The Origin Story of Las Vegas
Living It Up in the Desert: The Birth of Las Vegas's Casino-Resorts
Sin City's hospitality game was revolutionized by none other than visionary Thomas Hull, the pioneer behind Las Vegas's very first resort. Known as El Rancho Vegas, this groundbreaking hotel-casino set the stage for the lavish, integrated resorts we know today.
Before the late 1930s, Las Vegas was home to various separate gambling clubs strewn along Highway 91. However, the concept of a fully integrated resort-casino complex, complete with hotel accommodations, restaurants, entertainment, shops, and gaming under one roof didn't yet exist. That all changed when Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, and America's gaming scene shifted towards the casinos of Las Vegas, Reno, and smaller Nevada towns.
Tom Hull had a bold vision – to create a resort that would cater to every whim of its visitors. This forward-thinking idea, though revolutionary, would eventually transform the way casino development was approached. The construction of El Rancho Vegas cost Hull a substantial $500,000, a hefty sum for the early 1940s.
On April 3, 1941, history was made as the first-ever casino-hotel, El Rancho Vegas, swung open its doors. Unlike many of its contemporaries, El Rancho offered an enticing mix of entertainment, including horseback riding, a large pool, and top shows at the Opera House. The hotel's restaurant was the largest in all of Las Vegas, and the casino itself featured four table games and seventy slot machines.
El Rancho Vegas saw several changes in ownership throughout the years, with Billy Wilkerson, Walter Guzman, and Beldon Katleman among its notable proprietors. Katleman, in particular, made waves by employing famous celebrities to draw visitors to the casino. In 1957, Shirley Bassey, a renowned British vocalist, made her American debut at El Rancho Vegas. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward's wedding was held there in 1958, completely on Katleman's dime.
However, disaster struck on June 17, 1960, when a fire ignited during a performance by Harry James and Betty Grable. Despite the devastating blaze, no lives were lost. Despite Katleman's plans to rebuild, the old resort was never resurrected. Billionaire Howard Hughes ended up buying the land where El Rancho once stood, and in 1978, the remnants of the old casino-resort were demolished. Today, part of the land that El Rancho occupied is now home to the Hilton Grand Vacation Club.
Though El Rancho Vegas ceased operations over half a century ago, its legacy continues to loom large over the Las Vegas Strip. Although it wasn't the first casino-resort in technical terms (that title goes to the Flamingo, which opened in 1946), El Rancho Vegas holds a unique place in Vegas history as the small-scale casino-hotel that started it all, paving the way for the opulent gaming destinations we know today.
What was Las Vegas's first resort that revolutionized its hospitality game and set the stage for the integrated casino-resorts we know today? El Rancho Vegas, which was pioneered by visionary Thomas Hull. Despite being home to separate gambling clubs before the 1930s, Las Vegas's first fully integrated resort-casino complex only came into existence in 1941, miraculously changing the gaming scene. El Rancho Vegas, costing $500,000 to build, offered a mix of entertainment, including horseback riding, top shows, largest restaurant, and casino-and-gambling. Even after its closure, the legacy of El Rancho Vegas continues to loom large over the Las Vegas Strip, influencing the opulent gaming destinations we see today, though it wasn't the first casino-resort technically speaking (that honor goes to the Flamingo, which opened in 1946).
