Holiday International Casino, Las Vegas, Triblend Tee

Description

The Holiday International Casino first opened its doors in 1978 in downtown Las Vegas, marking an ambitious entry into the city’s gaming scene under the umbrella of the Holiday Inn brand. Built as part of a dual hotel-casino venture, the property sought to blend midscale lodging with full casino amenities to serve both tourists and local gamblers. From its inception, the casino was operated under lease by Major Riddle, a colorful figure in Las Vegas gaming history, who had previously been involved in multiple Strip ventures. The gaming floor launched on June 30, 1978, featuring slots, table games, and wagering options aligned with the downtown gaming model. Despite the bold start, the casino faced financial challenges early on. In September 1980, just two years into its operation, the gaming operations were forced into bankruptcy and shut down. The hotel portion, however, stayed open for several additional years, serving guests up until 1984, when a prolonged workers’ strike helped push the entire property into closure. During its time, the Holiday International was known for modest luxury and consumer-friendly pricing. Historical advertisements and memoirs note that the property offered a buffet lunch for just $1.65 and dinner at $2.65 during its earlier years; another quirky note remembered by patrons was that beer was sold for five cents. The building’s exterior palette of orange, pink, and white lent it a visual character that stood out among the downtown streetscape. After the casino and hotel both closed, the property underwent reinvention. In 1987, it reopened as the Park Hotel and Casino, undergoing renovations and a shift in theme. Later, in 1991, it would be reborn as Main Street Station Hotel and Casino, the identity under which it endures today. Although the Holiday International Casino’s run was only a handful of years, its story encapsulates the volatility of Las Vegas gaming in the late 1970s and early 1980s—ventures launched with optimism, often swallowed by economic pressures or labor strife, but frequently reborn under new ownership and visions. Holiday International Casino’s legacy lives on in the layers of history embedded within downtown’s evolving casino landscape.