New Frontier Hotel and Casino
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| Number of rooms | 986 | |
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| Theme | Western | |
| Gaming space | 100,000 ft² (9,290 m²) | |
| Permanent show(s) | none | |
| Signature attraction(s) | Gilley's Mechanical Bull | |
| Notable restaurant(s) | Gilley's Margarita's Cantina Phils' Steakhouse |
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| Owner | Phil Ruffin | |
| Date opened | October 30, 1942 | |
| Casino type | Land-Based | |
| Major renovation(s) | 1999 Atrium Tower | |
| Previous name(s) | Last Frontier The Frontier |
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| Casino website | The New Frontier | |
The New Frontier is a hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada that has been operating continually since October 30, 1942. It was the second resort that opened on the Las Vegas Strip.
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[edit] History
The property started as a nightclub called "Pair O’Dice" that opened in 1930. It was subsequently rebuilt and renamed the "Hotel Last Frontier" in 1942. On April 4, 1955, it was renamed the "New Frontier," following a modernization of the resort.
The resort has the distinction of hosting Elvis Presley's first Vegas appearance in 1956, and the final performance of Diana Ross and The Supremes on January 14, 1970.
On September 22, 1967, the resort was purchased for about $14 million by billionaire Howard Hughes, who then shortened its name to "The Frontier". Mr. Hughes purchased the resort from the previous owners, which had also included Steve Wynn in one of his early ventures when he first moved to Las Vegas.
Bilionaire developer Phil Ruffin bought the resort in 1998 from embattled owner Margaret Elardi and her two sons. In 1999, the name was changed back to The New Frontier.
[edit] Redevelopment plans
In 2000, Ruffin announced plans to raze the current facility and replace it with a megaresort with a San Francisco theme, but high interest rates and the attacks of September 11, 2001 scuttled those plans. In March 2005, with Las Vegas' fortunes on the rise, Ruffin announced new plans to demolish the current facility and replace it with a new resort with 3,000 rooms. [1] With massive new development taking place on the Strip adjacent to the hotel, the not-so-New Frontier's days are almost certainly numbered.
[edit] Trump Tower
Donald Trump, in partnership with Ruffin, is building a high-rise luxury hotel-condominium on some of its property, to be named the Trump International Hotel & Tower.
Since part of the old building still exists, some call the New Frontier the oldest remaining Strip hotel and casino.
[edit] Montreux Las Vegas
Phil Ruffin announced that plans for his new $2 billion resort, Montreux (IPA pronunciation: [mɒn tɹoʊ]) will be entirely funded by him (with no partners). The name Montreux comes from the famed Swiss resort which sponsors the yearly Montreux Jazz Festival.
The upscale 2,750 room resort will compete with the likes of the Mirage and Paris. It will use jazz music as a draw. Ruffin says, "We don't really have a Strip casino that advertises good jazz music." A second Montreux Jazz Festival could be a yearly event at the resort.
The resort will also feature a 400 foot (122 m) tall Ferris Wheel similar in size to the famous London Eye.
Ruffin has 38.5 acres (15.6 ha) left after selling 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) to Donald Trump for the twin Trump Towers condo project located at the back of the property.
The New Frontier will probably close and be demolished in late 2006 and the new resort will most likely open in 2009 along with many other large projects. The Montreux bears a striking resemblance to the nearby Bellagio.
[edit] The longest strike
From September 21, 1991 until February 1, 1998 members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 in Las Vegas staged a strike against the New Frontier and the Elardis. A settlement was reached on October 28, 1997 when Ruffin announced he would purchase the New Frontier from the Elardis for $165 million dollars. The strike ended when Ruffin officially took possession.
According to an article in the Las Vegas Sun, the following events occurred during the strike:
- 17 CWU Local 226 strikers died.
- 106 babies were born to CWU member mothers who have walked the picket.
- The Dunes, Landmark, Sands and Hacienda were all closed and imploded
- More than 21,340 hotel rooms were constructed in Las Vegas.
- Construction on an additional 19,000 rooms and suites was started.
- 235 of the original 550 strikers had walked the line in shifts manned 24 hours a day.
[edit] External links
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