Boardwalk Hotel and Casino

Casino infobox
casino=Boardwalk Hotel and Casino
logo=Boardwalk LV Logo.svg
theme=Coney Island
address=3750 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

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rooms=654
date_opened=1968
date_closed=January 9, 2006
space_gaming=33,000ft²
attractions="Surf Buffet"
shows=
restaurants=
owner=MGM Mirage
casino_type=Land-Based
renovations=1996
names_pre= Boardwalk Holiday Inn
website= [http://www.boardwalklv.com Boardwalk Hotel and Casino]

The Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, now closed and torn down, was owned and operated by MGM Mirage. It was part of the Holiday Inn hotel chain but left after being acquired by Mirage Resorts. It was built before the era of the mega-casinos, and was consequently tiny in comparison to many of its neighbors, with only 654 rooms.

Most visitors to Las Vegas would argue the best feature of the Boardwalk was the location on the "Strip": in between the plush Bellagio and the Monte Carlo and across from the Paris, Aladdin and MGM Grand.

The hotel's Coney Island theme could be seen in its facade with an original 1906 parachute jump ride and a wooden (non-functioning) roller coaster. (Hotel employees reported that people frequently came into the hotel demanding to ride the roller coaster.) The hotel was composed of three distinct buildings all built at different times. The newest building was the 16-story tower built in 1996. The Steeplechase building was 6 stories and the Luna Park building was the original four-story structure when the hotel first opened.

History

Originally an independently owned hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip, the Boardwalk became owned by a public corporation (Boardwalk Casino, Inc.) in 1994. It was later acquired by Mirage Resorts in 1997.

In 1998 the "Surf Buffet" converted to a 24-hour buffet, the only one on the Las Vegas Strip. It was also infamous for being rated amongst the worst buffets in Las Vegas.Fact|date=March 2008

The hotel and casino closed on January 9, 2006, and the main hotel tower was imploded on May 9, 2006 at 2:34 a.m. PST in order to prepare the site for Project City Center.

Attractions

*Wedding gazebo
*Two small pools
*Several restaurants including a 24-hour Surf Buffet and a sushi bar
*75-seat race and sports book
*Prince cover band Purple Reign
*Roller coaster

Norbert Jansen

Norm Jansen founded the Boardwalk in 1977. He started out at the Pioneer Club and then opened a gift shop at what was to be the site of the Boardwalk in 1972. When he sold the Boardwalk out, he still retained a gift shop in the hotel. His daughter continued to operate that gift shop until the hotel closed.

ources

*Las Vegas Review-Journal
*Las Vegas Sun