Palace Station

History

Palace Station originally opened on July 1, 1976, as The Casino, a 5000 sqft gambling hall attached to the Mini Price Motor Inn. The Casino was built in an off-Strip location beside Interstate 15, where few observers expected it to succeed. It was soon expanded by 10000 sqft and renamed Bingo Palace, with the grand opening celebrated on June 30, 1977. The casino was the first in the Las Vegas Valley to target a clientele of local residents, with offerings like giveaways, cheap buffets and bingo. It thrived, and other locals casinos followed in later years, including Sam's Town (1979) and the Gold Coast (1986).

Carl Thomas, an executive of Argent Corporation, was among the original owners. Frank Fertitta Jr. bought a 10-percent interest in July 1977. He became vice president and director of the Bingo Palace later that year. In 1979, Thomas was under investigation for allegedly aiding mobsters in a skimming operation. Fertitta bought out his partners, including Thomas and two others, later that year.

A $10 million renovation and expansion was underway in 1983, and a contest was held to select a new name, The winning name, Palace Station, was submitted by a keno runner at Bingo Palace. Fertitta liked the name because it retained "Palace" while also reflecting the property's new train station/railroad theme. The name change became official on January 1, 1984. A grand opening ceremony was held on April 6, featuring Governor Richard Bryan and the historic locomotive Inyo. A train-themed neon sign, measuring 126 ft wide and high, was constructed for Palace Station.

In 1985, Fertitta purchased the adjoining 465-room motel and rebranded it as part of Palace Station, allowing the casino to now target tourists as well. A $60 million expansion began five years later, and included 22000 sqft in new casino space, as well as a parking garage. The project also included a 21-story hotel tower; it began construction on July 9, 1990, and was topped off that November. The expanded casino and three floors in the tower opened a month later, with the remainder of rooms expected to be finished in mid-1991.

In 1993, Palace Station filed to become a public corporation known as Station Casinos, which has gone on to open numerous other hotel-casinos throughout the Las Vegas Valley, starting in 1994 with Boulder Station.

In 1998, a 67-year-old woman won the largest slot machine jackpot in history at Palace Station: $27 million.

In 2016, employees narrowly rejected unionization efforts by the Culinary Workers Union and Bartenders Union, by a vote of 266 to 262. The vote was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Culinary challenged the results, accusing Station of influencing its workers to vote against unionization by giving them raises just before the election. The union filed a complaint with the NLRB, and Palace Station agreed to settle in 2017, although a contract was never finalized.

A $192 million renovation began in November 2016, The 126-foot Palace Station sign was removed during 2018, marking the end of the train theme. A grand re-opening celebration, including a fireworks show, was held on September 1, 2018.

Incidents

A roof collapse and fire occurred on July 20, 1999, both during heavy rainfall. The roof collapse occurred over an area of the casino floor around 2 a.m., unleashing a wave of water on gamblers. Several hours later, a four-alarm fire began on a decorative exterior facade, located along the tower's 21st floor.

The fire forced the evacuation of 2,200 guests, and other floors were reopened soon thereafter. The casino floor was partially reopened a day after the incidents, along with several restaurants. The total cost of damage for both incidents was between $12 million and $14 million. The damaged portion of the casino reopened four months later.

Various robberies have occurred at Palace Station throughout its history,Retrieved November 17, 2023:

• the most prominent being a 2007 robbery led by O. J. Simpson, which occurred at the property's motel structure.

Features

Palace Station includes an 84000 sqft casino. The hotel tower is 21 stories,

In 2001, the Las Vegas Valley's population included 100,000 Asian residents. Palace Station began marketing to this demographic by introducing a gaming pit that featured blackjack, baccarat, and pai gow, all popular among Asian gamblers.

The casino once included the Sound Trax lounge, which featured classic rock tribute bands. In 2001, the space was converted into the Laugh Trax comedy club, later named the Bonkerz Comedy Club. In 2010, Louie Anderson became Palace Station's headlining entertainer, performing there until 2013.

In 2001, Palace Station opened an Irish pub and restaurant. The casino also included a popular long-time restaurant known as the Broiler. The 2016–2019 renovation included a new bingo room, and a Regal Cinemas movie theater known as Cinebarre, which offers dining. The project also added several new restaurants, including Boathouse Asian Eatery. The buffet was also relocated from the second floor to the main casino floor. Tacos & Taquila, a popular Mexican restaurant that closed on the Strip in 2018, briefly operated at Palace Station from 2022 to 2023.

Gallery

File:Palace Station Las Vegas.jpg|Hotel tower in 2010 File:Palace Station, Las Vegas NV.jpg|Palace Station in 2012 File:Palace Station from afar.jpg|Hotel tower and casino in 2015

References

References

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