This is kind of off the wall, but I was watching Roseanne, and they were in Vegas.
That got me to thinking: The only thing left of the real Las Vegas is the Riviera. Yes, I know about Fremont street, but that has turned into a bunch of hillbillies and assassins. What I’m talking about is some place where Sinatra, Liberace or Wayne Newton would be found. And, I further thought: If they can destroy the Stardust with impunity, what won’t they ruin?
So, is there any bad news about the Riviera, or is it safe for a while? Or, do you have any speculation based on…anything?
I wouldn’t worry about the wrecking ball hitting any casinos in Vegas for a while. If you demo the Riviera, you have to build something there and there isn’t a hell of a lot of financing for new projects in Vegas.
The only thing the Riviera has to worry about is the bank. The owners of the Riviera have been in default for a while. These are more or less the same douchebags that paid a fortune for the land across from City Center in order to build the Elvis Casino.
Walked through just to check it out about a year and a half ago - have no reason to ever go back. Rest assured, when the economy recovers, someone will turn it into dust
The Riviera has been bought and sold several times - and as mentioned, in the current economy, I doubt any wrecking ball will be coming along soon, especially considering the unfinished Fountainbleau is a painful reminder of great plans gone awry next door.
The Riviera, like the Sahara and Circus Circus are low end properties that are located on The Strip and perfect for guests who want a cheap room but still be in the middle of the action, so to speak.
Sure, hotel/casinos like this are nothing special; just the basics with clean rooms.
But as I mention on my website, it is sort of silly to spend a lot of money for a room in Vegas, considering most people only go to their rooms when they are literally too tired to stand up and simply want to crash.
If I were coming here as a tourist on a limited budget, I would be happy to stay at Sahara or Riviera (not so much Circus Circus due to all the kiddies running aound) and save some money. Use that savings to eat well at an upscale buffet, or go see a show, shop or gamble - but not waste it on paying for a room I barely see by daylight.
Of course, the good news for tourists is that lots of properties have great deals now, so depending on your budget, you can probably shop around and find deals in other properties that would also fit in any budget. If you come mid-week, you can stay for practically free is some places (they offer coupons, free buffets, etc. with the room rates).
Well, esp. Sinatra. I didn’t say that The Rat Pack is going to show up and put on an impromptu performance. I’m talking about some of the 'old ’ Vegas. More correctly, the legendary part.
A friend and I used to go to Vegas every year and stay at the Westward Ho because it was inexpensive but still convenient. We had reservations for a few weeks after it closed, which were transferred at the same rate to rooms at the Riviera. One of the things we discussed during that trip was where we were going to stay at future trips; Circus Circus was eliminated because of the kiddie factor, and we were sufficiently unimpressed by the Riviera that we settled on the Stardust. Which was closed before we came back the next year, so we stayed at the Orleans instead.
My hotel of choice is the Sahara. They don’t mind another vomitus… or pecker trail. Just part of business… they get the industrial grade of cleaneing solvents…with foreign cleaners. They must develop all of their prejudices of Mr. White and Mr. Black Man (True Americans) of our offal. Everything we leave in our wake and degustibitation is legendary. If only Pigs didn’t inform our true culture.
I beg to differ. I am in Vegas every 2 weeks for wok and at one point, I got a good deal at the Sahara. The room was FOUL. Smelled of stale smoke even though it was non smoking. Airplane pillow type pillows. Funky sheets. No thanks.
The Orleans all the way for a good deal and a clean hotel. If you’ve got a car, you absolutely can’t beat the South Point.
I think you’re trying to be contrary just because I posted. The room was upper end to a Hotel 6 or 8. I want my room to have evidence of past conquests of the strip… real life baby… you want the new, sterile, and boring… not the classic. T-bone Tastes on a filet mignon diet.
Last time I was in Vegas, there seemed to be a huge overlap between the crowd at the Riviera, and the crowd that drives Rivieras.
If the Riviera goes boom, what Strip casinos would the Midwestern middle-class over-65 crowd gravitate to? I know Sam’s Town attracts an elderly crowd off the Strip, but on Las Vegas Boulevard I think they’d flock to Harrah’s.
Waitaminute, that Sahara isn’t the OLD Sahara. We stayed at the old one in about 1994 & it was cute. Like something out of a Dean Martin/Doris Day movie. I liked the breezeways. And it was cheap.
I don’t think I’ve ever set foot in the Riv, but last year my wife and I went up to the Sahara because I wanted to check out the NASCAR Cafe (somewhat disappointing, but not my point). It’s just a short monorail ride from the hustle and bustle of the South Strip, but despite new attractions like NASCAR and the rollercoaster, the Sahara was all but deserted; the casino is relatively tiny and had zero atmosphere. I was actually surprised the place wasn’t already closed. Want to go to Vegas but don’t like crowds or excitement? Try the Sahara!
Conversely, the Tropicana is like stepping back in time, but in a good way. It seemed clean and well maintained, with a definite retro feel; I doubt the look has changed considerably since the place was built. The sports book room consists of a dry-erase board behind a formica counter, some folding chairs and a couple of TV’s. Walking through the old Garden wing, you really get a feel for what it must have been like to stay in Vegas in 1957. But unlike the Sahara, the Trop has a really fun and positive vibe to it.
