Excalibur Hotel and Casino

Casino infobox
logo=ExcaliburLogo.svg
casino=Excalibur Hotel and Casino
theme=Medieval / Camelot
address=3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

---

rooms=4,008
date_opened=June 19, 1990
space_gaming=100,000 ft² (9,290 m²)
shows="Tournament of Kings"
"Thunder Down Under"
attractions=Merlin Versus The Dragon (Now Offline)
restaurants="The Steakhouse at Camelot"
"Sir Galahad's Prime Rib House"
Regale Italian Eatery
Dick's Last Resort
owner=MGM Mirage
casino_type=Land
renovations=2000|2007names_pre=Xanadu project (never built)
website= [http://www.excalibur.com www.excalibur.com]

The Excalibur Hotel and Casino hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, in the United States. It is owned and operated by MGM Mirage.

Excalibur, named for the mythical sword of King Arthur, uses the Arthurian theme in several ways. Its facade is a stylized image of a castle. Until 2007, a wizard-like figure representing Merlin looked out from a high turret. The style of the hotel is heavily based on the castle in Carcassone, France.

Excalibur is situated at the Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection. The intersection is so busy that pedestrians are not allowed to cross at street level. Instead, Excalibur is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to its neighboring casinos to the north (the New York-New York, across Tropicana Avenue) and to the east (the Tropicana, across the Strip). There is also a free tram that connects Excalibur to its sister MGM Mirage properties to the south, the Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

History

The Excalibur opened on June 19, 1990 originally built by Circus Circus. It was one of many new, modern Las Vegas hotels that featured children's attractions, such as an arcade and a motion simulator called Merlin's Magic Motion Machine. Another feature of the Excalibur that is prominent in many of today's Las Vegas hotels is a large family swimming pool. When it opened it was the largest hotel in the world. [cite news
last = Koch
first = Ed| title = Strip jousting begins | publisher = Las Vegas Sun
date = June 19, 1990
url = http://lasvegassun.com/news/1990/jun/19/strip-jousting-begins/
accessdate = 2008-04-02]

On March 21, 2003 the largest Megabucks Jackpot, as of that time, was hit at the Excalibur. The jackpot was for $39,713,982.25.

On April 26, 2005, the Excalibur, along with the other hotels of the Mandalay Resort Group, was purchased by rival MGM Mirage.

Excalibur now has 2,000 newly remodeled rooms that are called "Widescreen Rooms". The all-new widescreen rooms have been upgraded floor to ceiling. They feature 42" plasma screen televisions, pillow top mattresses, contemporary bathrooms with granite countertops, and alarm clocks with iPod© inputs. Widescreen rooms also offer the property's best views, as well as its most convenient access to the pool and spa.

Attractions

Some restaurants and other areas have Arthurian names, such as the Roundtable Buffet, Sir Galahad's Prime Cuts, The Steakhouse of Camelot, and Regale Italian eatery, or reflect a broader "Merrie Olde England" theme, such as the Sherwood Forest Cafe. A long-running show, the "Tournament of Kings," features simulated medieval jousting. Regale was originally called "Lance-a-lotta Pasta" and was more family/child oriented than Regale, which is more upscale.

A few years after opening, Excalibur introduced a free nighttime show in the moat near the resort's main entrance. A dragon would emerge from under the main entryway bridge and do battle with the wizard, Merlin. After a few years of operation, this attraction was discontinued.

In June 2007, the Dick's Last Resort chain opened a restaurant in the Excalibur. Accompanying this addition, the iconic figure of Merlin visible from Excalibur's exterior was replaced by the image of "Slick Dick" from the restaurant chain's logo.

Like many other hotels on the Strip, the Excalibur features a wedding chapel. The chapel offers themed medieval weddings complete with renaissance period costumes.

The hotel has opened a spa near the pool.

In 2007, the pool area was closed for renovation. Most of the parking area to the east of the parking garage was gated off for the expansion of the pool area. The new pool construction was originally started in fall, 2006 in the hopes of being completed for the summer of 2007 but there were delays so the new pool is now slated to open for summer, 2008. Excalibur recently added on their official website that the pool is now open saying "We've doubled the size of our pool, adding cabanas, fire pits, sun decks and a secluded relaxation pool. And our new poolside restaurant, DRENCHED, is the perfect place to quench your thirst, and your appetite." [ [http://excalibur.com/attractions/pool.aspx Las Vegas Hotel Swimming Pool ] ]

Film and television

*The hotel was featured in the "South Park" episode "It Hits the Fan".
*In the video game "", Excalibur appeared as the Come-A-Lot hotel and casino

References

ee also

*Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

External links

* [http://www.excalibur.com/ Excalibur Hotel and Casino website]
* [http://royvegas.blogspot.com/2007/08/las-vegas-excalibur-dicks-last-resort.html "Roy Vegas"] - photos showing the Dick's Last Resort promotion that replaced Merlin
* [http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-27-Fri-2006/weekly/5518605.html Huzzah!: 'Tournament of Kings' is one of only three or four shows on the Strip with genuine family appeal]
* cite web
first = Mark | last = Schatzker | year =2004 | month =October 6 | title =How medieval-themed restaurants get it wrong
work =Salon.com
url =http://www.slate.com/id/2107363/
accessdate=2008-10-01