| El Rancho Vegas | |
|---|---|
| Address | 2500 Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas,NV 89109 |
| Opening date | April 3, 1941 |
| Closing date | June 17, 1960 |
| Theme | Western |
| No. of rooms | 220 |
| Signature attractions | The Opera House |
| Notable restaurants | The Opera House Chuck Wagon Buffet Nugget Nell Lounge Stage Door Steakhouse |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | Beldon Katleman |
| Architect | Wayne McAllister |
| Years renovated | 1952 |
El Rancho Vegas was a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. It was located at 2500 Las Vegas Boulevard, at the southwest corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara,[1] and opened on April 3, 1941. Until 1942, it was the largest hotel in Las Vegas with 110 rooms. On July 17, 1960, the hotel was destroyed by fire. In 1982, the former Thunderbird Hotel was rebranded El Rancho Casino, creating some confusion.
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When Thomas Hull opened the El Rancho Vegas on April 3, 1941, it was part of his "El Rancho" chain, including similar hotels in Sacramento, and Bakersfield, California. El Rancho Vegas was the first resort on the Las Vegas Strip. It was designed by architect Wayne McAllister and offered horseback riding, a large swimming pool and top shows in the "Opera House" theater.
In December 1944, William Wilkerson leased the El Rancho Vegas from then owner Joe Drown for six months. Wilkerson paid Drown $50,000 for the six-month lease. Wilkerson would later go on to build The Flamingo Hotel. The resort went through several changes of ownership before Beldon Katelman, who received a share of ownership upon the death of his uncle, Jake Katelman, in 1950, bought out the remaining shareholders and became the proprietor of record.[2]
Shirley Bassey made her American stage debut here in 1957.
The legendary stripper Candy Barr was headlining at El Rancho Vegas in 1959 when she was arrested by the FBI after her appeal on a marijuana conviction originating in Texas was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.
On June 17, 1960, while Harry James and Betty Grable were performing a late show on stage, the hotel was destroyed by a fire. There were no deaths or injuries.[3]
Despite vows to rebuild the El Rancho Vegas after the fire, the plans never materialized. In 1970, billionaire Howard Hughes purchased 60 acres (24 ha) of the land. In 1978, the remnants of the old resort were demolished. The Hilton Grand Vacation Club now occupies a portion of the land.
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