Westward Ho Hotel and Casino

Casino infobox
casino=Westward Ho
theme=Western
address=2900 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
rooms=744
date_opened=1963
date_closed=November 25, 2005
space_gaming=56,000 ft² (5,000 m²)
attractions=$1.49 3/4 pound jumbo hotdog
shows=
restaurants=
owner=Westward Ho Casino, LLC
casino_type=Land-Based
renovations=1989
names_pre=
website= [http://www.westwardho.com Westward Ho memories page]

The Westward Ho Hotel and Casino was a casino and hotel located on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, an unincorporated area of Clark County in the U.S. state of Nevada. The Westward Ho was the last large motel style property on the Strip. It was mostly two-story building with parking surrounding the buildings.

History

The Westward Ho was built and operated by siblings Dean Peterson, Faye Johnson and Murray Petersen, natives of Hyrum, Utah. It officially opened in 1963 and closed on November 17, 2005 following the sale of the property. Marketed as the "friendliest casino" in Vegas. It operated for 42 years, and was known as the world's largest motor inn.

According to the Clark County Assessors Office the property was sold to a Denver, Colorado company named C D P W H Acquisition, LLC (Centex Destination Properties a subsidiary of Centex Corporation) who reportedly intended to build high-rise condominiums. Voyager Entertainment had plans to build a large observation wheel on the property together with Centex Destination Properties but those plans have been canceled.

In January 2005 the Westward Ho opened an expansion casino simply called The Ho located at 2920 South Industrial Road, but unlike its parent property The Ho was strictly a gambling hall, convenience store and gas station geared primarily towards truck drivers and other transient travelers using the I-15 corridor. On November 25, 2005 eight days after the Westward Ho permanently closed their doors The Ho also permanently shut their doors.

In October 2006, Harrah's Entertainment purchased the site of the Westward Ho and then traded it with Boyd Gaming for the Barbary Coast Casino further south on the strip in Las Vegas. This transaction valued the land at over $15 million per acre. Boyd Gaming is currently building its massive Echelon Place on the Stardust site. The former Westward Ho site will be used as a site for a new McDonald's Restaurant, and the land the existing McDonald's is on will be used to extend the Echelon resort, thus eliminating the need to have the Echelon property wrap around the existing McDonalds.

Attractions

* A 56,000 square foot Casino
* 744 rooms, though its press material frequently listed 777 rooms, 900 rooms, or over 1,000 rooms
* Three outdoor pools
* A 700 seat show room
* Free shuttle to move those staying at the hotel around the property
* The Megadog: 3/4 lb footlong hotdog for only $1.49

Driving along the strip, the golden umbrellas, polished gold brass fixtures, and mirrored facade were popular icons on the northern strip. The free-standing golden umbrellas (known as spectaculars in the lighting industry) stood over 80 feet tall and when installed in 1983, were revolutionary designs. These pylons were emulated both on the strip and Fremont Street (Golden Gate, Las Vegas Club, Bally's).

Inside the casino, the prevalent color scheme was brown and green, emphasizing the brass and dark Oak fixtures. There was also a faux-champagne fountain in the rear lobby, which poured water down a pyramid of stacked champagne flutes.

The Westward Ho was also famous for regular events, such as the "Grub-Steak Jamboree BBQ", "HO-waiaan Luau and Dinner", and the "Fabulous Doo-Wop Dinner" which included outdoor dining and party-atmospheres.

While other casinos on the strip featured table minimums at $5, $10, or $20 minimums, "The Ho" often had table minimums as low as $3, which made it popular with avid gamblers as well as locals.

References

* [http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/gaming/2005/sep/15/519361092.html Las Vegas Sun]
* [http://www.theksbwchannel.com/lasvegas/5376483/detail.html theksbwchannel.com]
* [http://sandgate.co.clark.nv.us/servlet/Assessor?instance=pcl2&parcel=162-09-303-001 Clark County Assessor's Office Property Information For Westward Ho]
* [http://www.lvstriphistory.com Las Vegas Strip History website] (Provided historical information) (Website requires use of Internet Explorer browser)
* [http://www.voyager-ent.com/flash_index.asp Voyager Entertainment]
* [http://www.gaming.unlv.edu UNLV-Department of Gaming History]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Nm1kFcE-w KVBC-TV Reports Closure of Westward Ho]