Fiesta Henderson

Fiesta Henderson
Location Henderson, Nevada
Address 777 West Lake Mead Parkway
Opening date February 10, 1998 (February 10, 1998)
Theme Southwestern party
Number of rooms 224
Total gaming space 73,450 sq ft (6,824 m2)[1]
Casino type Land-based
Owner Station Casinos
Previous names The Reserve (1998–2001)
Renovated in 2001; 2006–2007
Website https://fiestahenderson.sclv.com/

Fiesta Henderson is a hotel and casino located on 35 acres (14 ha) of land at 777 West Lake Mead Parkway in Henderson, Nevada.[2]

After a construction delay, Ameristar Casinos opened the hotel-casino as The Reserve in 1998, with an African safari/jungle theme, although the resort failed to generate a substantial profit. In 2001, The Reserve was purchased by Station Casinos, which renovated and reopened the hotel-casino as the southwestern party-themed Fiesta Henderson. The resort is a sister property to another Station Casinos property, Fiesta Rancho, in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

History

The Reserve

Construction on The Reserve was underway as of April 1996, with Steve Rebeil and Dominic Magliarditi of Gem Gaming Company as the developers.[3][4] At that time, Ameristar Casinos agreed to merge with Gem Gaming.[3] Ameristar acquired The Reserve as part of the deal.[3] The Reserve was initially planned to open in October 1996, with 225 hotel rooms, 1,000 slot machines, and 35 gaming tables.[3]

The Reserve was built in Henderson, Nevada, near Black Mountain,[5] on Lake Mead Drive near U.S. Route 95.[6] The resort was designed as the first phase of a potential expansion, as Ameristar owned a vacant area of 28 acres surrounding the resort, with the option to purchase an additional 20 acres.[6] After its planned 1996 opening, Ameristar intended to expand the casino to 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) and increase the hotel with 500 additional rooms. Ameristar ultimately planned for a 1,500-room hotel.[3]

In January 1997, Steven Rebeil and Dominic Magliarditi were denied gaming licenses because of evidence that Rebeil's home development company was involved in a credit scam;[7][8][6][9] as a result, they were not allowed to work for Ameristar.[4] The resort was expected to open later that year.[9] In March 1997,[4] construction was delayed for more than three months,[10] when Ameristar accused Rebeil and Magliarditi of attempting to prevent Ameristar from issuing 7.5 million public stocks, which was to pay for the acquisition of Gem Gaming Inc.[11][12] In May 1997,[6] Ameristar settled the dispute for $32.7 million.[13]

The hotel-casino was designed by Henry Conversano, who also designed The Mirage resort in Paradise, Nevada, and The Lost City at Sun City Resort Hotel and Casino in Sun City, South Africa.[10] The construction delay allowed Conversano time to improve and redesign the resort, by adding a sound system which replicated the sound of rainstorms, birds, and lions throughout the high-ceilinged gaming and dining areas. Conversano also had time to integrate Congo rain forests into the resort's design.[6] The resort's parking lot was also designed to resemble a Serengeti grassland.[14]

The resort opened with a fireworks show on the night of February 10, 1998,[13] with a 10-story, 224-room hotel; a 37,000 sq ft (3,400 m2) casino, with 26 table games and 1,435 slot machines; three lounges; and four restaurants.[6] The Reserve was valued at $125 million at the time.[15] Upon opening, The Reserve's targeted clientele was local residents in Henderson, which was the fastest-growing city in the United States at that time.[10]

The hotel-casino's theme revolved around the concept of a fictional adventurer named Congo Jack, who had crash-landed his airplane in an African-themed environment,[10] and was nursed back to health by Monsoon Mary.[6] Actors were hired to portray the characters, also created by Conversano.[16] A restaurant and a lounge were also named for them: Congo Jack Cafe and Monsoon Mary Lounge.[16] The Reserve also included statues and murals of exotic animals in a jungle setting.[13][17]

By March 1999, The Reserve had lost a substantial amount of money. To improve the resort's earnings, Ameristar initiated a plan that included promotions, direct mail marketing, cash-back programs, improved operating efficiencies, and reductions in labor costs.[18] The following month, Ameristar reported that the resort had generated profit for the first time during February and March 1999.[19]

Anthony Curtis of the Las Vegas Advisor opined that while The Reserve had good bargain deals, it suffered from a bad location and a "strange theme," saying, "The jungle theme was always dark and brooding, and I think that turned people off a bit."[20] The Reserve also faced competition from the nearby Sunset Station hotel and casino.[21]

In October 2000, Ameristar agreed to purchase two Missouri casinos owned by Station Casinos, which would then purchase The Reserve in exchange.[15] Station Casinos also planned to purchase the Fiesta hotel and casino in North Las Vegas, Nevada,[22] and considered redesigning The Reserve and renaming it as another Fiesta location.[23]

Fiesta Henderson

In January 2001, Ameristar sold The Reserve to Station Casinos for $71.8 million.[24] Station Casinos also purchased the Fiesta hotel and casino in North Las Vegas that month.[25] At the time, The Reserve had a 41,500 sq ft (3,860 m2) casino.[21][26]

On April 23, 2001, Station Casinos announced that The Reserve would be renamed as Fiesta Henderson,[24][27] as the company had hoped to turn Fiesta into a successful brand name.[20] Station Casinos' chief financial officer said that some day, there would "almost certainly" be more than two Fiesta casinos in the Las Vegas Valley.[20]

During 2001, Station Casinos spent $12 million on a five-month renovation of the resort, which included replacing its jungle theme with a southwestern party theme.[20] The resort's jungle-themed decor was donated and auctioned.[28][29] The Fiesta Henderson celebrated its official grand opening with a fireworks show on December 29, 2001.[20][30]

In April 2005, Station Casinos announced a $70 million expansion of the resort, which would include expansion of the race and sports book, and the addition of a 12-screen movie theater, a 1,500-space parking garage, and 350 slot machines.[31] The expansion was expected to begin in July 2005, and be completed by June 2006.[31] The parking garage was opened in August 2006.[32] Other renovations were underway as of October 2006,[33] and were completed in 2007.[34]

References

  1. ↑ "Listing of Financial Statements Square Footage". State of Nevada Gaming Control Board. January 13, 2015. p. 4. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Fiesta Henderson property information". Clark County Assessor's Office. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ameristar eyes Gem". Las Vegas Sun. April 19, 1996. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Edwards, John G. (March 28, 1997). "Henderson casino halts construction". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on April 12, 1997.
  5. ↑ "Fiesta Henderson Casino Hotel". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shemeligian, Bob (February 10, 1998). "Location key to success of The Reserve". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ Thompson, Gary (January 22, 1997). "Reserve developer to have gaming license bid denied". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ Shemeligian, Bob (January 24, 1997). "Gaming Commission denies Rebeil". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Berns, Dave (January 24, 1997). "Developer loses bid for license". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on April 12, 1997.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "The Reserve Hotel-Casino opens Tuesday night in Henderson". Las Vegas Sun. February 9, 1998. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ Steinhauer, Adam (April 16, 1997). "IRS agents search developer's office". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on July 20, 1997.
  12. ↑ Shemeligian, Bob (April 16, 1997). "IRS launches probe against Gem Gaming". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 Berns, Dave (February 9, 1998). "The Reserve: It's A Jungle In There". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on January 21, 2000.
  14. ↑ Simpson, Jeff (January 22, 2006). "Columnist Jeff Simpson: On why, in Las Vegas, parking can be a not-so-sweet sorrow". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Strow, David (October 19, 2000). "Ameristar enthusiastic about casino deal despite loss on Reserve". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  16. 1 2 Miller, Valerie (January 29, 1998). "Jungle couple sought for new hotel-casino". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Hitting their stride". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 24, 1998. Archived from the original on October 8, 1999.
  18. ↑ Wilen, John (March 10, 1999). "Reserve casino in Henderson continues to lose money". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Finances improving at Reserve hotel-casino". Las Vegas Sun. April 20, 1999. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Strow, David (December 28, 2001). "Station's Reserve rebranded as Fiesta". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  21. 1 2 Simpson, Jeff (January 11, 2001). "Casino to expand, rebrand after sale". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 4, 2002.
  22. ↑ Simpson, Jeff (November 9, 2000). "Fiesta sale gets board's approval". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 4, 2002.
  23. ↑ Berns, Dave (October 19, 2000). "Station's Missouri deal brings Reserve to fold". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 27, 2000.
  24. 1 2 "Riviera profit decreases, Ameristar earnings up". Las Vegas Sun. April 24, 2001. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  25. ↑ Simpson, Jeff (January 26, 2001). "Reserve purchase clears last hurdle". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 4, 2002.
  26. ↑ "Casino to expand, rebrand after sale". Las Vegas Sun. January 12, 2001. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  27. ↑ Berns, Dave (April 24, 2001). "Casino Earnings: Revenue down for Station". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 4, 2002.
  28. ↑ Foyt, Elizabeth (September 5, 2001). "Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Dentons celebrate quarter-century of wedded bliss". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Menagerie For Sale". Las Vegas Review-Journal. September 11, 2001. Archived from the original on September 15, 2001.
  30. ↑ "Fireworks will mark casino rebranding". Las Vegas Review-Journal. December 29, 2001. Archived from the original on January 7, 2002.
  31. 1 2 Stutz, Howard (April 28, 2005). "Profits, revenue rise for Station Casinos". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on May 22, 2005.
  32. ↑ Stutz, Howard (October 3, 2006). "Station Casinos spends millions on upgrades". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 1, 2006.
  33. ↑ "Green Valley Ranch Resort Opens Third Major Expansion". Casino City Times. October 5, 2006. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Fiesta Henderson 2013 fact sheet" (PDF). Station Casinos. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2013.

External links

Official website

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