Las Vegas Sun - History

March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024 Currently: ° | Complete forecast

Las Vegas history test: Do you know former names of city’s casinos?

Barbary Coast

Sun Archives

The Las Vegas skyline is seen from the top of the Bellagio.

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.

    • 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

    • 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.

    • 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

    • In past years, the idea of Vegas signs going to private collectors made representatives at the Neon Museum shudder.

      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.

    • 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

    • 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.

    • The Cromwell, left, formerly Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, is shown on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard South and Flamingo Avenue, Monday, April 21, 2014. The casino is undergoing a $185 million renovation project that includes remodeling of guest rooms, casino floor and common areas, the addition of a new second floor restaurant, and construction of the 65,000 square foot rooftop pool and dayclub/nightclub.

      Cromwell

      Caesars spent $185 million renovating which casino to create the Cromwell?

      A. Desert Inn

      B. Vegas World

      C. Bill's Gamblin' Hall

    • 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.

    • Hooters hotel-casino just off the Las Vegas Strip.

      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

    • San Remo hotel signage pictured on April 15, 2001.

      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.

    • Planet Hollywood

      Before the megaresort opened in 2007, which iconic Las Vegas casino was on the property?

      A. Aladdin

      B. Dunes

      C. Sands

    • The Aladdin opened in 1962. It was a resort motel without a casino.

      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.

    • 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

    • 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.

    • The grand opening of SLS Las Vegas on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, on the Strip.

      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

    • From the Sahara to SLS Las Vegas on the Strip.

      B. Sahara

      The Sahara survived 59 years before closing in 2011.

    • 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

    • The Bingo Palace, which Frank Fertitta Jr. would eventually rename Palace Station.

      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.

    • Bellagio

      Which iconic Las Vegas hotel was imploded in 1993 to make way for the Bellagio?

      A. Sands

      B. Dunes

      C. Silver Slipper

    • The Dunes casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

      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.

    • The Castaways and its marquee Thursday, June 26, 2003.

      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

    • Culinary Union 226 members protest outside the Showboat Casino,1999.

      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.

    Join the Discussion:

    Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

    Full comments policy

    History: Table of contents »