Royal Nevada Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Triblend Tee

Description

The Royal Nevada Hotel and Casino was a short-lived, ambitious resort that flared onto the Las Vegas Strip in the mid-1950s. Conceived by hotelier Frank Fishman, plans were announced in 1953 for what was initially dubbed the Sunrise Hotel. Designed by noted architect Paul Revere Williams, construction kicked off around mid-1954, featuring a sweeping façade crowned with a regal royal crown emblem—fashioned to signal luxury and draw attention. When it finally opened on April 19, 1955, the Royal Nevada positioned itself as a stylish alternative amid a surge of new resorts. With approximately 233–250 rooms, it marked the Strip’s eighth property to debut. Its signature “Dancing Waters” fountain show in the lobby promised entertainment, while indulgences like all-you-can-eat prime rib for just $1.50 hinted at accessible luxury. But challenges mounted quickly. Openings of larger casinos such as the Dunes and Riviera overshadowed the Royal Nevada, and its modest gaming layout—featuring just 10 table games and 54 slots—struggled to compete. Legal and financial troubles followed: Fishman’s shaky license approval, contractor lawsuits, a gambling license denial, and even a cheating accusation tied to a blackjack dealer eroded the property’s integrity. The casino closed several times—the first around January 1956, and again in late 1957—before finally ceasing operations on** **January 30, 1958. After its demise, the Royal Nevada was absorbed into its northern neighbor, the Stardust Resort and Casino, serving as convention space and an overflow annex until being fully integrated. Its legacy then lived on in the Stardust auditorium and hotel rooms. Though fleeting, the Royal Nevada remains a poignant footnote in Vegas lore—a bold but ill-timed gamble that exemplified the volatile pace of growth and consolidation on the Strip. Collectors still prize its memorabilia—chips, matchbooks, and photographs—as tangible echoes of a resort that burned bright, then faded fast.