El Rancho Vegas, First Hotel and Casino on Las Vegas Strip Opened 80 Years Ago: Resort Destroyed in Fire in 1960
This past weekend marked 80 years since the first hotel and casino opened on what today is the Las Vegas Strip. On April 3, 1941, the El Rancho Vegas opened, with 65 rooms.
In 1960, an infamous fire destroyed the property. Before it ceased operations, the resort had gotten up to 222 rooms. The hotel was located in the area where Circus Circus and the World’s Largest Gift Shop are situated, on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip.
The El Rancho Vegas had the first entertainment showroom on the Strip. Entertainers including Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Eartha Kitt, Sophie Tucker and Zsa Zsa Gabor performed there for audiences.
Above, you can see a picture of an El Rancho Vegas coaster that was made for the hotel and casino.
We hope you enjoyed this Las Vegas history tidbit to start your week. Have a safe one!