Join us for the countdown before the iconic Riviera Hotel Casino locked its doors forever...
On May 4th, 2015, the iconic Riviera Hotel Casino closed forever. All guests were required to check out by 11 am, the casino floor was cleared, and padlocked chains were placed at noon. This writer checked in the evening before (May 3rd) and spent one last night enjoying the Riviera, from gambling and dining to a farewell performance of Dirk Arthur's WILD ILLUSIONS. Come along as I retrace my steps of that bittersweet experience.
Photo via memorylane.org
The Riviera opened on April 20th, 1955 with a single nine-story hotel tower. It expanded greatly throughout the decades, with multiple towers added. As with nearly every historic hotel in Vegas, it survived bankruptcies and changes in ownership.
Legendary stars like Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand, Tony Orlando, and Liberace performed at the property. It was also the birthplace of An Evening at La Cage, which would later be reborn as Frank Marino's DIVAS LAS VEGAS. Marino still hosts the production, currently performing at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Water-based production SPLASH, created by Jeff Kutash, ran at Riviera's Versailles Theater for an astonishing twenty-one years. It was followed by ICE, an ice-skating spectacular from Russia. Casino scenes from THE HANGOVER were filmed at the Riv, and it hosted a history-making boxing match between Leon Spinks and Larry Holmes in 1985.
Photo via ShutterstockPhoto via Shutterstock
Riviera's exterior was highlighted by two eye-catching features - a spectacular neon display, and a brass sculpture of cast members from Norbert Aleman's long-running CRAZY GIRLS revue. As the years passed, Riviera fell into decline, garnering the same type of "fleabag" reputation that became attached to Imperial Palace and currently, Circus Circus and Excalibur.
In its final years, the property made changes that moved the check-in lobby, cleared out flea market-style kiosks, and improved restaurant offerings. The Versailles Theater underwent a major renovation, too, yet never reopened.
The property was sold to Las Vegas Convention and Vistors Authority in 2013 to make way for an expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The resort was demolished through two implosions in the summer of 2016.
My partner and I arrived for Riviera's final evening around 5 pm on May 3rd, 2015. The underground valet had closed long before, but its glorious neon lighting remained. A hubbub of activity swirled as hundreds of guests took their final photos and scoured every inch of the resort.
Check-in was smooth and efficient. We were told that the bell desk was still in operation and would remain so until the next morning, although luggage could not be stored after checkout. We were assigned to room #5216 in one of the southeast towers. The line to elevators was bustling, as it seemed that many others had decided to stay one final night in the hotel as well.
Our room was clean, comfortable, and perfectly fine, despite its doomed status. On the nightstand was a letter announcing the hotel's closure the next morning, with instructions to check out by 11 am. In the corridor, a vending machine made us aware that it had already dispensed its final soda, despite saying "please come again".
Prior to dinner, we visited several sections of the property, including the glorious top-floor TOP OF THE RIV ballroom. With its outstanding view, the space was known for hosting amazing New Year's Eve parties. A pool tournament had recently been held near the reservation lobby, and tables were in the process of being removed.
Just down the corridor from the pool tournament, R STEAKHOUSE was serving its final meals. There was a somber atmosphere within, as hushed diners and saddened staffers reflected on years of service. We opted for a simple meal of burgers, sides, and soup.
After a satisfying dinner, we strolled toward the front of the property where the main casino was. With show tickets in hand, we made a detour to the "secret pool" above the gaming floor. Designed to be an elegant recreational area, the secret pool contained a fatal defect...it leaked into the casino below. The problem was never corrected and the pool deck was permanently abandoned.
Of course, Riviera did have a functional pool, which received many years of use. It was located on the ground level and surrounded by numerous hotel towers. Access had already been closed off, and workers would begin constructing fences around it the next morning.
Next, we headed to the third floor Starlite Theater for the final performance of Dirk Arthur's WILD ILLUSIONS. The controversial magician, who worked with large wildcats, passed away under mysterious circumstances last October. We told you about that in this article, along with Arthur's peculiar links to current headliner Jay Owenhouse.
After the performance, it was time to put a few dollars into a slot machine. I don't recall winning anything, but over at the casino bar, dozens of people seemed to be having a REALLY good time. The bartenders were undoubtedly pouring with a heavy hand, happy to empty bottles of liquor that would be tossed away when the sun rose.
Anyone hoping for a shoeshine would be out of luck, as that vendor had already arranged a move to The D Hotel on Fremont Street. The same was true for a Hertz Car Rental counter, which had relocated to Westgate Las Vegas two blocks away.
Throughout the resort, shops were selling off discounted merchandise or had already served their final customers. The sense of impending doom continued to grow, and it was eventually time to hit the hay.
The next morning, we had a simple breakfast at Banana Leaf Cafe, then watched as slot machines were taken offline.
The 11 am cutoff was fast approaching. We checked out, placed our luggage in the rental car, then headed back inside to record Riviera's final moments before doors were locked forever.
We'll cover that in an upcoming piece, along with a photo essay of the employees who kept Riviera Hotel and Casino rolling along during its last weeks and months.
Photos by VEGAS 411 unless otherwise noted
Photo via memorylane.org
The Riviera opened on April 20th, 1955 with a single nine-story hotel tower. It expanded greatly throughout the decades, with multiple towers added. As with nearly every historic hotel in Vegas, it survived bankruptcies and changes in ownership.
Legendary stars like Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand, Tony Orlando, and Liberace performed at the property. It was also the birthplace of An Evening at La Cage, which would later be reborn as Frank Marino's DIVAS LAS VEGAS. Marino still hosts the production, currently performing at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Water-based production SPLASH, created by Jeff Kutash, ran at Riviera's Versailles Theater for an astonishing twenty-one years. It was followed by ICE, an ice-skating spectacular from Russia. Casino scenes from THE HANGOVER were filmed at the Riv, and it hosted a history-making boxing match between Leon Spinks and Larry Holmes in 1985.
Photo via Shutterstock
Photo via Shutterstock
Riviera's exterior was highlighted by two eye-catching features - a spectacular neon display, and a brass sculpture of cast members from Norbert Aleman's long-running CRAZY GIRLS revue. As the years passed, Riviera fell into decline, garnering the same type of "fleabag" reputation that became attached to Imperial Palace and currently, Circus Circus and Excalibur.
In its final years, the property made changes that moved the check-in lobby, cleared out flea market-style kiosks, and improved restaurant offerings. The Versailles Theater underwent a major renovation, too, yet never reopened.
The property was sold to Las Vegas Convention and Vistors Authority in 2013 to make way for an expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The resort was demolished through two implosions in the summer of 2016.
My partner and I arrived for Riviera's final evening around 5 pm on May 3rd, 2015. The underground valet had closed long before, but its glorious neon lighting remained. A hubbub of activity swirled as hundreds of guests took their final photos and scoured every inch of the resort.
Check-in was smooth and efficient. We were told that the bell desk was still in operation and would remain so until the next morning, although luggage could not be stored after checkout. We were assigned to room #5216 in one of the southeast towers. The line to elevators was bustling, as it seemed that many others had decided to stay one final night in the hotel as well.
Our room was clean, comfortable, and perfectly fine, despite its doomed status. On the nightstand was a letter announcing the hotel's closure the next morning, with instructions to check out by 11 am. In the corridor, a vending machine made us aware that it had already dispensed its final soda, despite saying "please come again".
Prior to dinner, we visited several sections of the property, including the glorious top-floor TOP OF THE RIV ballroom. With its outstanding view, the space was known for hosting amazing New Year's Eve parties. A pool tournament had recently been held near the reservation lobby, and tables were in the process of being removed.
Just down the corridor from the pool tournament, R STEAKHOUSE was serving its final meals. There was a somber atmosphere within, as hushed diners and saddened staffers reflected on years of service. We opted for a simple meal of burgers, sides, and soup.
After a satisfying dinner, we strolled toward the front of the property where the main casino was. With show tickets in hand, we made a detour to the "secret pool" above the gaming floor. Designed to be an elegant recreational area, the secret pool contained a fatal defect...it leaked into the casino below. The problem was never corrected and the pool deck was permanently abandoned.
Of course, Riviera did have a functional pool, which received many years of use. It was located on the ground level and surrounded by numerous hotel towers. Access had already been closed off, and workers would begin constructing fences around it the next morning.
Next, we headed to the third floor Starlite Theater for the final performance of Dirk Arthur's WILD ILLUSIONS. The controversial magician, who worked with large wildcats, passed away under mysterious circumstances last October. We told you about that in this article, along with Arthur's peculiar links to current headliner Jay Owenhouse.
After the performance, it was time to put a few dollars into a slot machine. I don't recall winning anything, but over at the casino bar, dozens of people seemed to be having a REALLY good time. The bartenders were undoubtedly pouring with a heavy hand, happy to empty bottles of liquor that would be tossed away when the sun rose.
Anyone hoping for a shoeshine would be out of luck, as that vendor had already arranged a move to The D Hotel on Fremont Street. The same was true for a Hertz Car Rental counter, which had relocated to Westgate Las Vegas two blocks away.
Throughout the resort, shops were selling off discounted merchandise or had already served their final customers. The sense of impending doom continued to grow, and it was eventually time to hit the hay.
The next morning, we had a simple breakfast at Banana Leaf Cafe, then watched as slot machines were taken offline.
The 11 am cutoff was fast approaching. We checked out, placed our luggage in the rental car, then headed back inside to record Riviera's final moments before doors were locked forever.
We'll cover that in an upcoming piece, along with a photo essay of the employees who kept Riviera Hotel and Casino rolling along during its last weeks and months.
Photos by VEGAS 411 unless otherwise noted
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