1966, Tom Hanley's union organization, the American Federation of Gaming and Casino Employes, alleged that Sahara and Thunderbird workers were harassed by management after trying to organize into a union. Table game dealers also filed a $100,000 lawsuit against the Thunderbird, alleging that the resort refused to pay them overtime wages. Picketing also took place in front of the Thunderbird, accusing the resort of
antisemitism after the firing of a Jewish table game dealer, Howard Bock. Consolidated Casinos Corporation said Bock was fired because he dumped food on another dealer's head. Hanley alleged that Bock was fired because he was Jewish, and said that Bock was harassed by the other dealer because of his ethnicity. Hanley's attempt to unionize the Thunderbird and other casinos was defeated later in 1966, during a
National Labor Relations Board election. Business at the Thunderbird decreased following the Del Webb purchase and subsequent sales. The state approved the sale three months later. At the end of 1967, Lance Inc. defaulted on its payments to Del Webb, and Consolidated Casinos was granted temporary approval by the state to take over the Thunderbird. In January 1968, Lance Inc. sought refinancing to take over the Thunderbird once again. The company owed an estimated $10 million to $14 million in debt, and a payment plan for its
creditors was submitted. However, later that year, the company lost its battle to regain control of the Thunderbird, leaving it in Del Webb's ownership.
Caesars World In July 1972, it was announced that Del Webb would sell the Thunderbird and surrounding acreage for $13.5 million to
Caesars World, owner of the
Caesars Palace resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The sale was approved later that year. Caesars World planned to build a new resort, the Mark Anthony, on the newly acquired property. The project was named after the Roman politician and general
Mark Antony, and the resort would have served as a companion to Caesars Palace. The Thunderbird would continue operations until the near-completion of the Mark Anthony. The Thunderbird was operated by a Caesars World subsidiary called Paradise Road Hotel Corporation. After a global search, Caesars World was unable to find financing for the $150 million Mark Anthony project, and its cancellation was announced in June 1975. Caesars World initially stated that there was no intention of selling the Thunderbird, and that there were several plans in consideration for the property. In 1976, Caesars World announced that it would sell the Thunderbird for $9 million to Tiger Investment Company, a group of Las Vegas bankers that included
E. Parry Thomas. At the time, the hotel had 460 rooms. Joan Louise Siegel, a Las Vegas resident, filed a suit to block the sale. During 1975, she had made two offers to purchase the Thunderbird for $20 million, but was told that the resort was not for sale. A district court judge dismissed the suit, stating that Caesars World had no obligation to sell the resort to Siegel. Tiger Investment completed its purchase later in 1976. The sale agreement involved a
leaseback, in which Caesars World continued to operate the resort while it was owned by Tiger Investment.
Silverbird (1977–82) In December 1976,
Major Riddle planned to take over operations at the Thunderbird and rename it as the Silver Bird (later spelled "Silverbird" Riddle planned a renovation of the resort, The casino would be enlarged from to , and a
sportsbook would be added. A high-rise hotel building had also been planned, along with the enlargement of the coffee shop and keno lounge. Riddle's target clientele included local residents and tourists both looking for cheap food and "loose" slots. Riddle believed that the local market had been forgotten over the years as the Thunderbird continued to change ownership. and the property's roadside sign would be updated to reflect the new name, before being replaced entirely with a new sign the following year. Riddle changed the name of the resort because he believed that "Thunderbird" had become synonymous with "poor food and tight slot machines." Riddle leased the Silverbird from Tiger Investment, and operated it through his company, NLV Corporation. The renovation and expansion project took place throughout 1977. The expansion included a new 500-seat buffet, one of the largest in Las Vegas. Joe's Oyster Bar was also expanded, and the resort's showroom was renovated as well. Fifty-five hotel rooms were demolished to make room for the casino expansion, and other rooms were renovated. The hotel was reduced to 385 rooms. The Silverbird suffered a two-alarm fire on March 3, 1981, when an arsonist lit up a dressing room under the showroom stage. Riddle died in 1980, and the Silverbird, along with his other casinos, was placed into his estate. The casinos filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy later that year, and a reorganization effort failed to pay off the resort's creditors. An auction of the Silverbird lease was held on December 2, 1981, with a minimum bid of $3.8 million. The resort was worth approximately $2.5 million. Tiger Investment still owned the resort, and any new lessee would have to make monthly payments of approximately $264,000. Other lease expenditures for furniture and equipment would raise the monthly costs to approximately $500,000.
Bob Stupak was among those who bid on the Silverbird, but no one bid the minimum amount. Eddy King, the chairman of record promotion company Star Makers Unlimited, offered the highest bid at $3.5 million. Last-minute efforts to negotiate a deal with King did not work out. As a result of the failed auction, the Silverbird was closed on December 3, 1981, at the order of a federal bankruptcy judge. The closure affected approximately 850 employees.
El Rancho (1982–92) Two weeks after its closure, Ed Torres announced plans to purchase the Silverbird and its property from Tiger Investment. He intended to renovate the resort and reopen it by May 1982, and planned to add a hotel tower. Torres was the owner of the
Aladdin hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, and was also the father of swimmer
Dara Torres. Ed Torres knew notorious crime members such as
Meyer Lansky and
Vincent Alo, but this did not restrict him from acquiring a gaming license for the Silverbird property. Torres' $25 million purchase was approved by the
Nevada Gaming Commission in April 1982. The western theme and bowling alley were part of an effort to attract families, a growing tourist demographic in Las Vegas. A new poker parlor was also added, but the planned hotel tower did not begin construction until several years later. and it employed 1,400 people. The resort's 13-story hotel tower began construction in 1987, and was completed the following year, adding 580 rooms. The El Rancho struggled in its final years because of the
early 1990s recession, as well as competition from newly opened mega resorts in Las Vegas, specifically
The Mirage (1989) and the
Excalibur (1990). The latter took away some of the middle-class gamblers that the El Rancho had relied upon. Torres announced in May 1992 that the resort would close in two months, giving workers a mandated 60-day notice. At the time, Torres had been trying to sell the resort for $25–30 million, but was unsuccessful. The closure announcement came after the
Culinary Workers Union voted against Torres' request for concessions. The bowling alley, sportsbook, and slot machines were shut down on June 30, 1992, 1,007 hotel rooms,
Failed projects (1992–99) By August 1993, Las Vegas Entertainment Network Inc. (LVEN), a
Los Angeles-based television production company, had plans to redevelop the resort and reopen it in 1994 as El Rancho's Countryland USA. The new resort would have included a family-oriented theme park with country-style entertainment and attractions. LVEN also planned to construct two 20-story hotel towers meant to resemble a gigantic pair of Western-style boots. The new towers would have brought the El Rancho up to a total of 2,001 hotel rooms.
Harry Wald, the former president and chief operating officer of Caesars Palace, was to direct the redevelopment of the El Rancho into a full-time family resort. LVEN purchased the property in November 1993, for $36.5 million. Construction of the new hotel towers was delayed because of a lack of financing. In October 1994, LVEN received $35 million from a
Dallas investment bank for construction of the towers. At that time, LVEN also planned to launch the Las Vegas Country Television Network, which would have featured country-western entertainment and other shows on the Las Vegas Strip. In January 1996, Orion Casino Corporation would own and operate one of the seven casinos. The complex would include of retail space, as well as 2,400 hotel rooms and a 65-story hotel tower. ITB hoped to begin construction later in 1996, with a planned opening date of April 1998. Some gaming analysts expressed skepticism that the Starship Orion project could get built, citing the high cost and ITB's lack of casino experience. In an agreement with LVEN, ITB was to come up with financing for Starship Orion, with a deadline of October 25, 1996. If ITB were unsuccessful, LVEN had an option to seek alternative financing for a less-expensive project, such as re-opening the El Rancho. A week before the deadline, ITB told LVEN that the Starship Orion project had not generated any financing from potential investors. ITB was pursuing other possible options for the property at that time. ITB and LVEN subsequently got into a dispute regarding control of the El Rancho. In addition, Brennan was ordered by the
New Jersey Casino Control Commission to sell his shares of ITB, as he had been fined $71.5 million for
securities fraud in 1995. In February 1997, ITB and LVEN settled their dispute, while the resort was expected to reopen in the first quarter of 1998. However, Coelho and DeSantis feuded with ITB board members who allegedly were trying to help Brennan retain control of the company.
SunAmerica, the prospective
underwriter for Countryland USA, subsequently chose not to proceed with its $100 million investment, out of concerns over the project and management. The company began developing the
Turnberry Place condominium towers on the site, located directly east of the El Rancho. Ultimately, the sale did not proceed. In 1999, local news channel
KVBC News 3 was granted access to the El Rancho after being invited by two unnamed workers. KVBC conducted and aired an investigation of the resort's structures.
Asbestos and exposed wiring were found throughout the buildings, as well as corroding chemicals which covered the floors. Rats and bugs were found to be inhabiting the resort. Homeless people had also been sneaking inside the closed resort and staying there, and marijuana and empty beer bottles were discovered by the news team. While most of the structures were decomposing, another section of the El Rancho was found to have been renovated with working slot machines, which had been lent to the owners by
Bally Gaming three years earlier to showcase to potential investors for the Countryland USA project. After the investigation aired, the property's owners were fined for health and safety violations by the local building and fire departments, as well as the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In addition, LVEN was subsequently investigated by the FBI and the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for alleged stock scams and investor fraud. Two months later, Turnberry agreed to the purchase with plans to demolish the El Rancho. Turnberry considered the resort an eyesore and wanted to remove it for future residents of Turnberry Place ahead of its opening. at a cost of $45 million. Turnberry considered eventually building a hotel-casino or timeshares on the El Rancho property. Much clean-up work had to be done to the resort to prepare it for the sale, removing dust and disrepair. Among the items for sale were furnishings, bathroom fixtures, and carpeting. The bowling alley was also for sale, at a cost of $114,000. Demolition began in August 2000. The resort's last remaining structure, the 13-story hotel tower, was imploded on October 3, 2000, with 700 pounds of dynamite. The implosion took place at 2:30 a.m., and more than 2,000 spectators came to witness it. For safety reasons, the demolition was a subdued event compared to past implosions in Las Vegas. Turnberry had given only minimal publicity to the implosion, in order to minimize the number of spectators. Approximately 10,000 pounds of concrete from the demolished resort was used by the
Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee to stabilize the
Las Vegas Wash. The El Rancho's implosion was recorded and featured in the 2004
National Geographic Channel documentary
Exploding Las Vegas, along with several other Las Vegas casino implosions. Turnberry initially planned to build a
London-themed resort on the El Rancho land, but the project was later canceled. The site of the El Rancho and Algiers was later used for the
Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort, which began construction in 2007. The resort opened on December 13, 2023, following construction delays. ==Entertainers==