End of an era
End of an era
Venerable Stardust closes to make way for Echelon Place
The Stardust Resort & Casino, once a glittering example of Las Vegas' glamour era, closes its doors for good in late-October, paving the way for Boyd Gaming's $4 billion Echelon Place development. The Stardust is slated for demolition in early 2007.
The Stardust is the latest casualty of old Las Vegas in the move toward luxurious, multifaceted resorts offering gaming as just one of numerous amenities. Expected to open in 2010, Echelon Place is envisioned as a world-class destination featuring four hotels with a total of 5,300 rooms, an expansive expo center, entertainment venues and a retail promenade on the 63-acre site.
It will be anchored by the $2.9 billion wholly-owned Echelon Resort with hotel and retail joint ventures between Boyd Gaming and key strategic partners, including the Asia-Pacific luxury hotel operator Shangri-La Hotel Group, and Morgans Hotel Group, operators of the hip Delano hotel in the South Beach area of Miami, and the upscale Mondrian in Los Angeles.
Boyd Gaming has tapped Bob Boughner, former chief executive officer of Boyd's highly successful and groundbreaking Borgata resort casino in Atlantic City to lead the development of Echelon Place as president and chief executive officer of Echelon Resorts.
"True to the evolution of Las Vegas as a world-class destination, Echelon Place will integrate a compelling collection of brands and environments in a single and auspicious development," Boughner said in a news release.
Boughner noted Boyd is assembling an "internationally distinguished" group of strategic partners in the hotel, restaurant, retail, entertainment and nightlife arenas to complement the company's skills and resources. "We will draw upon our highly successful Borgata experience and are committed to developing a resort destination that can be counted among the best Las Vegas has seen."
Had the Stardust lasted another two years, it would have celebrated its 50th birthday. But while it failed to reach that milestone, the property still left its mark on Las Vegas.
When it opened on July 2, 1958, the Stardust set new benchmarks for Las Vegas. It was the largest hotel in the world with 1,065 rooms, and the Stardust swimming pool and casino were the biggest in Nevada.
Over the years, the Stardust's risque Lido de Paris show drew packed houses, and the property itself, with its landmark neon sign, lured the masses and celebrities alike. The Stardust gave illusionists Siegfried & Roy the start that would propel them to stardom, and the resort also at times housed a golf course, race-car track and drive-in theater. It also housed Las Vegas' first sports book, which through the years was considered one of the best by bettors, who boned up on the latest race or sporting event by combing its library of sorts.
The Stardust's most infamous chapter in its long history came in 1976 when Nevada investigators accused the Stardust of skimming more than $7 million off slot machines for distribution to Midwestern mobsters. Stardust owner Allen Glick was forced to sell the casino. Another top executive, Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal-Robert De Niro's "Ace' Rothstein" character in the movie Casino is based on Rosenthal-was banned from Nevada casinos.
History repeated itself in 1983 when Nevada gaming officials again forced owners to sell because of skimming, and this time socked the resort with the largest fine ever recorded against a casino-$3 million.
The resort was purchased by Sam Boyd's gaming company, now Boyd Gaming Corp., in March 1985.
-Marian Green
Venerable Stardust closes to make way for Echelon Place
The Stardust Resort & Casino, once a glittering example of Las Vegas' glamour era, closes its doors for good in late-October, paving the way for Boyd Gaming's $4 billion Echelon Place development. The Stardust is slated for demolition in early 2007.
The Stardust is the latest casualty of old Las Vegas in the move toward luxurious, multifaceted resorts offering gaming as just one of numerous amenities. Expected to open in 2010, Echelon Place is envisioned as a world-class destination featuring four hotels with a total of 5,300 rooms, an expansive expo center, entertainment venues and a retail promenade on the 63-acre site.
It will be anchored by the $2.9 billion wholly-owned Echelon Resort with hotel and retail joint ventures between Boyd Gaming and key strategic partners, including the Asia-Pacific luxury hotel operator Shangri-La Hotel Group, and Morgans Hotel Group, operators of the hip Delano hotel in the South Beach area of Miami, and the upscale Mondrian in Los Angeles.
Boyd Gaming has tapped Bob Boughner, former chief executive officer of Boyd's highly successful and groundbreaking Borgata resort casino in Atlantic City to lead the development of Echelon Place as president and chief executive officer of Echelon Resorts.
"True to the evolution of Las Vegas as a world-class destination, Echelon Place will integrate a compelling collection of brands and environments in a single and auspicious development," Boughner said in a news release.
Boughner noted Boyd is assembling an "internationally distinguished" group of strategic partners in the hotel, restaurant, retail, entertainment and nightlife arenas to complement the company's skills and resources. "We will draw upon our highly successful Borgata experience and are committed to developing a resort destination that can be counted among the best Las Vegas has seen."
Had the Stardust lasted another two years, it would have celebrated its 50th birthday. But while it failed to reach that milestone, the property still left its mark on Las Vegas.
When it opened on July 2, 1958, the Stardust set new benchmarks for Las Vegas. It was the largest hotel in the world with 1,065 rooms, and the Stardust swimming pool and casino were the biggest in Nevada.
Over the years, the Stardust's risque Lido de Paris show drew packed houses, and the property itself, with its landmark neon sign, lured the masses and celebrities alike. The Stardust gave illusionists Siegfried & Roy the start that would propel them to stardom, and the resort also at times housed a golf course, race-car track and drive-in theater. It also housed Las Vegas' first sports book, which through the years was considered one of the best by bettors, who boned up on the latest race or sporting event by combing its library of sorts.
The Stardust's most infamous chapter in its long history came in 1976 when Nevada investigators accused the Stardust of skimming more than $7 million off slot machines for distribution to Midwestern mobsters. Stardust owner Allen Glick was forced to sell the casino. Another top executive, Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal-Robert De Niro's "Ace' Rothstein" character in the movie Casino is based on Rosenthal-was banned from Nevada casinos.
History repeated itself in 1983 when Nevada gaming officials again forced owners to sell because of skimming, and this time socked the resort with the largest fine ever recorded against a casino-$3 million.
The resort was purchased by Sam Boyd's gaming company, now Boyd Gaming Corp., in March 1985.
-Marian Green
