Chief pyrotechnician for Grucci’s of New York, Robert Inga, rigs shells for Texas Stations’ July 4th fireworks show, Tuesday July 3, 2012.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012 | 4:34 p.m.
Station Casino Fireworks
- Fireworks display will start at five Station Casinos at 9 p.m. Independence Day. Each casino will have designated viewing areas, but officials advise people to show up early to claim their spot. The viewing areas are as follows:
- • Aliante Station: main casino parking lot on the corner of Aliante Parkway and Elkhorn Road (Music will be broadcast on KDWN AM720)
- • Fiesta Rancho: parking garage rooftop (Music via KOAS 105.7 FM)
- • Green Valley Ranch: Paseo Verde Garage roof or the main casino parking lot (Music via KCYE 102.7 FM)
- • Red Rock Resort: Parking lot at corner of Charleston Boulevard and Pavilion Center Drive (Music via KKLZ 96.3 FM)
- • Texas Station: Lot C at the corner of Rancho Drive and Lake Mead Boulevard (Music via KVGS 107.9 FM)
For nine minutes Wednesday evening, the sky above Texas Station in Las Vegas will be lit up in a spectrum of vivid reds, whites and blues as hundreds of shells are fired from the roof of a nearby parking garage.
The fireworks display will serve as a patriotic wrap-up to the Fourth of July for many valley residents, but for the technicians from Grucci’s of New York, the nine-minute show will be the culmination of hundreds of hours of planning, choreographing and set-up.
“We want everybody to walk away going ‘That’s the best show I’ve ever seen,’” said Larry Goetz, a producer with Grucci’s of New York.
The set-up at Texas Station, and at four other Station Casinos properties around the valley, began over the weekend.
On Tuesday, a handful of workers toiled underneath the hot desert sun as they rigged together 62 firing batteries – each pointed in a precisely calibrated angle – with more than 9 miles of wiring.
The shells inside each battery are comprised of black gunpowder and powdered metals that color the fireworks and add effects.
Come show time, a technician will man the firing station and work his way through the 305 firing cues for the show, which are synchronized with music that viewers can listen to over the radio.
Lori Nelson, spokeswoman for Station Casinos, said this year’s musical accompaniment is set around the theme “love,” to tie in with the company’s “We Love Locals” campaign.
“We love fireworks,” Nelson said. “We’ve tasked the Grucci’s this year with creating something bigger and better than years past.”
The fireworks display will start at five Station Casinos at 9 p.m. Wednesday. Each casino will have designated viewing areas, but Nelson advised people to show up early to claim their spot.
“Give yourself plenty of time so you can avoid that last-minute rush,” she said.
Situated at the entrance to Red Rock Canyon and minutes from the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa offers five-star luxury in a modern property, built in 2006.
The casino features features 3,000 slot and video poker machines, 60 table games including blackjack, baccarat, craps, poker, roulette, a 206-seat Race and Sports Book with a 96-foot video wall a 20-table smoke-free poker room open 24 hours a day, a 600-seat bingo hall with separate smoking and non-smoking sections, open 7 days a week with sessions running every other hour from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., a 20-seat keno lounge and a private high-limit room.
A recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award since opening and named one of the world's best new hotels by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, Red Rock redefines casino resort architecture by incorporating natural light, a convenient layout and the comforts of a modern lifestyle.
The centerpiece of the property is the three-acre pool complex with 19 cabanas and swim-up gaming. Its location allows for balcony views from several of the property's restaurants and Cherry Nightclub. Aside from Cherry, guests can grab a drink at Onyx or Lucky or listen to live music in Rocks Lounge.
Dining spans the globe at Red Rock with more than 10 restaurants, including the Italian food of Terra Rossa, the Japanese fusion of Hachi, the Mexican spices at Cabo Cantina or a bit of everything at the Feast Buffet.
Unlike some resorts in town, Red Rock has activities for the whole family, such as a 16-screen movie theater and an arcade. The 72-lane bowling center features a VIP area and carpet that glows in the dark for after hours at Cosmic Bowling.
Located away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip and downtown, the Fiesta Rancho offers a friendly, locals-oriented atmosphere.
Decorated in a Southwestern style like its sister-property Fiesta Henderson, the 50,000 square foot casino features more than 1,350 slot and video poker machines, 14 table games and a 300-seat bingo hall. One of the casino's most notable features is its 100-seat race and sports book — with drive through service. There is also a 12-seat keno lounge.
Dining options at Fiesta Rancho include the Festival Buffet with six live-action cooking stations and over 60 daily selections to choose from, authentic Mexican cuisine at Garduno's and affordable favorites at Denny's.
Texas Station, modeled after the Lone Star State, is a AAA Three-Diamond rated hotel with 200 rooms, a casino, restaurants, bars and lounges, an entertainment showroom, a movie theater and a bowling center about six miles from the Las Vegas Strip.
It features 91,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 1,775 slots, 27 table games, a non-smoking poker room, a 500-seat bingo hall and a race and sports book.
The hotel has several dining options, from quick eateries to restaurants, including Austin's Steakhouse and Texas Star Oyster Bar. Some family-friendly features include an 18-screen movie theater and a bowling center.
South Padre provides live music weekly. The Dallas Events Center seats up to 2,000 people for concerts and other live performances.
Aliante Casino + Hotel, 7300 Aliante Parkway, is a Four Diamond AAA-rated resort at Aliante Parkway and Interstate 215, bringing dining, gaming and entertainment to North Las Vegas. Located across from the Aliante Golf Course, the $675 million dollar resort features more than 200 rooms and suites. It opened in 2008 as part of the Station Casino family and began operating under its own management in the fall of 2012.
The casino floor has more than 2,000 slot machines, 40 tables games. The casino also features an all-paper, all-day bingo hall with a blackout progressive starting at $10,000. It also features a race and sports book that offers an extensive menu of wagering propositions not found elsewhere.
Dining includes four restaurants and eight fast food eateries. The signature restaurant is MRKT sea & land, which features steak and seafood and a 5,000-bottle wine list. Three new restaurants were introduced in fall 2012: Bistro 57, which offers Mediterranean-inspired fare; The Salted Lime, a margarita bar featuring food offerings from south of the border, and Medley Buffet, which will serve culinary treats from around the world. The food options for quick eats include Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, Johnny Rocket's, Panda Express Gourmet Chinese Food, T.G.I. Friday's, Dairy Queen, Orange Julius, Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill and Villa Pizza.
Guests can enjoy live entertainment at the Access Showroom, a 650-seat concert venue. For movies, the resort features the Regal Aliante Stadium 16 & IMAX. The ETA Lounge is Aliante's nightlife scene, with a private VIP section, a DJ booth and cold cocktails. The pool features palm trees, umbrellas, daybeds and cabanas.
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