Boardwalk Hotel and Casino

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Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
Facts and statistics
Address 3750 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Opening date 1968
Previous names Boardwalk Holiday Inn
Closing date January 9, 2006
Casino type Land-Based
Theme Coney Island
Owner MGM Mirage
No. of rooms 654
Total gaming space 33,000ft²
Signature attractions Surf Buffet
Years renovated 1996
Website Boardwalk Hotel and Casino

The Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, now closed and torn down, was owned and operated by MGM Mirage. It was part of the Holiday Inn hotel chain but left after being acquired by Mirage Resorts. It was built before the era of the mega-casinos, and was consequently tiny in comparison to many of its neighbors, with only 654 rooms.

Most visitors to Las Vegas would argue the best feature of the Boardwalk was the location on the "Strip": in between the plush Bellagio and the Monte Carlo and across from the Paris, Aladdin and MGM Grand.

The hotel's Coney Island theme could be seen in its facade with an original 1906 parachute jump ride and a wooden (non-functioning) roller coaster. (Hotel employees reported that people frequently came into the hotel demanding to ride the roller coaster.) The hotel was composed of three distinct buildings all built at different times. The newest building was the 16-story tower built in 1996. The Steeplechase building was 6 stories and the Luna Park building was the original four-story structure when the hotel first opened.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally an independently owned hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip, the Boardwalk became owned by a public corporation (Boardwalk Casino, Inc.) in 1994. It was later acquired by Mirage Resorts in 1997.

In 1998 the Surf Buffet converted to a 24-hour buffet, the only one on the Las Vegas Strip. It was also infamous for being rated amongst the worst buffets in Las Vegas.[citation needed]

The hotel and casino closed on January 9, 2006, and the main hotel tower was imploded on May 9, 2006 at 2:34 a.m. PST in order to prepare the site for Project City Center.

[edit] Attractions

  • Wedding gazebo
  • Two small pools
  • Several restaurants including a 24-hour Surf Buffet and a sushi bar
  • 75-seat race and sports book
  • Prince cover band Purple Reign
  • Roller coaster

[edit] Norbert Jansen

Norm Jansen founded the Boardwalk in 1977. He started out at the Pioneer Club and then opened a gift shop at what was to be the site of the Boardwalk in 1972. When he sold the Boardwalk out, he still retained a gift shop in the hotel. His daughter continued to operate that gift shop until the hotel closed.

[edit] Sources