Las Vegas hotel expansions

[Jim856796]

I started this thread because there are certain hotel/casinos in Las Vegas such as las Vegas Hilton, Caesars Palace, and the Flamingo have undergone renovations and expansions throughout their existence. Some old hotels have transformed from the motel-like lowrises they once were to the 2000+-room megaresorts they are today.

Let's take the Bally's Hotel, for example.

In 1973, it opened as the MGM Grand Hotel, a 26-story, 2,100-room hotel on top of a 3-story podium.

Then in 1980, there was a major fire that killed 87 people and injured about 500 others.

The hotel was reconstructed and a new 26-story 784-room tower was built in 1981.

In 1986, the hotel changes its name to the Bally Grand Hotel. the hotel's names is currently bally's as of 1996. Five years later they added a new 150-ft sign replacing the old one.

Seeing as Harrah's, the owners of this hotel, plans to retire the Bally's brand name in the future, I'd like to see the resort transformed into the Horseshoe brand. There will be no implosion for the two towers.

[-Corey-]

Don't forget the Venetian, Wynns, and Mandalay bay is planning a new tower.

[mdiederi]

The MGM Grand hotel (now Bally's) wasn't exactly "reconstructed" after the fire because the flames from the fire were contained to the first floor, the rest was smoke damage, so they just had to redo parts of the interior (and improve fire safety). Also, the new south tower was already under construction at the time of the fire.

Listing all the hotel expansions on the Strip would include virtually every single resort, as they have all added hotel towers at one time or another. Would probably be easier to list the ones that haven't expanded. Let's see, that would be Excalibur, New York New York, Monte Carlo, Paris, Mirage and Treasure Island. MGM Grand hasn't added anymore new green towers, but the Signature condo/hotel towers act as sort of an expansion, and the "Mansion" was an expansion, albeit a very exclusive one. I'm not sure if Encore at Wynn is an expansion or a new resort. It looks just like Wynn and will be connected to it, but it's very massive and has it's own casino that will have a different style of interior decor.

[Jim856796]

Here's an example of a deceased hotel that has gone through some expansions: The Hacienda Resort and Casino.

1956-Opened as a 256-room hotel
1980-Added 11-story tower with 300 rooms
1989-11-story tower expanded to 900 rooms
1996-Imploded

[Jim856796]

Another hotel that has gone through some expansions is the Tropicana Hotel and casino.

In 1957, it opened with 300 rooms in two 3-story towers
1959, a 150-room wing was added
1962, a 116-room wing was added
1964, a 4-story tower with 100 rooms was added
In 1973, the 1,150-seat Superstar theatre was built
Then in 1979, the 22-story, 71-metre-high, 600-room Tiffany Tower is added
1986, the 22-story, 805-room Island Tower was built

In the future, the Tropicana Hotel will undergo a major expansion. The original rooms will be demolished, the casino will be enlarged, four new towers will be added (one of them with a height of 140 metres)

[Jim856796]

...Okay, so making a thread about Las Vegas Hotel expansions was a bad idea. And after all the hotel expansions I tried to list, this thread turned out as rotten as ever. I can't even find out the exact completion dates of certain hotel towers, which means there are certain questions I can't easily answer:

When was the first tower in the Imperial Palace built?
There are 450 other rooms at the former Dunes Hotel whose completion date is undetermined.

[mdiederi]

Originally Posted by Jim856796

When was the first tower in the Imperial Palace built?

First built in 1959 when it was called the Flamingo Capri.
In 1979 it was Renamed Imperial Palace.
In 1988 the Main tower was added for a total of 2,640 rooms.

Originally Posted by Jim856796

There are 450 other rooms at the former Dunes Hotel whose completion date is undetermined.

In 1961 a 24 story tower was built, bringing the number of rooms up to 450.
In 1979 the hotel expanded to 1300 rooms.
In 1993 the Dunes was imploded
In 1998 the Bellagio opened on the former site of the Dunes.

[FreeToLove]

My hotel was the ballys when i was in Las vegas over the summer

[Jim856796]

Originally Posted by mdiederi

First built in 1959 when it was called the Flamingo Capri.
In 1979 it was Renamed Imperial Palace.
In 1988 the Main tower was added for a total of 2,640 rooms.

You're getting this timeline all wrong.
In 1959, the Flamingo Capri opened with 180 rooms
there was reported to be an expansion in 1974 which added the east and north buildings and the Shangri-La Pool. I don't know exactly what this looks like, nor do I remember this expansion.
In 1979, it was renamed the Impertal Palace. I don't know what the hotel looked like at the time of the renaming, but I kow that construction may have started on the 19-story 850-room tower and 7-floor parking garage which would be completed by January 1981. The Impertal Theatre showroom was completed in 1980. The original Flamingo Capri rooms were then demolished. A 650-room tower was completed in August 1982. Then in 1986, a third 19-floor tower with 600 rooms was added to the complex. 15,000 square feet was added to the casino, and the meeting & convention space was also expanded. Finally, a 4th 19-story tower containing 547 rooms was constructed.

The Imperial Palace is the shortest of the Las Vegas megaresorts, at a height of about 225 feet. i don't know what the Pagoda Tower at the front of the complex is used for.

In 1961 a 24 story tower was built, bringing the number of rooms up to 450.
In 1979 the hotel expanded to 1300 rooms.
In 1993 the Dunes was imploded
In 1998 the Bellagio opened on the former site of the Dunes.

I meant the rooms other than the original 1955 rooms and those in both the 1961 and 1979 towers, cause those rooms would add up to only 850.

[mdiederi]

I got that off of Wikipedia.

Here try this site, but it doesn't seem to answer the questions either.
http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/casinosbyname.html

[Jim856796]

Now here's an expansion history of the Flamingo Las Vegas.

In 1946, it opened with 250 rooms
In 1953, a 125-ft high cylindrical sign was added as part of a remodeling project.
!n 1967-68, the sign was demolished, a porte cochere was added and the first 28-story tower with 520-rooms was constructed
In 1975, a second 28-story tower containing 500 rooms was added
In 1977, a third wing containing 500-rooms was built
In 1982, a 4th tower with 600 rooms was added
In 1990 a 5th tower with 825 rooms was added
The original lowrise rooms were demolished in 1993
In 1995, the sixth and last tower with 700 rooms was added
In 1999, it was renamed Flamingo Las Vegas

[Jim856796]

Riviera Hotel expansion history:

1955-The hotel opened with 291 rooms in a 9-story tower
1965-The hotel tower had a 200-room extension
1967-A three-story 200-room addition was built. It would later be demolished in 1976 and 1986 for the construction of the San remo and Monaco Towers.
1968-Added 12-story, 220-room wing
1972-4 championship tennis courts added. These were removed in 1986
1975-361-room 17-story Monte Carlo Tower added
1977-200-room 6-story San Remo Tower added
1988-Monaco Tower (24 floors, 940 rooms) added
I do not know when the marquee and stripfront features were built.

[THT-United]

Riviera is a truly timeless hotel... They were the hotel I stayed with my family during two visits there and that place has that really retro atmosphere that can't be experienced in other megaresorts!

[Jim856796]

A Downtown Hotel's expansion history: Lady Luck Casino

1964-Opened as Honest John's
1968-Took on current name
1972-Expanded over entire block
1983-Purchased two adjacent buildings adding 108 rooms
1986-Added 17-story, 297 room tower
1989-Added 24-story, 387-room tower
2006-Closed for year-long renovation. The Lady Luck's future is undecided.

[mdiederi]

Originally Posted by Jim856796

Riviera Hotel expansion history:

...

I do not know when the marquee and stripfront features were built.

1990 Facade Remodel

[Jim856796]

Golden Nugget Expansion history
1946-Opened as a casino
1977-North Tower opened
1984-Spa Tower opened
1989-South Tower opened
Late 2000's-major expansion including new 500-room tower.

[tanklv]

Originally Posted by Jim856796

I started this thread because there are certain hotel/casinos in Las Vegas such as las Vegas Hilton, Caesars Palace, and the Flamingo have undergone renovations and expansions throughout their existence. Some old hotels have transformed from the motel-like lowrises they once were to the 2000+-room megaresorts they are today.

Let's take the Bally's Hotel, for example.

In 1973, it opened as the MGM Grand Hotel, a 26-story, 2,100-room hotel on top of a 3-story podium.

Then in 1980, there was a major fire that killed 87 people and injured about 500 others.

The hotel was reconstructed and a new 26-story 784-room tower was built in 1981.

In 1986, the hotel changes its name to the Bally Grand Hotel. the hotel's names is currently bally's as of 1996. Five years later they added a new 150-ft sign replacing the old one.

Seeing as Harrah's, the owners of this hotel, plans to retire the Bally's brand name in the future, I'd like to see the resort transformed into the Horseshoe brand. There will be no implosion for the two towers.

Actually - it's the SAME TOWER - it was just totally renovated from drywall to finishes and furnishings. They never constructed a "new" tower.

[Jim856796]

No, they were already constructing the new tower when the fire broke out and the original tower was repaired after the fire.

[Jim856796]

Based on experience I have gained over the years of studying Las Vegas hotels and their towers, I should be considered an expert on "Las Vegas hotel tower-ology"

Now one more hotel expansion history: The Sahara.

1952: Sahara Hotel opens with 240 rooms.
1959: 14-storey 200-room Tunis Tower added.
1963: 24-storey 400-room Alexandria Tower added.
1978: 26-storey, 500-room Tangiers Tower added.
1988: Tangiers Tower extended with 600 rooms.
1996: Remodelled and original lowrise rooms torn down.
1999: Speed roller coaster added.
2011: Closed.

[Chapelo]

Circus Circus

Opened October 18, 1968 by Jay Sarno with only the casino (tent).

1972 - 12-story Casino Tower is added.

1975 - 15-story addition added.

1976 - Lucky the Clown pylon (the giant clown sign) is constructed at the front of the resort.

1979 - Circusland RV Park opens.

1980 - Manor (lowrise rooms) constructed

1981 - Monorail connecting main casino to Manor rooms is added.

1986 - Skyrise Tower constructed

1993 - Adventuredome Indoor theme park is built in the back of the resort.

1996 - West Tower completed. Entire hotel undergoes major renovation that removes most of the garish pink/white colors in favor of a more subdued European circus theme. Circus Buffet also undergoes major renovation, and food quality is improved (somewhat).