Dunes

Dunes opened in 1955 and closed in 1993, after 38 years, on the Las Vegas Strip, with up to 1,282 rooms. On the site today: Bellagio.

The story

The Dunes opened on 23 May 1955 as the tenth resort on the Strip and only prospered after Major Riddle took over in 1956. In 1957 it staged Minsky Goes to Paris, the first topless show in Las Vegas. Later additions included the Emerald Green golf course, a 21-floor tower topped by the Top O' the Strip restaurant, and a 181-foot sign. After money troubles in the 1980s, Steve Wynn's Mirage Resorts bought it in 1992, and it closed on 26 January 1993. The North Tower came down on 27 October 1993 in front of about 200,000 people to promote Treasure Island, and the South Tower followed on 20 July 1994. Bellagio opened on the site in 1998.

• Opened1955
• Closed1993
• RoomsUp to 1,282
• There nowBellagio

Nearby, also gone

• Aladdin 1966–1997 · up to 1,100 roomsNow: Planet Hollywood Las Vegas
• Boardwalk 1966–2006 · up to 653 roomsNow: Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, part of CityCenter
• Bourbon Street 1980–2005 · up to 166 roomsNow: A staff car park for The Cromwell

Old Vegas: where to still see it

Facts from Dunes on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).