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Tuesday, July 28, 2009 | 5:28 p.m.
Map of The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino
The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino
3700 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas
(Editor's note: Read the latest story).
The Rio hotel-casino has closed its adult pool indefinitely after failing a Metro Police "integrity check," a property spokesperson said Tuesday.
The Sapphire Pool was closed after Metro Police made discoveries during a routine check Saturday, spokeswoman Deanna Pettit said. Pettit wouldn't discuss the findings and referred questions to Metro Police, who couldn't be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon.
The Sapphire Pool was the Rio’s topless pool, where Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club dancers would appear topless during the day. Sapphire removed any mention of the pool from its Web site today.
The main pool at the Rio will remain open but the property has decided not to reopen a topless pool, Pettit said.
The religous right is in full force.
America this is what happens when Libertarians and republicans take over.
God didn't close the pool, Las Vegas's Finest did. They probably found some of the clientele and "employees" doing.....well...(let your imagination do the devil's work).
I never could quite fathom the notion of topless pool areas in Las Vegas anyway. I know there are still others, but it just seems a bit odd to me.
Um, what true libertarian would go along with this?
(Nick doesn't have the faintest clue of what constitutes Libertarianism.)
This is absolute insanity. Las Vegas is consuming itself. Enough with the misplaced moral crackdown. Where am I living again? What is the purpose of this crackdown? Who would've imagined that Las Vegas would cook its own Golden Goose?
Wow.
The "purification" process will be in full bloom soon. The moral conservatives who have been infiltrating the County Commission and most other Las Vegas government sectors for years have found a perfect time to strike: kick 'em while their down.
Hotels and clubs are reeling from the recession so, as the thought goes, now is a good time to clean things up as the business owners are too worried about self survival to put up a united front.
While we've never been a fan of the arrogant night clubs, turning this place into a squeaky clean town will kill it even more than a piss-poor economy.
Remember the County Commission consists of all Democrats now. So blaming conservatives, Republicans or most idiotically libertarians makes a lot of sense....
The County Commission hasn't been involved in this issue or even the Prive' issue, yet--you are correct dave202. It's the unelected official that has been at play here so far. It was an excellent strategy, after seeing that elected officials are vulnerable to the whims of the fickle voter, to grab powerful positions that can't be touched by voters.
We're all for cleaning up the ugly stuff like what Prive' was reportedly doing, but we get the distinct feeling that even the "controlled sin"--the stuff Las Vegas is famous for--will be thrown by the wayside in the moral cleansing that looks to be coming...
What went on at Prive was over the line.
However, what went on at the Rio sounds like Moralism-run-amuk. An integrity check? Are you kidding me? Did Las Vegas move to Utah?
Beautiful topless women is a critical component of Vegas' marketing. Without beautiful women, great night clubs, and racy stage shows, Vegas is just another truck stop with slot machines.
Great, my neighbors car was stolen but law enforcement has this "problem" under control. Wonderful allocation of resources.
How many times a day do the cops check these pools for "crime"?
Hey all. Today (July 29) on "Face to Face with Jon Ralston", we'll talk with County Commissioner Steve Sisolak and County Manager Virginia Valentine about the county's response to nightclubs, pool parties, etc. that push the envelope. That's at 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 8:00pm on Las Vegas ONE, Cox Cable Channel 19.
And, tune in to the rebroadcast at 11am and 3pm of yesterday's "Face to Face". We talk with the attorney for Planet Hollywood and an author who has written about the evolution of the sex industry in Las Vegas.
Metro did an "integrity" check? METRO? I now have my laugh for the day.
OG, excellent post.
Nick, sorry to see you are still misguided. When all you do is hate anything can spew off of your keyboard.
From the R-J: "Harrah's Entertainment, which owns the Rio, asks the police to conduct periodic integrity checks on its nightclubs, pools and other amenities to make sure they are operating within the law."
and to think two weeks ago I was pulled over for having an air freshener hanging from my rear view. I'm SO glad I pay these cops salaries.
getalife, You seem to be the misguided one here. Nicks comments were not hateful and well within decency limits. He does have the right to express himself o' righteous right winger.
Nick -- what could Libertarians possibly have to do with this article?
OG -- amen!
nick...shut up, moron.
this is about slow tourism, so not much money coming in for the law enforcement budget...
so...
they have to justify their jobs and salaries and wage increases by "cracking down" on crime.
no more, no less.
From the R-J: "Harrah's Entertainment, which owns the Rio, asks the police to conduct periodic integrity checks on its nightclubs, pools and other amenities to make sure they are operating within the law."
************************************************************
Yes, and I want the police to patrol my neighborhood more but they say that they're spread too thin. But I can now sleep well, knowing that the pools are safe.
I'm sure the cops just dread the thought of doing those pool inspections......
LOLOL This is one of the funniest things I've heard!! Metro - Integrity checks?
Please.....
Stuff has been going on in and around the Rio pools for years now....and in broad daylight with kids around!! We've seen flashers, hookers and their johns feeling each other up in their private places in front of everyone, we've seen a couple doing it underneath their beach towels. Each time, security was notified but by the time they sauntered to the pool area, there was no sign of nasty behavior and the guests looked like fools.
Looks like Harrah's/the Rio are a day late and a dollar or two short this time!!!
Is there a nightclub named 'Orgy' in LV yet? What does it take to get one started? I want in on this action.
Homer, I don't think you know what Libertarians are either.
"o' righteous right winger", stop you are cracking me up. Why don't you follow your idol Nick a little closer and read through his hate filled retorts. I am not judging the dude I am merely stating the obvious; when all you do is hate everything looks bad.
On the topic of decency; the morality police must be working overtime. Until I read this article, I never even knew this place existed; must have been one crazy wild place.
Nevada Gaming approved this and they should be the only ones to shut it down. Metro should only give them their findings.
Beautiful Women, great nightclubs, and racy stage shows are an integral part of Las Vegas.
But the drugs need to be kept out and off of Casino Properties.
Good point 'rstanberry'.
"The Sapphire Pool was closed after Metro Police made discoveries during a routine check Saturday, spokeswoman Deanna Pettit said. Pettit wouldn't discuss the findings and referred questions to Metro Police, who couldn't be reached for comment..."
This seems disturbing. Questionable jurisdiction coupled with secret "findings" doesn't seem like the kind of image Vegas needs to be projecting to the rest of the country right now.
wonder if it has anything 2 do w/the watanabbe investigation
Katie,
I'm sure the Rio pool is the only pool in Las Vegas that has had "stuff" going on at. You've seen a "flasher" at a TOPLESS pool? *WTF*
I agree with Dave & Steve on the radio right now, this is pathetic. If people are going over the line, correct the problem, don't punish the other 99% of the population.
I booked a package at the Rio (from their website) that featured free Sapphire Pool entry. They have not contacted me at all about the closure. Has anyone booking the same package received any concessions?
There you go...Rio closed the pool, not Metro after under a dozen people were arrested for prostitution activity. Probably a smart move, they have enough troubles to deal with right now.
Was it hurting anyone? That's the fun of Vegas.
heh heh heh.
i made a comment about how the girls in that photo should be talking to a lawyer TODAY since it sort of makes it look like THOSE girls were the prostitutes and it got removed in about 2.7 seconds.
it's 6:13 now...we'll see if this post is still up at 6:23.
Metro can KMFA!!! Let's just close ALL OF VEGAS while we're at it and open a million churches.
How about you can kiss Metro's ass vegasj. This was one place out of hundreds or thousands.
It's not like they are knocking on everyone's door.
Why are you taking this out on Metro, who were doing their job..wait, you must be a pimp who just lost some of his girls..bummer.
I'm sure the Rio pool is the only pool in Las Vegas that has had "stuff" going on at. You've seen a "flasher" at a TOPLESS pool? *WTF*
I should have added: he was hanging around the kids, not the adults. At first I didn't notice, but my ex is a retired cop and he knew immediately this guy was up to no good. That's when he noticed what this guy was doing. He was the first one to get the ball rolling to get security down to the pool area.
Wouldn't a Libertarian be for legalized prostitution? I thought libertarians were for personal liberties, and against unnecessary laws?
I would preferr to attend a bottomless pool. No bottoms on the girls. Unless, of course, if they serve food there! Then not so good.
Since when is Las Vegas run by Libertarians?
Where are all these Libertarians on election days?
Did anyone here think to mention the unfairness of only women being targeted for being topless??? There are a LOT of men out there that have NO business parading around topless!! Dunlops are NOT attractive people! Lets cover em all up!
Really though, if a law discriminates between what gender can remove what articles of clothing, it needs to be removed. Let the women run rampant! (even the 300lbs ones!!!)
may be the metro can make more visitor decide not to go to Vegas. where we thought "what happens in vegas stays in vegas" close the night clubs, pools whats next?
Competition for attracting visitors to a casino-hotel is especially fierce these days, especially if it is situated off-Strip. Trying to be the coolest or hippest means pushing the envelop, but certainly not in a way where it obvious that the casino is condoning illicit behavior.
There are other topless pools operating with no issues. The Rio took a big chance on cross-marketing with a gentlemen's club. The Gaming Commission does not respond well to mixing strippers and gaming. When Metro found monkey business going on (aka strippers being strippers), Harrah's shut it down to avoid the wrath of the Gaming Commission. They might re-open a topless pool eventually but it will certainly not have the Sapphire name on it.
Guess they will be losing their liquor license like Prive.
Right? Right
EEwwwwwwwwwwwww... don't go in the pool.