Klondike Hotel & Casino
Encyclopedia
The Klondike Hotel & Casino was a 153 room hotel and a 7700 sq ft (715.4 m²) casino on the Las Vegas Strip
in Paradise, Nevada
, in the United States
.
The hotel sat between the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
and McCarran International Airport
on Las Vegas Boulevard
on 6 acre (2.4 ha) of land. The Klondike was at the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip
, and for many drivers, seeing the old red western buildings of the Klondike meant you had arrived in Vegas.
The hotel was known for being one of the last casinos near the Las Vegas Strip to offer cheap food bargains, notably the $1.49 spaghetti special, and offered them 24 hours a day. Tourists and locals alike could find offers for a free meal with a drink purchase.
.
The hotel was sold on May 12, 1976 for $1.2 million by Ralph Engelstad
who also owned the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino
. The new owners were John Woodrum and his son Mike Woodrum. John bought the Klondike after splitting from his previous partner, Bill Boyd.
After taking control of the casino, John decided to run a power line to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign which was not lit at the time. After the power line was cut and some discussions, Clark County
decided to provide power to the sign.
At the end of 2005, the land the casino is on was sold to a developer who tore down the casino. The casino was sold to Royal Palms Communities for $48 million with Mike Woodrum being an equity partner in the new development. The new resort will be called Paramount Las Vegas.
The casino closed on June 28, 2006 and hotel closed on June 30, 2006. John Woodrom currently owns the Klondike Sunset Casino, a neighborhood casino in nearby Henderson, Nevada
.
where Clark (Chevy Chase
) tries to win money back.
's video for "Bat Country
" was filmed at the Klondike.
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
in Paradise, Nevada
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The hotel sat between the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is a Las Vegas Strip landmark funded in May 1959 and erected soon after by Western Neon. The sign was designed by Betty Willis at the request of Ted Rogich, a local salesman, who sold it to Clark County, Nevada....
and McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
on Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas Boulevard
State Route 604 is the route number designation for parts of Las Vegas Boulevard, a major north–south road in the Las Vegas metropolitan area of Nevada in the United States best known for the Las Vegas Strip and its casinos. Formerly carrying U.S...
on 6 acre (2.4 ha) of land. The Klondike was at the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, and for many drivers, seeing the old red western buildings of the Klondike meant you had arrived in Vegas.
The hotel was known for being one of the last casinos near the Las Vegas Strip to offer cheap food bargains, notably the $1.49 spaghetti special, and offered them 24 hours a day. Tourists and locals alike could find offers for a free meal with a drink purchase.
History
The Klondike opened in 1962 as a Motel 6Motel 6
Motel 6 is a major chain of budget motels with more than 1,000 locations in the United States and Canada, and is the largest owned and operated hotel chain in North America. It is owned and operated by Accor Hotels.-History:...
.
The hotel was sold on May 12, 1976 for $1.2 million by Ralph Engelstad
Ralph Engelstad
Ralph Engelstad was the multi-millionaire owner of the Imperial Palace casino-hotels in Las Vegas and in Biloxi, Mississippi and the Klondike Hotel & Casino...
who also owned the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino
Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino
Imperial Palace is a 2,640 room hotel and a casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The hotel and casino were owned by Imperial Palace LLC until purchased by the current owner, Caesars Imperial Palace Corporation a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corp..-History:From 1959 to...
. The new owners were John Woodrum and his son Mike Woodrum. John bought the Klondike after splitting from his previous partner, Bill Boyd.
After taking control of the casino, John decided to run a power line to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign which was not lit at the time. After the power line was cut and some discussions, Clark County
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
decided to provide power to the sign.
At the end of 2005, the land the casino is on was sold to a developer who tore down the casino. The casino was sold to Royal Palms Communities for $48 million with Mike Woodrum being an equity partner in the new development. The new resort will be called Paramount Las Vegas.
The casino closed on June 28, 2006 and hotel closed on June 30, 2006. John Woodrom currently owns the Klondike Sunset Casino, a neighborhood casino in nearby Henderson, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
.
Film history
While you cannot actually see the name, the casino appeared in a scene in 1997's Vegas VacationVegas Vacation
Vegas Vacation is a 1997 comedy film. It is the fourth film in the original Vacation film series centering around the fictitious Griswold family, following Vacation, European Vacation, and Christmas Vacation. Chevy Chase reprises his starring role as Clark W. Griswold, the patriarch of the family...
where Clark (Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
) tries to win money back.
Popular culture
Avenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
's video for "Bat Country
Bat Country
"Bat Country" is a song by American metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The song was released as the second single from their third album, City of Evil. Avenged Sevenfold won 'Best New Artist' at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards for "Bat Country" and on October 1, 2009, the single was certified gold by...
" was filmed at the Klondike.