Herbst Gaming Inc. opens fifth property

Tuesday, July 2, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

SEARCHLIGHT -- Hoping to capitalize on increased traffic from motorists trying to avoid Hoover Dam, Herbst Gaming Inc. has opened a casino in Searchlight.

The Las Vegas-based company has opened Terrible's Searchlight Casino on U.S. 95, the main highway through town and an alternative route between Las Vegas and the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The new casino has a tavern, 74 slot machines, electronic dartboards and two lanes of Bowlingo miniature bowling. The casino is attached to a convenience store with a 23-pump gasoline station and a McDonald's restaurant, which will open later this month. Kelley Mendenhall is the property's general manager.

It's the fifth casino operation for Herbst Gaming, which has two properties in Pahrump, one in Henderson and its flagship operation in Las Vegas at Flamingo and Paradise roads. Mark Sterbens Jr., director of marketing for Herbst, said the Las Vegas property has more than 800 slot machines and table games and a 375-room hotel.

The Herbst family also owns the Terrible's convenience store chain and a 6,000-machine slot route.