Westward Ho Hotel and Casino
Encyclopedia
The Westward Ho Hotel and Casino was a casino
and hotel
located on the Las Vegas Strip
in Winchester
, an unincorporated area of Clark County
in the U.S. state
of Nevada
. The Westward Ho was the last large motel
style property on the Strip. It was a two-story building with parking surrounding the buildings.
, Faye Johnson and Murray Petersen, natives of Hyrum, Utah
. For 40 years it was managed by Hans Dorweiller, President. It officially opened in 1963 and closed on November 25, 2005 following the sale of the property. Marketed as the friendliest casino in Vegas, it operated for 42 years, and was known as the world's largest motor inn.
In January 2005 the Westward Ho opened an expansion casino simply called The Ho located at 2920 South Industrial Road, but unlike its parent property The Ho was strictly a gambling hall, convenience store and gas station geared primarily towards truck drivers and other transient travelers using the I-15
corridor. On November 25, 2005, eight days after the Westward Ho permanently closed their doors, The Ho also permanently shut their doors.
According to the Clark County Assessors Office
, the property was sold to a Denver, Colorado
company named C D P W H Acquisition, LLC (Centex Destination Properties a subsidiary of Centex Corporation) who reportedly intended to build high-rise condominiums. Voyager Entertainment had plans to build a large observation wheel on the property together with Centex Destination Properties but those plans have been canceled.
In October 2006, Harrah's Entertainment
purchased the site of the Westward Ho and then traded it with Boyd Gaming
for the Barbary Coast Casino further south on the Strip in Las Vegas. This transaction valued the land at over $15 million per acre. Boyd Gaming planned on building its massive Echelon Place
on the former Stardust
site. The former Westward Ho site is currently a McDonald's
restaurant. It was planned that the land where the previous McDonald's was located would be used for the Echelon resort, which would eliminate the need for the Echelon to wrap around the existing McDonald's. Construction on Echelon was suspended in 2008 and remains suspended as of .
Driving along the Strip, the golden umbrellas, polished gold brass fixtures, and mirrored facade were popular icons on the northern Strip. The free-standing golden umbrellas (known as spectaculars in the lighting industry) stood over 80 feet (24.4 m) tall and when installed in 1983, were revolutionary designs. These pylons were emulated both on the Strip and Fremont Street (Golden Gate, Las Vegas Club, Bally's).
Inside the casino, the prevalent color scheme was brown and green, emphasizing the brass and dark Oak fixtures. There was also a faux-champagne fountain in the rear lobby, which poured water down a pyramid of stacked champagne flutes.
The Westward Ho was also famous for regular events, such as the "Grub-Steak Jamboree BBQ", "HO-waiaan Luau and Dinner", and the "Fabulous Doo-Wop Dinner" which included outdoor dining and party-atmospheres.
While other casinos on the Strip featured table minimums at $5, $10, or $25 minimums, "The Ho" often had table minimums as low as $3, which made it popular with avid gamblers as well as locals.
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
located on 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...
in Winchester
Winchester, Nevada
Winchester is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States that contains part of the Las Vegas Strip. It is one of a number of CDPs in the unincorporated urbanized area directly south of Las Vegas. The population was 26,958 at the 2000 census. It is governed by the Clark County...
, an unincorporated area of 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...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The Westward Ho was the last large motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
style property on the Strip. It was a two-story building with parking surrounding the buildings.
History
The Westward Ho was built and operated by siblings Dean PetersonDean Peterson
Dean Peterson was the seventh head football coach for the Frostburg State University Bobcats in Frostburg, Maryland and he held that position for six seasons, from 1981 until 1986. His overall coaching record at Frostburg was 27 wins, 29 losses, and 3 ties...
, Faye Johnson and Murray Petersen, natives of Hyrum, Utah
Hyrum, Utah
As of the census of 2000, there are 6,316 people, 1,683 households, and 1,497 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,617.2 people per square mile . There are 1,744 housing units at an average density of 446.5 per square mile...
. For 40 years it was managed by Hans Dorweiller, President. It officially opened in 1963 and closed on November 25, 2005 following the sale of the property. Marketed as the friendliest casino in Vegas, it operated for 42 years, and was known as the world's largest motor inn.
In January 2005 the Westward Ho opened an expansion casino simply called The Ho located at 2920 South Industrial Road, but unlike its parent property The Ho was strictly a gambling hall, convenience store and gas station geared primarily towards truck drivers and other transient travelers using the I-15
Interstate 15 in Nevada
In the U.S. State of Nevada, Interstate 15 begins in Primm, continues through Las Vegas and it crosses the border with Arizona in Mesquite. The freeway runs entirely in Clark County. Many motorists use Interstate 15 to visit Las Vegas, as it is the only primary Interstate Highway in the city. The...
corridor. On November 25, 2005, eight days after the Westward Ho permanently closed their doors, The Ho also permanently shut their doors.
According to the Clark County Assessors Office
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...
, the property was sold to a Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
company named C D P W H Acquisition, LLC (Centex Destination Properties a subsidiary of Centex Corporation) who reportedly intended to build high-rise condominiums. Voyager Entertainment had plans to build a large observation wheel on the property together with Centex Destination Properties but those plans have been canceled.
In October 2006, Harrah's Entertainment
Harrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
purchased the site of the Westward Ho and then traded it with Boyd Gaming
Boyd Gaming
Boyd Gaming Corporation is a Paradise, Nevada based business engaged in the development, ownership and operation of hotels and casinos throughout the United States...
for the Barbary Coast Casino further south on the Strip in Las Vegas. This transaction valued the land at over $15 million per acre. Boyd Gaming planned on building its massive Echelon Place
Echelon Place
Echelon Place is a partially built hotel, casino, shopping, and convention complex on the Las Vegas Strip, owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation. Construction of the project has been suspended since August 1, 2008....
on the former Stardust
Stardust Resort & Casino
The Stardust Resort & Casino was a casino resort located on along the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada.The Stardust opened in 1958, although most of the modern casino complex was built in 1991. At its March 13, 2007 demolition it was the youngest undamaged high-rise building to ever be...
site. The former Westward Ho site is currently a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant. It was planned that the land where the previous McDonald's was located would be used for the Echelon resort, which would eliminate the need for the Echelon to wrap around the existing McDonald's. Construction on Echelon was suspended in 2008 and remains suspended as of .
Attractions
- 99¢ Hot Dog & Beer
- A 56000 square feet (5,202.6 m²) Casino
- 744 rooms, though its press material frequently listed 777 rooms, 900 rooms, or over 1,000 rooms
- Three outdoor pools
- A 700 seat show room
- Free shuttle to move those staying at the hotel around the property
- The Megadog: 3/4 lb footlong hotdog for only $1.49
- 99¢ 27oz Margarita
Driving along the Strip, the golden umbrellas, polished gold brass fixtures, and mirrored facade were popular icons on the northern Strip. The free-standing golden umbrellas (known as spectaculars in the lighting industry) stood over 80 feet (24.4 m) tall and when installed in 1983, were revolutionary designs. These pylons were emulated both on the Strip and Fremont Street (Golden Gate, Las Vegas Club, Bally's).
Inside the casino, the prevalent color scheme was brown and green, emphasizing the brass and dark Oak fixtures. There was also a faux-champagne fountain in the rear lobby, which poured water down a pyramid of stacked champagne flutes.
The Westward Ho was also famous for regular events, such as the "Grub-Steak Jamboree BBQ", "HO-waiaan Luau and Dinner", and the "Fabulous Doo-Wop Dinner" which included outdoor dining and party-atmospheres.
While other casinos on the Strip featured table minimums at $5, $10, or $25 minimums, "The Ho" often had table minimums as low as $3, which made it popular with avid gamblers as well as locals.