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Hacienda (resort)

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This article is about the now-demolished hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. For other uses of "Hacienda", see Hacienda (disambiguation).
Hacienda
Location Paradise, Nevada
Address 3950 Las Vegas Blvd S[1]
Opening dateJune 1956 (hotel)
October 17, 1956 (casino)
Closing dateDecember 1, 1996; 27 years ago (December 1, 1996)
ThemeMexican
No. of rooms1,980
Permanent showsLance Burton (1991-96)
Notable restaurantsHacienda Grille
Casino typeLand-based
OwnerCircus Circus Enterprises (1995-1996)
ArchitectHomer A. Rissman
Renovated in1967, 1979, 1982, 1988, 1990
Coordinates36°5′19″N 115°10′39″W / 36.08861°N 115.17750°W / 36.08861; -115.17750

The Hacienda was a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, that operated from 1956 to 1996. It was one of a chain of four Hacienda properties, with the other three being located in Fresno, Bakersfield, and Indio, California. Each Hacienda featured a distinctive horse and rider sign; the Las Vegas sign is now prominently displayed at the Neon Museum.

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, to fly in gamblers from all over the US. The Hacienda was known for their inexpensive, all-inclusive junkets marketed to American Midwestern retirees.

History

Early years

The Hacienda initially began as a hotel-casino called Lady Luck, which was being planned by Carlton Adair in 1954. Adair had several partners in the project, including Stanley Burke, a Sacramento man who owned the land.[2] Adair also brought in Warren "Doc" Bayley, a travel columnist and owner of several Hacienda motels in Fresno, Bakersfield, and Indio, California.[2][3][4] Under the deal, Adair and his group would have interest in the casino, while Burke would own the land and buildings. Bayley would be in charge of the hotel portion. The owners hoped to have the project finished before the opening of the Tropicana resort down the street.[2]

The Lady Luck project received approval from the Clark County Planning Commission in January 1955,[5][6][7] and construction was underway later that year.[8][9] The project struggled to get investors,[2] and its financing fell apart before construction reached the halfway mark.[3] Bayley took over the project, renamed it the Hacienda, and removed Adair,[2] leaving only Bayley and Burke.[10] Bayley agreed to lease the property for $55,000 per month for 15 years.[3][4]

The Hacienda was designed by Homer A. Rissman,[11][12] and was built like other Las Vegas properties at the time, with a central building for the casino and restaurants, and motel structures to provide lodging. Rissman designed the project so that each motel building would connect to the casino via glass-walled corridors.[2] Before it opened, the Hacienda included a 300-seat showroom. The owners decided to refocus the space on hosting conventions rather than live entertainment, which instead would be offered in a lounge. The Hacienda did not target top performers, thereby saving the resort money.[13][14]

The hotel portion opened in June 1956.[14][10] Because Bayley and Burke lacked casino experience, they chose Jake Kozloff, a Las Vegas casino investor, to manage the gaming operations.[10] However, the Hacienda was denied a gaming license, as the Nevada Gaming Control Board was opposed to Kozloff's involvement because of past activities.[15][16][17] A gaming license was issued after Kozloff was removed from the project,[10][18] and the casino eventually opened on October 17, 1956.[14] The $6 million Hacienda had 266 rooms and the largest swimming pool on the Las Vegas Strip.[19]

The Cessna 172 sponsored by the Hacienda, on display at the McCarran International Airport.[20]

The resort was built on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. It sat alone at the time, surrounded by desert and away from the other resorts on the Strip.[21][22] Gaming executives initially predicted that the Hacienda would struggle due to its location, although the resort prospered for many years. Its remote location ensured that most guests stayed on the property rather than visiting other resorts.[21] The Hacienda was also popular because of its location near the McCarran International Airport, although the resort never had the same success as other Strip properties such as the Dunes and the Sands.[1][23] Because it lacked the same elegance as other resorts on the Strip,[22][24] the Hacienda received the negative nickname "Hayseed Heaven".[25][26][27] The Hacienda was built as a budget resort aimed at attracting families. It included a go-cart track and a miniature golf course for children,[21][26][27] and Las Vegas' first par 3 golf course.[17][28]

Bayley formed Hacienda Airlines in 1957, offering packages that included transportation from Los Angeles to the Hacienda as well as a room and some casino chips.[29] The airline included DC-3s, DC-4s and Lockheed Constellations numbering as many as 30 aircraft.[29] From December 1958 to February 1959, the Hacienda sponsored a flight endurance record when two men took turns flying a Cessna 172 across the southwestern United States for a period of 64 days.[22][25][20] However, the promotion did not turn out as planned. Newspapers did not report on the story until 30 days after the plane took off, and they declined to mention the Hacienda.[10] Dick Taylor, the Hacienda's general manager, said, "The papers, detecting a publicity stunt, did what they felt they had to do. They deleted the Hacienda name from all reports, and even went so far as to blank out the Hacienda name that was painted so large along the side of the plane."[21]

Ownership changes and final years

Bayley died of a heart attack in 1964,[30] and his widow, Judith Bayley, took over the Hacienda.[3][31] At the time, Bayley was the only female casino owner in Las Vegas,[32] earning her a nickname as the "First Lady of Gambling".[33][24][34] She lacked business training,[35] and found the casino operation to be more complicated than initially expected. She lost hundreds of dollars in her first few months.[32] Under her management, the Hacienda offered shuffleboard and babysitting services for guests, maintaining its appeal as a family resort.[33] A lounge, known as the Jewel Box, was remodeled and reopened in 1965, followed by the opening of a keno room. Las Vegas mayor Oran Gragson attended both openings.[36][37]

To focus on the Las Vegas Hacienda, Bayley sold off the California hotels in 1970, with the exception of one located in El Segundo.[35] In 1971, Judy Bayley died of cancer at the age of 56.[34] After her death, the property was sold in 1972 for $5 million. The purchasing group was led by Allen R. Glick,[38] who said the Hacienda would return to the "friendly image of the past", eliminating nude stage shows that the resort had recently offered.[39] Glick was later revealed as a frontman for organized crime interests.[40]

In 1977, Paul Lowden, the Hacienda's entertainment director and owner of a 15% stake, bought out Glick and the other owners for $21 million. The Gaming Control Board voted to deny Lowden a license due to his association with Glick, but was overruled by the Gaming Commission.[40]

Horse and rider sign from the Hacienda, on display in downtown Las Vegas

Magician Herbert L. Becker produced, directed and wrote his own show at the Hacienda beginning in 1977. The show ran for two years, on a staggered schedule before Becker went into retirement.

Redd Foxx was a frequent performer at the Hacienda during the late 1980s,[1][11] and he later got married at the Little Church of the West, located then on the Hacienda property.[41] Magician Lance Burton performed at the Hacienda for several years during the 1990s.[1]

In 1995, the Hacienda was purchased by Circus Circus Enterprises from Lowden's Archon Corporation.[42] 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.

The Hacienda's closure was announced in September 1996.[43] On December 1, 1996, the Hacienda was closed to the public after 40 years.[44][45] The implosion began on December 31 at 8:53 p.m. local time, and was notably televised as the culmination of Fox's 1997 New Year's Eve special from Las Vegas (where it aired approaching midnight ET, and featured a cameo by ring announcer Michael Buffer).[46][47] 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.[48][49] The resort's horse and rider neon sign was saved and put on display in downtown Las Vegas.

In March 1999, the Hacienda was replaced by the Mandalay Bay.

From 1999 to 2015, the Hacienda name was licensed to the Hacienda Hotel and Casino in Boulder City.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Hacienda implosion on Dec. 31". Las Vegas Sun. November 19, 1996. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Dixon, Mead (1992). "Lady Luck and Hacienda". Playing the Cards that Are Dealt. University of Nevada Oral History Program. pp. 83–92. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Gambling's First Lady runs empire". Victoria Advocate. AP. November 26, 1965.
  4. ^ a b Kennedy, Howard (December 11, 1962). "California promoter shows Las Vegas how". Los Angeles Times.  – via ProQuest (subscription required) Alternative at Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Las Vegas Hotel Project Okayed". Los Angeles Times. January 11, 1955. Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Las Vegas Hotels In Plans Stage". Reno Evening Gazette. January 11, 1955. Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Big Strip Motel To Be Constructed". Reno Evening Gazette. Associated Press. January 15, 1955. Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Hofues Signs Stardust Lease". Reno Evening Gazette. November 9, 1955. Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Plan 226 Room Luxury Hotel For Reno Area". Reno Evening Gazette. December 1, 1955. Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c d e Goertler, Pam (Summer 2007). "The Las Vegas Strip: The early years" (PDF). Casino Chip and Token News. p. 47-51. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Bass, Debra D. (December 31, 1996). "Hacienda glory days recalled". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  12. ^ Manning, Mary; Koch, Ed (October 4, 2001). "Rissman, architect of Strip hotels, dies of cancer at 74". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  13. ^ Oncken, Ed (June 11, 1956). "New Hotel Not Waiting For Convention Hall To Be Built". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  14. ^ a b c "Vegas Hacienda Casino to Open". Reno Evening Gazette. October 17, 1956. Retrieved November 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Board Denies License To Big Vegas Hotel". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. July 27, 1956. p. 4. Retrieved November 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Gaming Board Wrestles With Vegas Problem". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. August 24, 1956. p. 30. Retrieved November 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b Moe, Al W. (2017). Vegas and the Mob. Al W Moe. pp. 92, 94. ISBN 978-1-4839-5555-1. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  18. ^ "Furore Lacking As Hacienda Given License". Reno Evening Gazette. September 20, 1956. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Luxury abounds on the Strip". Washington Post and Times Herald. October 21, 1956.  – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  20. ^ a b Hawley, Tom (January 17, 2018). "Plane in record-breaking flight remains at McCarran as a piece of history". KSNV. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  21. ^ a b c d Shemeligian, Bob (February 7, 1997). "Hacienda's 40-year history chronicled in new book". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  22. ^ a b c Preston, Benjamin (December 27, 2012). "How A Slot Machine Mechanic Flew 150,000 Miles Over 64 Days Without Landing". Jalopnik. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  23. ^ Taylor, Dick (November 26, 1996). "Thanks to reporter for Hacienda obituary". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Brunch at the Hacienda: A Big Food Bargain". Chicago Tribune. October 26, 1969. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b "Endurance Test, Circa 1958". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. March 1, 2008. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Gragg, Larry D. (2019). Becoming America's Playground: Las Vegas in the 1950s. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-8061-6585-1. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Hoefling, Larry J. (2014). Nils Thor Granlund: Show Business Entrepreneur and America's First Radio Star. McFarland. pp. 201–202. ISBN 978-0-7864-5599-7. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  28. ^ "Hacienda First Par 3 Course in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Sun. September 25, 1966. Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  29. ^ a b "Casino Shuttle Airlines". 2007-01-15. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  30. ^ "Attack Fatal to Hotelman 'Doc' Bayley". Las Vegas Sun. December 28, 1964. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  31. ^ Taylor, F. Andrew (January 7, 2014). "Judy Bayley was philanthropist, businesswoman". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  32. ^ a b "A Friend of Lady Luck". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 19, 1969. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b "Home Away From Home". The Honolulu Advertiser. October 16, 1966. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b "Vegas woman gambler dead". Reno Evening Gazette. Associated Press. December 31, 1971. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ a b "She gambled on and won acceptance in man's world". Independent. June 30, 1971. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Jewel Box Open". Las Vegas Sun. April 18, 1965. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  37. ^ "Hacienda Keno Room Opens". Las Vegas Sun. September 3, 1965. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  38. ^ "Hacienda, L.V., owners' new policy: no nudes is good news for B.O." Variety. January 10, 1973.  – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  39. ^ "Vegas Hotel Plans Old 'Friendly Image'". The Sacramento Bee. Associated Press. January 9, 1973. Retrieved November 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ a b Delugach, Al (March 13, 1988). "Casino owner beats odds". Los Angeles Times.
  41. ^ "Redd Foxx Says: 'I Married Kaho Because She Stood By Me When I Didn't Have A Quarter'". Jet. 80 (15): 52–55. July 29, 1991.
  42. ^ Stutz, Howard (2007-09-04). "Investors group sues Archon over stock redemption price". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Stephens Media Group. p. 1D. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
  43. ^ "Hacienda To Close Dec. 1, Make Room For New Strip Resort". Las Vegas Sun. September 24, 1996.
  44. ^ "Hacienda goes quietly into night". Las Vegas Sun. December 2, 1996. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  45. ^ Flanagan, Tanya (December 2, 1996). "Hacienda bids LV adios, closes doors". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  46. ^ "Buffer has the phrase that pays". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  47. ^ "New Year Will Be A Blast With Sinbad". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  48. ^ Gorman, Tom (1997-01-01). "Las Vegas Has a New Year's Blast--Literally". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  49. ^ "Historic Hacienda hotel is now history". UPI. January 1, 1997. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
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