The Lady Luck Revival
May 27, 2010
Lady Luck is a somewhat imposing Downtown casino that was shuttered in 2006, expected to re-open a year later … yet still sits dormant.
Lady Luck Hotel and Casino
Lady Luck Hotel and Casino
Lady Luck Hotel and Casino
Lady Luck Hotel and Casino
Lady Luck Hotel and Casino
Lady Luck Hotel and Casino
Lady Luck Hotel and Casino
Over the last year or so, I’ve received numerous inquiries into the state of affairs at the Lady Luck. Unfortunately, to all of the inquiries I have received, my answer has always been the same: I don’t know.
While I am acquainted with a fair number of people who work in casinos which are actually open, I honestly wouldn’t know who to contact when it comes to projects which are in the works. Even if I did know who to contact, I doubt I would do so. There is a huge difference between a “blogger” and a reporter. A blogger writes a web log of his/her personal experiences and opinions, while a reporter investigates facts and is assigned to stories of which he/she may have no interest. Blogs are web publications centered around the writer, while reporters are generally expected to get out of the way of the subject matter and embrace the irrelevance of their own opinions. At least this is the way it works in theory.
Of course, in exchange for following protocols and subjugating themselves to certain controls, the reporter is given much greater access to official channels, and this is why the mainstream media will never truly die. They will almost certainly become less relevant as time goes on, but few public figures or heads of businesses are likely to make themselves available to writers who are comfortable availing themselves of the word “fuck”. Even though there seems to be an almost pathological desire among bloggers to emulate their more professional peers, this has always struck me as analogous to a security guard emulating a cop. It’s usually not convincing. If you want to be mainstream, then hook up with a mainstream outlet and get your assignments. Otherwise, take advantage of the perks of being a security guard, such as free corn dogs and watching women undress on the security cameras.
As a security guard myself, I do not have the ability to run license plates and demand that random people answer the question “Do you know how fast your were going?”. I leave such tasks to the cops.
This means that, with regards to developments such as the Lady Luck, I find out pretty much when the rest of the world finds out … and today, the world was put on notice …
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
There are signs of life at the Lady Luck casino in downtown Las Vegas, which closed its doors four years ago for what was supposed to be a one-year hiatus.
Remodeling and expansion plans have been submitted to city of Las Vegas officials
…
The plans call for:
- Adding 8,500 square feet of meeting space and 17,250 square feet of pool and deck space on top of the existing casino building at Ogden Avenue and Third Street.
- Replacing 50 hotel rooms with a spa, a fitness room, bathrooms, meeting space and corridors.
- Upgrading the remaining 634 rooms as well as the casino and retail space “to a much higher standard than previously existed.”
- Drastically altering the pedestrian bridge that connects the two hotel towers across Third Street. When finished, the remade bridge will be see-through, allowing an unobstructed view of the Mob Museum building from the Fremont Street Experience.
Assuming this isn’t more vaporware, the plan actually sounds pretty cool.
Maybe.
In order for Lady Luck to have any shot at success, their rooms would have to be either nicer or cheaper than that of the Golden Nugget. Given the recent opening of the Rush Tower, this will be a tall order.
Also, with regards to the prospect of an “unobstructed view of the Mob Museum from Fremont Street”, I have but one question to ask:
Is there really a demand for this?
Seriously, the Mob Museum building itself has been standing for a long time as a post office and court building, but I’ve never heard anyone say “wow, this Fremont Street Experience thing would be great if only I could see the Federal Courthouse two blocks to the north”.
Those two concerns being duly noted, this development is kind of exciting.
The Lady Luck has been a serious eyesore for the past four years, and it may be the single largest blight in the Downtown tourist corridor. Were it to re-open bigger and better than ever, it would fill in a gaping hole, and make Downtown contiguous once again. Dare I opine that the re-opening of Lady Luck might also make tourists in the Fremont St. area feel a little safer. Anyone who has ever been caught on the wrong side of Lady Luck after sundown no doubt knows why I am saying this. The entire block is dark, deserted, and the chance of “incidents” rise precipitously once a person gets north of Ogden.
In any event, the effort to once again make Downtown the epicenter of Las Vegas continues, and call me naive … but I think they’ve got a real shot. Things keep happening in the area, and I don’t think this is going unnoticed by the average visitor. The number of tourists who are willing to stay Downtown overnight are still in the minority, but a larger number of first-class rooms may be just what we need.
I cannot find a firm date upon which this renovation is expected to be completed, but I believe I speak for everyone in Las Vegas when I say … the sooner the better.
Written by BigRedDogATL on May 27, 2010 at 3:59 am
I still say that if they turned the place into one hugh legal brothel, that they would make more money than a casino would.
Written by Keith Mc on May 27, 2010 at 5:53 am
I can see something like the Main Street Hotel & Casino working there. My recollection is that the two hotels were roughly the same size in terms of casino floor space and room count when both were open.
(I hesitate to use Main Street Station as a model. To be sure, the rooms could stand an upgrade. But it does have its charms–the hardwood flooring in the lobby area, and the 777 sports bar, for example.)
If they were to make the rooms similar in quality to what you find at a Holiday Inn Express or Hampton Inn, I’d be there in a minute. Adding a nice sports bar like the 777 and a decent steak house would be nice too.
Written by FleaStiff on May 27, 2010 at 3:08 pm
>Brothel more money than a casino…
Ofcourse.
Even in Shakespeare’s time, a theater was usually just an ante-room for a brothel.
And despite the pretense in Clark County that prostitution is illegal, it seems clear that it is now and always seems to have been a major industry there.
Vegas has the gambling coming first and being legal whereas the prostitution is second and is illegal, but I wonder if it were accurately measured, just where would the sex trade show up in the final tally.
Written by Bazzito on May 27, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Did the article mention whether or not the new Lady Luck will revive the things that made the orinal locale so charming>
1. Mixed color dice.
More often than not, when you shot craps at the Lady Luck, there would be a collection of mismatched dice of various colors offered to you for your shooting pleasure. They could be any combination of red, blue, gold, greeen, or whatever other color was left that wasnn’t totaly worn out. This was the sure sign of a joint that didn’t waste any of the customers money on frills – like DICE!!
2. The free “Mad Money” keychain.
Always a reason to vist the Lady Luck, here was a keychain that, when you lent a friend a key to your house or car, would always find it’s way back to you. Mr. “Mad Money” was so tacky and hideous that it would never languish in pocket or purse. You could have your car stolen and they’d still fling the keys onto your front porch before taking it to the chop shop. I’d still have the last of mine left, but I suspect that my wife threw my last one away. Now, THAT one ain’t comming back.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400087966030&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WXI8&GUID=525b28531260a0e204a58615ff9f150c&itemid=400087966030&ff4=263602_263622
Written by Ben on May 27, 2010 at 11:25 pm
A renovated hotel downtown would be very successful in my opinion. There are probably lots of people (myself included) who would like to stay downtown, but don’t want to stay in an ancient hotel room. Golden Nugget has new rooms but maybe a little overpriced. If Lady Luck opens with nice new rooms, with a new casino and pool they could do very well.
Written by haxt0r on May 28, 2010 at 12:49 am
I had many good times (and stays) at the Lady Luck from around 2000 until they closed. Does anyone remember their hot dog and a beer specials or the post card room deals? (Was the postcard room rate $9.95 or $19.95 a night?) I remember getting upgraded to a suite for an extra $10.00 a night once.
Lady Luck had probably the strangest casino layout of any resort downtown but definitely more fun than most in the area. I miss it.
Written by wrxrob on May 28, 2010 at 5:02 am
you have to be skeptical about a casino that closed during arguably the best year of Las Vegas. Is it the location, or some mystical powers keeping that place in trouble.
I had a great time there, my one or two visits. It was the only joint where I hit a $10 match play playing the field and the red and purple dice hit the boxcars. Not only did they triple my $10 bet, but they also paid triple on the matchplay. I don’t think any other casino will do that, that is if match plays still exist (a big WTF to the LVA POV)
Written by Stacey on May 29, 2010 at 11:08 pm
If what is outlined in the article really happens, I would definitely give the Lady Luck a try over my usual stay at the Nugget. The pool and deck space are particularly interesting.
I really hope Downtown can revitalize itself. The Strip is for suckers.
Written by J. Louise on May 30, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Rex–Thanks for this story! I have the best memories of crashing the Lady Luck pool when I lived in Vegas. I liked the buffet (cheap and acceptable) and I remember that people raved about the Burgundy Room.
Written by tunadz on May 31, 2010 at 3:45 am
(Written by wrxrob on May 28, 2010 at 5:02 am
you have to be skeptical about a casino that closed during arguably the best year of Las Vegas. Is it the location, or some mystical powers keeping that place in trouble.)
Obviously it is mystical powers that would close a place as magical as the Lady Luck.
“In the Kabbalah, Fire is the element connected to Chiah , the highest level of the soul, and to the world of Atziluth which is closest to the infinite.”
So, whatever the hell that means, mystical powers are at work to deprive downtown of a hot dog and a beer for 99 cents. We must all concentrate positive energy on our ‘Mister Mad Money’ key rings until the Lady Luck reappears in all her former grandeur, including not the forbidden comped Long Island Tea, but the more spiritually satisfying comped Grateful Dead.
Written by The Fonz on May 31, 2010 at 9:38 pm
the lady luck brings back one of the few distinct memories i have from my first trip to vegas, jan. 2-5, 1997.
my buddy and i were staying at MGM, and went downtown to see “old” vegas. we had modest incomes, so we weren’t living the high life. we ended up in lady luck and registered for one of those wacky money booths, hoping to have our name drawn for a chance to grab at the cash swirling around us. when the drawing was held, we didn’t win. neither did the guy who somehow had 150,000 entry blanks for the drawing. we had one, so did others, i assume. he had a boatload, somehow, and plenty of people noticed him filling out numerous registration slips before the drawing. there was a collective joy he didn’t win the drawing.
as for the woman who won, she ended up with some paltry amount for her effort, and we felt like suckers for having waited around hoping to win.
i sure hope they can get the LL up and running. more rooms is better for those of us who know downtown is the place to gamble.