The Four Queens was developed by Ben Goffstein, the former president of the
Riviera hotel-casino. Joe Wells, the father of actress
Dawn Wells, was also a partner in the Four Queens. A
groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 16, 1964. The property was expected to open the following year, A drug store and several shops were demolished to make way for the Four Queens. The casino portion opened on June 2, 1966, accompanied by a promotional giveaway with prizes totaling $250,000. The hotel opened on August 12, 1966. The property is named in reference to Goffstein's four daughters, each considered a variation of the
Queen playing card: Faith (the Queen of Hearts), Hope (the Queen of Diamonds), Benita (the Queen of Clubs), and Michele (the
Queen of Spades). According to Michele, "My parents were much more excited about it than we were. My father printed business cards for all of us. I was the Queen of Spades because I was the oldest. My mother had cards that said '
Joker' because there were only four queens." Tommy Callahan, initially an executive vice president, became president and general manager upon Goffstein's death. Callahan priced rooms at $10 a night, a practice that remained in effect for at least the next six years. From 1973 to 2003, the Four Queens was owned by
Elsinore Corporation, Jeanne Hood became the property's president in 1977, following the death of her husband David, who had held the position until that point. At the time, the only other woman in Las Vegas to oversee a gaming property was Claudine Williams at the
Holiday Casino. Hood retained her position until 1993. Both women later died in 2009, and are among few who have served as gaming chiefs in Las Vegas. Multiple unions, representing thousands of resort workers in Las Vegas, went on a year-long strike beginning in 1984. Employees at the Four Queens had been represented by the
Culinary Workers Union until 1985, when they voted to
decertify the union. It was the last resort still being picketed by striking workers. The Four Queens operated without union representation for the next decade, eventually signing a new contract with Culinary in 1998. A $5 million renovation was completed in 1995. This coincided with the debut of the
Fremont Street Experience, a portion of which runs along the front of the resort. Elsinore filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy later in 1995, and an investment firm – known as Morgens, Waterfall, Vintiadis & Company – obtained 99 percent ownership of the company. A subsidiary of
Riviera Holdings took over management of gaming operations, through a contract that expired at the end of 1999. Businessman
Allen Paulson was among those who considered a purchase. In 2002, local businessman Terry Caudill reached an agreement to purchase the Four Queens from Elsinore. The deal was terminated later that year, due to the prospect of an upcoming workers strike. However, union negotiations soon resulted in a new contract. Caudill and Elsinore reopened talks, and the property was sold in 2003, for $20 million. It is owned and operated through Caudill's company,
TLC Casino Enterprises. Caudill owned a series of local slot bars, including the Magoo's chain. He said his experience in the locals gaming market would help to revitalize the Four Queens. , 2025 ==Property overview==