Holiday Casino, Las Vegas, Triblend Tee

Venue History

Opened on July 2, 1973, Holiday Casino began its journey on the site once occupied by the Tumbleweed and Pyramids motels at the heart of the Strip. Developed by Holiday Queen Land Corporation in partnership with Holiday Inn, the adjacent 520-room Holiday Inn Center Strip hotel debuted earlier, on February 1, 1972. The casino, initially known during planning as River Queen, embraced a playful steamboat-inspired riverboat theme, featuring paddlewheels, smokestacks, and a façade designed to resemble a grand Mississippi riverboat. The visionaries behind Holiday Casino were Shelby and Claudine Williams, seasoned casino operators who previously owned the Silver Slipper. Their goal was to appeal to everyday gamblers rather than high-stake elite clients. Shelby’s leadership was impactful, enabling the property to reach in two years what most casinos accomplish in five. After his death in 1977, Claudine took over—becoming one of the first female casino leaders on the Strip, a rarity in the male-dominated gaming world. In 1979, Holiday Inn purchased a 40% stake, gaining full control by 1983 while retaining Claudine as chairperson. Expansion continued in the early 1980s: a 23-story, 494-room tower opened in 1982, making it the world’s largest Holiday Inn with 991 rooms. A major casino overhaul followed, transforming the stage into an even larger riverboat—with an 80-ft paddlewheel and towering 85-ft smokestacks—symbolizing classic Vegas spectacle. A 35-story, 734-room tower was added in 1989, elevating overall accommodations to 1,725 rooms. In April 1992, Holiday Casino officially became Harrah’s Las Vegas, under ownership of Harrah’s Entertainment (formerly Holiday Inn’s gaming arm). The distinct riverboat theme remained until 1997 when a $200 million redesign shifted the décor to a vibrant Mardi Gras carnival theme, including six massive gold-leaf-plated jester sculptures. Today, the property remains as Harrah’s Las Vegas.