Hacienda (resort)

The Hacienda was a Paradise, Nevada hotel/casino that operated on the Las Vegas Strip from 1956 to 1996. It was one of four Hacienda properties owned by Standard Motels, Inc., with the other three being located in Fresno, Bakersfield, and Indio, California. The other Haciendas also featured the distinctive "Horse and Rider" sign. (The Las Vegas sign is now prominently displayed at the entrance to the Neon Museum. The fate of the other signs is unknown.)

Located by itself on the far south end of the Las Vegas Strip, it was the first resort seen by tourists driving up from California. Since it was so far from the other resorts at the time, many people who stayed at the Hacienda would not go elsewhere. The Hacienda was also located close to McCarran International Airport, and at one point they had their own airline, Hacienda Airlines, so they could fly in gamblers from all over the world. The Hacienda was known for their inexpensive, all-inclusive junkets marketed to American Midwestern retirees.

History

Hacienda owner "Doc" Bayley formed Hacienda Airlines in 1957. Offering packages that included transportation from Los Angeles to the Hacienda a well as a room and some casino chips.cite web |url= http://www.onlinenevada.org/casino_shuttle_airlines |title= Casino Shuttle Airlines |accessdate=2007-09-04 |format= |work= |date= 2007-01-15] The airline included DC-3s, DC-4s and Lockheed Constellations numbering as many as 30 aircraft.

In the 1970s, the casino was owned by Argent. [cite news |first=Corey |last= Levitan |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= TOP 10 SCANDALS: GRITTY CITY |url= http://www.lvrj.com/living/16160347.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |publisher= |date= 2008-03-02 |accessdate=2008-03-03 ]

In 1995, the Hacienda was purchased by Circus Circus Enterprises from Archon Corporation.cite news |first=Howard |last= Stutz |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Investors group sues Archon over stock redemption price |url= http://www.lvrj.com/business/9559687.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |publisher= Stephens Media Group |date= 2007-09-04 |accessdate=2007-09-04 |page= 1D] By this time, it was dwarfed by the many new megaresorts that were being built, in particular the Luxor which had just been recently completed. On December 1, 1996, the Hacienda was closed to the public, and imploded later that month. This implosion was broadcast on the FOX network as a part of their New Year's Eve 1996 telecast. Despite the implosion, parts of the old resort still stood, due to the building not falling into its footprint, but toppling into its parking lot. The next day a wrecking crew was brought in to bring down the remaining parts.

Lance Burton, magician, produced, directed and wrote his own show at the Hacienda beginning in 1991. The show ran for five years before Lance moved to the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino.

In March 1999, it was replaced by the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

The Hacienda name lives on in the Boulder City casino property, which is unaffiliated.

References