The
Plaza Hotel & Casino is a casino-hotel located in downtown
Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
owned by the
Tamares GroupTamares Group is a private investment group based in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. The company has interests in real estate, technology, manufacturing, leisure and media...
and Play LV is the leaseholder and operator of the property. It currently has 1,037 rooms and suites, as well as an 80000 square feet (7,432.2 m²) casino and there is more than 25000 square feet (2,322.6 m²) of event space. The Plaza also features a classic showroom, seasonal roof top
swimming poolA swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
,
beauty salonA beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women...
, and fitness center, as well as a Race & Sports Book.
The Plaza began an extensive renovation project at the end of 2010 that included brand new guestrooms and suites, an entirely remodelled casino floor and lobby, and all new restaurants, bars and entertainment options. The renovations utilize contemporary furnishings and materials purchased from the Fontainebleau resort after it suspended construction on the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel and casino are scheduled to open as soon as Sept. 1, 2011.
History
Opened on July 2, 1971 with the owners including local businessmen:
Sam BoydSamuel A. "Sam" Boyd , was a businessman.Born in Enid, Oklahoma, he arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941 with only $80 in his pocket. He was able to work his way up through the gaming industry by first working as a dealer, then as a pit boss, and as a shift supervisor.Eventually he saved enough...
, Frank Scott,
Howard CannonHoward Walter Cannon was an American politician. He served as a United States Senator from Nevada from 1959 until 1983 as a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:...
and
Jackie GaughanJohn D. "Jackie" Gaughan, Sr. is a casino owner and operator from the early 1950s in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jackie is a native of Omaha, Nebraska who currently calls the El Cortez home. He is often seen daily on the El Cortez's modest size casino floor which begins at the hotel's front desk and main...
. Its original name was
Union Plaza, in reference to the Union Pacific railroad station that originally stood at the site.
Before the discontinuation of the
Desert WindDesert Wind was a passenger train route operated by Amtrak from 1979 to 1997. When it first entered service, it ran from Los Angeles, California to Ogden, Utah passing through Salt Lake City and Las Vegas...
train route on May 10, 1997,
AmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
made its Las Vegas, Nevada station near the Plaza. The station and ticket windows were directly connected to the hotel. It was the only train station in the United States located in a casino.
Barrick Gaming CorporationBarrick Gaming Corporation is a private company that was founded by D.W. Barrick and Stephen Crystal. The company formerly operated several hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada...
acquired the Plaza from Jackie Gaughan and in late 2005 later ceded operation to majority owner Tamares Group. On July 1, 2005 after Tamares took control of the Plaza mayor
Oscar GoodmanOscar Baylin Goodman is an American lawyer and politician. He was the mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1999 to 2011. Mayor Goodman is an Independent and a former member of the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
made his opinions clear in an article in the Las Vegas Press. He said
If I had my druthers, I would like to have somebody in place to discuss imploding the Plaza. He was referring to his desire to see the Plaza replaced with new construction that would create a scenic entrance to Union Park.
During its ownership by Barrick Gaming Corporation, D.W. Barrick's good friend,
Larry ManettiLarry Manetti is an American actor best known for his starring role as Orville "Rick" Wright on the long-running CBS television series Magnum P.I. which starred Tom Selleck as the title character. He also starred as Maj. Pappy Boyington's pilot partner, Lt. Bobby Boyle, in Baa Baa Black Sheep...
(Orville "Rick" Wright, of
Magnum, P.I.Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
fame) hosted a celebrity brunch every Sunday, featuring such guests as
Pat MoritaNoriyuki "Pat" Morita was an American actor of Japanese descent who was well-known for playing the roles of Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in the The Karate Kid movie series, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1984.-Early life:Pat...
and
Steve RossiSteve Rossi is an American stand-up comedian and actor.-Biography:Rossi gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication, arts and theater, Greek and Latin at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles and served as an officer in the United States Air Force. The comedian was discovered by Mae West...
. He also owned Manetti's in The Plaza. When Barrick sold its interest in the hotel to the Tamares Group, Manetti closed his restaurant and severed his relationship with the hotel. The Plaza's famed glass-domed Center Stage Restaurant is now a second edition of the locally famed Firefly Tapas Kitchen and Lounge.
The hotel portion closed on November 11, 2010 for renovations that are estimated to last 12 months leaving just the sports & racebook, the showroom, one bar, and a portion of the casino open. The hotel closure is expected to cause the loss of 400 jobs in the hotel.
As of March 2011, the south tower has been fully renovated including all new furniture purchased from the postponed Fontainebleau project. The casino finished renovations and re-opened on August 24, 2011, with the hotel re-opening on September 1, 2011.
Las Vegas Union Pacific Station
Prior to the construction of the casino, part of the site was used for a
Streamline ModerneStreamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s...
train station. Constructed in 1940 the station was upgraded with
neonNeon is the chemical element that has the symbol Ne and an atomic number of 10. Although a very common element in the universe, it is rare on Earth. A colorless, inert noble gas under standard conditions, neon gives a distinct reddish-orange glow when used in either low-voltage neon glow lamps or...
lights in 1946. This station existed until the 1960s when it was demolished and replaced by the Union Plaza Hotel which included a new station.
Film history
- In the 1971 James Bond
The James Bond film series is a British series of motion pictures based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond , who originally appeared in a series of books by Ian Fleming. Earlier films were based on Fleming's novels and short stories, followed later by films with original storylines...
film Diamonds Are ForeverDiamonds Are Forever is the seventh spy film in the Eon Productions James Bond series, and the sixth and final Eon Productions film to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film is based on Ian Fleming's 1956 novel of the same name, and is the second of four James Bond films...
, the construction of the Union Plaza is visible as Bond evades the attention of the police departmentThe Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...
.
- The Union Plaza played a major role in the 1992 movie Cool World
Cool World is a 1992 American live-action/animated film directed by Ralph Bakshi, and starring Kim Basinger, Gabriel Byrne, and Brad Pitt. It tells the story of a cartoonist who finds himself in the animated world he created, and is seduced by one of his characters, a comic strip vamp who wants to...
.
- The Plaza is visible as giant baby Adam walks through downtown Las Vegas in 1993 movie "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid is the 1992 sequel to the 1989 film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Directed by Randal Kleiser and released by Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Robert Oliveri and Amy O'Neill, who reprise their roles as Wayne, Diane, Nick, and Amy Szalinski...
"
- In the 1994 movie version of The Stand
# Project Blue [1:33]# The Dream Begins [2:08]# On the Road to Kansas [3:57]# The Trashmen in Vegas [1:58]# Headin' West [1:56]# Larry & Nadine [2:38]# Mother Abigail [3:10]# 'Sorry Mister, I Don't Understand' [2:54]# Mid Country [3:22]...
, the Union Plaza played a key role as the headquarters of Randal Flagg.
- In the 1995 movie Casino
Casino is a 1995 crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the film with Scorsese...
, a scene starring Robert De NiroRobert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
and Sharon StoneSharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
plays inside the Center Stage Restaurant, where Ginger (played by Sharon Stone) and Sam (played by Robert De Niro) argue over missing money.
- In the 2000 movie Pay It Forward
Pay It Forward is a 2000 American drama film based on the novel of the same name by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It was directed by Mimi Leder and written by Leslie Dixon...
, a scene starring Kevin SpaceyKevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
plays inside the Center Stage Restaurant.
- In the 2001 movie The Mexican
The Mexican is a 2001 American romantic comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, with a plot that is an unusual mixture of romantic comedy and road movie....
, Samantha and Winston stay at the Plaza, and Frank is killed by being thrown from one of its balconies.
- In the 2003 movie Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Looney Tunes: Back in Action is a 2003 American live action/animated adventure comedy film directed by Joe Dante and starring Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, Timothy Dalton, and Steve Martin. The film is essentially a feature-length Looney Tunes cartoon, with all the wackiness and surrealism typical...
, the Plaza serves as the hotel tower for "Yosemite SamYosemite Sam is an American animated cartoon character in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The name is somewhat alliterative and is inspired by Yosemite National Park...
's Wooden Nickel" casino
- In The Girl Next Door, desperate to win her back, Matt (Emile Hirsch
Emile Davenport Hirsch is an American television and film actor. He began performing in the late 1990s, appearing in several television films and series, and became known as a film actor after roles in Lords of Dogtown, The Emperor's Club, The Girl Next Door, Alpha Dog, and Into the Wild. In...
) and his friends follow Danielle (Elisha CuthbertElisha Ann Cuthbert is a Canadian film and television actress. Cuthbert is known as the former co-host of the Canadian children's television series Popular Mechanics for Kids. In 1998, she had her first film role in Airspeed. She followed this in 2003 with a role in Old School...
) to Las Vegas and find her performing at a convention, which appears to be taking place at The Plaza.
- In the 2008 film The Grand
The Grand is an improv comedy film directed by Zak Penn. The film has an ensemble cast including Ray Romano, Woody Harrelson, Chris Parnell, Werner Herzog, Jason Alexander, Dennis Farina, David Cross, Gabe Kaplan, Michael Karnow and Cheryl Hines along with several real Las Vegas poker...
, the Plaza serves as the hotel tower for "The Rabbit's Foot".
- In the 2010 film Kites
Kites is a 2010 Bollywood film directed by Anurag Basu and produced by Rakesh Roshan, that stars Hrithik Roshan, Bárbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut, and Kabir Bedi. The film was released in India and in North America on May 21, 2010. Its 208-theater opening in North America made it the largest Bollywood...
, father of one of the actress own the Plaza.
- In the 1989 film, Back to the Future Part II
Back to the Future Part II is a 1989 American science fiction comedy film and the second installment of the Back to the Future trilogy. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Thomas F. Wilson and Lea Thompson...
, Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise Casino Hotel is based on the structure of neon lights & signs of this hotel.
Television production
The syndicated
Ultimate Poker ChallengeThe Ultimate Poker Challenge was a series of weekly poker tournaments acting as super-satellites into the series semi-finals.The first and second seasons are available on NTSC DVD...
has been taped at the Plaza as well as the currently-running
National Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
program
NWA Wrestling Showcase, airing on
Colours TVColours TV was a multicultural American TV network produced by the non-profit organization Black Star Communications. Programs focused on the cultural and educational issues of the Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Native American communities. Some examples of programming included video...
.
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
finished production early in 2010 of a show called
The Odds that will take place at the Plaza Hotel as well as along the
Fremont Street ExperienceThe Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall and attraction in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. The FSE occupies the westernmost 5 blocks of Fremont Street, including the area known for years as "Glitter Gulch," and portions of some other adjacent streets.The attraction is a barrel vault canopy,...
starring
Donald FaisonDonald Adeosun Faison is an American actor, comedian, and voice actor best known for his role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC comedy-drama Scrubs and as Murray in the film Clueless and the subsequent television series of the same name.Faison has also co-starred in the films Remember the Titans ,...
.
Music videos
- Featured prominently in Mase
Mason Durell Betha , better known by stage name Mase who was previously known as Murda Ma$e, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and inspirational speaker...
's "Feels So GoodHarlem World is the critically acclaimed multi-platinum debut album by Harlem rapper Mase, released October 28, 1997.-Background:Seen as Puff Daddy's new protege since the passing of The Notorious B.I.G., Mase rose to fame after being a member of Children of the Corn with fellow Harlem rappers Big...
" video.
- Mase's video was parodied by Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
, which was filmed in front of the hotel as well.
- The Plaza is featured in many scenes of the video "We Built This City
"We Built This City" is the title of a song written by Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf, and originally recorded by the American pop rock group Starship and released as its debut single on August 1, 1985....
" by Starship, despite the fact that the song refers to an early-70s San Francisco, not Las Vegas.
External links