Sun Archives
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014 | 2 a.m.
The history of Las Vegas is peppered with second acts. Third acts, fourth acts and even more acts, too.
Resorts come and go, either being recycled through name changes or being demolished to make way for new properties.
How well do you know the lineage of the city's casinos? Take this test and find out. For the answer on each current resort, click to the next slide.
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Downtown Grand
The Grand opened in November 2013 after a $120 million renovation of which former property?
A. Continental
B. Lady Luck
C. Gold Spike
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B. Lady Luck
The Lady Luck started as a small, parlor-type operation in 1964, but expanded in 1972 to a full-scale casino and hotel until closing in 2006.
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The D
The D, which opened in fall 2012, was among the early post-recession signs of recovery in Las Vegas. What was the previous incarnation of the property?
A. Dunes
B. Coin Castle
C. Fitzgeralds
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C. Fitzgeralds
The trail that leads to The D goes back to Las Vegas icon Moe Dalitz, who once owned the property on which the resort sits. The Sundance was built on the site in 1980, and seven years later the building was transformed to Fitzgeralds.
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Mandalay Bay
Since 1999, Mandalay Bay has been the southernmost resort on the Strip, as defined as the stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard from Russell Road to Sahara Avenue. What was on the property before Mandalay Bay was built there?
A. Algiers
B. Hacienda
C. Frontier
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B. Hacienda
The Hacienda was imploded in 1996, but a remnant of the resort can be found at the intersection of Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. The resort's sign, which features a palomino-riding caballero, was refurbished by the Neon Museum and put on display at the intersection.
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Cromwell
Caesars spent $185 million renovating which casino to create the Cromwell?
A. Desert Inn
B. Vegas World
C. Bill's Gamblin' Hall
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C. Bill's Gamblin' Hall
Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars Entertainment) took over the property in 2007, naming it after company founder William "Bill" Harrah. Before then, it had been named the Barbary Coast since it opened in 1979.
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Hooters
Before Hooters placed its brand to this off-Strip resort in 2006, what was the previous name of the property?
A. Barbary Coast
B. Showboat
C. Hotel San Remo
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C. Hotel San Remo
The resort was Hotel San Remo from 1989 until Hooters took over. Before 1989, it had several other names, including Polynesian and Pacifica.
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Planet Hollywood
Before the megaresort opened in 2007, which iconic Las Vegas casino was on the property?
A. Aladdin
B. Dunes
C. Sands
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A. Aladdin
The resort with the Arabian theme opened in 1966, was imploded in 1998, rebuilt and reopened in 2000. A partnership led by Planet Hollywood co-founder Robert Earl bought the Aladdin out of bankruptcy in 2003.
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Silver Sevens
Affinity Gaming bought the property now known as Silver Sevens out of bankruptcy in 2009, but only changed the name of the property in 2013. What was the name before the change?
A. Terrible's
B. Castaways
C. Key Largo
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A. Terrible's
Affinity liked the Terrible's name enough to keep it on the building for four years before doing a $7 million refurbishment and rebranding. The property originally was the Continental.
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SLS Las Vegas
For local residents and recent Las Vegas visitors, this one may be a gimme. For others, here's a big hint: SLS Las Vegas is at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. So which casino did SLS Las Vegas replace?
A. Sands
B. Sahara
C. Dunes
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B. Sahara
The Sahara survived 59 years before closing in 2011.
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Palace Station
Palace Station opened in 1976 as The Casino, but what was it called immediately prior to being given its current name?
A. Poker Palace
B. Slots Palace
C. Bingo Palace
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C. Bingo Palace
The name change occurred when bingo was added to the operation in the 1970s. The current name was adopted in the 1980s.
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Bellagio
Which iconic Las Vegas hotel was imploded in 1993 to make way for the Bellagio?
A. Sands
B. Dunes
C. Silver Slipper
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B. Dunes
The Dunes was among Las Vegas' most successful resorts in its hey-day, but it had slipped to the point that Steve Wynn paid just $75 million for it in 1993 — less than half what the previous owner paid in 1987.
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Castaways
Extra credit: This resort on the north end of the Boulder Strip has been gone since 2006, having been imploded after Station Casinos bought it. What was the previous name of the property?
A. Showboat
B. Horseshoe
C. La Concha
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A. Showboat
The Showboat's claims to fame included being the site of the oldest stop on the Pro Bowlers Association tour and a venue for world title boxing matches, professional wrestling, roller derby and billiards.
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