La Concha Motel
Encyclopedia
The La Concha Motel was a Motel that opened 1961 and closed in around December 2003. It was designed by architect Paul Williams
who was one of the first prominent African American
architects in the United States and was also the architect who designed the first LAX theme building. It was located at 2955 Las Vegas blvd south Winchester, Nevada
and was considered one of the best-preserved examples of 1950's Googie architecture.. It was named after the resort community of La Concha Spain. La Concha motel was also neighbors of El Morocco Hotel that opened in 1955 and closed 1983 and it is now a Ginseng Korean and Japanese BBQ Restaurant. It was announced in late 2003 that La Concha Motel did not have many more days of this world. It was owned by Lorenzo Doumani who inherited the property by his father Ed Doumani original owner. The motel lobby was a concrete shell lobby. In the motel sections of La Concha Motel and the former El Morocco Motel next door were torn down in 2005. In end of January 2006 the owners of La Concha Motel wanted to give it up to the Las Vegas Neon Museum
and the only standing Motel lobby.
The La Concha Motel is now restored in Las Vegas Neon Museum
. The Las Vegas Neon Museum
saved part of the sign of the motel to (YESCO) Young Electric Sign Company
. The La Concha motel was also neighbors of Riviera Hotel and Casino, Peppermill Restaurant, El Morocco Hotel and Silver City Casino
. In the sign of the motel before it was removed it also said COLOR TV and some advertisements. The former building of the motel and the standing lobby will be a condominium development. The left over lobby before removal was 1100 sq ft (102.2 m²) size of the hotel lobby.
Paul Williams (architect)
Paul Revere Williams, FAIA was a Los Angeles-based, American architect. He practiced largely in Southern California and designed the homes of numerous stars including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz, Lon Chaney, and Charles Correll...
who was one of the first prominent African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
architects in the United States and was also the architect who designed the first LAX theme building. It was located at 2955 Las Vegas blvd south Winchester, Nevada
Winchester, Nevada
Winchester is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States that contains part of the Las Vegas Strip. It is one of a number of CDPs in the unincorporated urbanized area directly south of Las Vegas. The population was 26,958 at the 2000 census. It is governed by the Clark County...
and was considered one of the best-preserved examples of 1950's Googie architecture.. It was named after the resort community of La Concha Spain. La Concha motel was also neighbors of El Morocco Hotel that opened in 1955 and closed 1983 and it is now a Ginseng Korean and Japanese BBQ Restaurant. It was announced in late 2003 that La Concha Motel did not have many more days of this world. It was owned by Lorenzo Doumani who inherited the property by his father Ed Doumani original owner. The motel lobby was a concrete shell lobby. In the motel sections of La Concha Motel and the former El Morocco Motel next door were torn down in 2005. In end of January 2006 the owners of La Concha Motel wanted to give it up to the Las Vegas Neon Museum
Neon Museum at the Fremont Street Experience
The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, features signs from old casinos and other businesses displayed outdoors on over . The museum is restoring the La Concha Motel lobby as its visitor center....
and the only standing Motel lobby.
The La Concha Motel is now restored in Las Vegas Neon Museum
Neon Museum at the Fremont Street Experience
The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, features signs from old casinos and other businesses displayed outdoors on over . The museum is restoring the La Concha Motel lobby as its visitor center....
. The Las Vegas Neon Museum
Neon Museum at the Fremont Street Experience
The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, features signs from old casinos and other businesses displayed outdoors on over . The museum is restoring the La Concha Motel lobby as its visitor center....
saved part of the sign of the motel to (YESCO) Young Electric Sign Company
Young Electric Sign Company
Young Electric Sign Company is a privately owned manufacturer of electric signs based in Salt Lake City. The company was founded by Thomas Young in 1920 and today has divisions and branches in 10 western states, as well as in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas...
. The La Concha motel was also neighbors of Riviera Hotel and Casino, Peppermill Restaurant, El Morocco Hotel and Silver City Casino
Silver City Casino
The Silver City Casino was a casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. It was opened in 1974. Real estate tycoon Luke Brugnara purchased the casino property in 1999 and converted it into a strip shopping center in 2004. The casino's sign stands to this day...
. In the sign of the motel before it was removed it also said COLOR TV and some advertisements. The former building of the motel and the standing lobby will be a condominium development. The left over lobby before removal was 1100 sq ft (102.2 m²) size of the hotel lobby.
See also
- Las Vegas Neon MuseumNeon Museum at the Fremont Street ExperienceThe Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, features signs from old casinos and other businesses displayed outdoors on over . The museum is restoring the La Concha Motel lobby as its visitor center....
- Young Electric Sign CompanyYoung Electric Sign CompanyYoung Electric Sign Company is a privately owned manufacturer of electric signs based in Salt Lake City. The company was founded by Thomas Young in 1920 and today has divisions and branches in 10 western states, as well as in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas...
- Paul WilliamsPaul Williams (architect)Paul Revere Williams, FAIA was a Los Angeles-based, American architect. He practiced largely in Southern California and designed the homes of numerous stars including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz, Lon Chaney, and Charles Correll...
External links
- Save La Concha Motel Las Vegas
- La Concha Lobby at The Neon Boneyard at the Las Vegas SunLas Vegas SunThe Las Vegas Sun is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. It is one of Las Vegas, Nevada's two daily newspapers. It is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group....
- La Concha Motel at Leaving Las Vegas.net
- La Concha Motel Lobby at the National Trust for Historic PreservationNational Trust for Historic PreservationThe National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
- Las Vegas's La Concha Motel Finds New Life as a Museum at the Architectural Record NewsArchitectural RecordArchitectural Record is an American monthly magazine dedicated to architecture and interior design, published by McGraw-Hill Construction in New York City. It is over 110 years old...
- PDF Report of La Concha Motel Lobby Nomination Report at lasvegasnevada.gov
- The Neon Boneyard: Paying Tribute to the Bright Lights at Rates To Go