Well heck - Old Vegas keeps disappearing

[Armybrat]

Now it's the old Barbary Coast (opened in 1979), more recently called Bill's Gambling Hall & Saloon, being hipsterized. It was one of my favorite places to stay - great value for the location on the Strip.



Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon is now closed to undergo renovations for an all new boutique lifestyle hotel and casino.

The renovated hotel & casino is planned to reopen in 2014, under a new name, and will include the addition of a rooftop pool as well as a dayclub/nightclub managed by Drai Management Group. The conversion also includes the complete remodeling of the guest rooms, casino floor and common areas, the addition of a new second floor restaurant, and construction of the 65,000 square foot rooftop pool and dayclub/nightclub.

From all of us at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, we would like to thank you for your patronage and we look forward to you joining us when we reopen. It is our pleasure to serve you and we look forward to your visit when we return to the Las Vegas Strip with a fully re-imagined hotel experience. Check back for updates on our progress via one of our social networks

http://www.las-vegasgambling.com/images/bar.jpg

http://www.tnetnoc.com/hotelimages/662/25662/2631759-Bills-Gamblin-Hall-and-Saloon-formerly-Barbary-Coast-Property-Amenity-7.jpg


RIP ol' Barb. :(

[wyntrout]

I haven't been to Vegas since 1986 when my brand new wife and I drove back from my requalification TDY to Castle AFB. I had just gotten there from West Germany when the raid on Libya took place... was really shocked at that!

Now it's a "kid & family-friendly" place! AND I can't CCW there!

Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

Can't CCW in Vegas? I thought Nevada was kind of an anything goes kind of place.

I'm forced to go to Reno in June, hope I'm not in violation. But really don't care either.

[wyntrout]

They dropped us 5-7 years ago. WA is not on their list, either. Here's your state's info on Nevada... the NO is for honoring WA CWP. Your state's list of reciprocity is pretty short!

Wynn:)

Nevada No No mandatory mental health background check.

[wyntrout]

I looked at Florida's list again... July 1, 2009: NEVADA removed from the list because Nevada authorities terminated the agreement.

I just don't NEED to go there... if my guns aren't welcome... on my person!

Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

They dropped us 5-7 years ago. WA is not on their list, either. Here's your state's info on Nevada... the NO is for honoring WA CWP. Your state's list of reciprocity is pretty short!

Wynn:)

Nevada No No mandatory mental health background check.

Probably cause we don't have nearly as many requirements and test and classes to take to get one.
It's all a big charade anyhow.

[unworthy]

That sucks. Bills was one of my favorite places to play craps.

[Longitude Zero]

LV lost is attraction for me over a decade ago. Once the hotels learned that food was a profit center to be exploited and room charges skyrocketed I stopped going. Let them try and eat those $299 a night rooms and $29 buffets. Doom on them.

[Barth]

1977 I married my 18 year old high school sweetheart in Vegas.
Her sister lived there and we lived about four hours away.
Spent a lot of time in Vegas in the 70s.

Went back in the 90s to find the city I loved was no more.
http://www.inoldlasvegas.com/downtown/FREMONT_FIRST_VEGAS_70S.jpg
http://cdn103.iofferphoto.com/img/1153810800/_i/13124920/1.jpghttp://blog.holidayroyale.com/wp-content/uploads/1332180707_082f88d57c_z.jpghttp://www.inoldlasvegas.com/photos/VEGAS_GOLDEN_GATE_1960s.jpg

[Bawanna]

Never been there myself. I'm not sure if I missed anything or not now.

[ltxi]

Got married there once. Don't go there anymore. Too dangerous.

[AJBert]

Went there with the inlaws back in Oct. Time before that was just me and the wife in '06. When we lived in San Diego in the '80s and '90s we'd go every three or four months.

I don't even recognize the place any more. All of the smaller casinos are gone. Just these huge places with no personality. I used to like Westward Ho Casino. Nice dealers, friendly waiteresses/waiters, not like today.

Doubt I'll ever go back.

[Armybrat]

A guy I know who has lived out in Vegas for about 5 years has to move back to Ohio to take care of his ailing mom. Here he is saying goodbye to his favorite cocktail girl at the Palms - said he asked her to marry him every time he was there. lol

http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv154/yuban1/DSCN0262_zps9cf38a1c.jpg

[Armybrat]

Got married there once. Don't go there anymore. Too dangerous.

The Strip is crawling with LEOs so the only stealing is done by the casinos, but I hear North Las Vegas is a crime-infested craphole.

[Tilos]

I've been going there in March for a couple of years now, to ride my MC and to shake the cabin fever of winter here in Idaho.
This year I'll be taking 2 motorcycles, the 2nd one setup to ride the dirt roads in the desert, with a topo map equipped GPS, as something different.
I have yet to go near a casino on any visit because there's too much else to see and do.
This time I'll be riding to the Grand Canyon...on the road:D.

[sharpetop]

1977 I married my 18 year old high school sweetheart in Vegas.
Her sister lived there and we lived about four hours away.
Spent a lot of time in Vegas in the 70s.

Went back in the 90s to find the city I loved was no more.
http://www.inoldlasvegas.com/downtown/FREMONT_FIRST_VEGAS_70S.jpg
http://cdn103.iofferphoto.com/img/1153810800/_i/13124920/1.jpghttp://blog.holidayroyale.com/wp-content/uploads/1332180707_082f88d57c_z.jpghttp://www.inoldlasvegas.com/photos/VEGAS_GOLDEN_GATE_1960s.jpg

The old post cards bring back memories! The last couple of times I stayed in Vegas were at the Dunes and Sands Hotels. $25 and $30 per night. Damn, I'm getting old.

[Armybrat]

I've been going there in March for a couple of years now, to ride my MC and to shake the cabin fever of winter here in Idaho.
This year I'll be taking 2 motorcycles, the 2nd one setup to ride the dirt roads in the desert, with a topo map equipped GPS, as something different.
I have yet to go near a casino on any visit because there's too much else to see and do.
This time I'll be riding to the Grand Canyon...on the road:D.

Have you eever made the 11 mile loop drive through Red Rock Canyon just outside NW Vegas?

Beautiful scenery there, but watch out for the wild burros.

[wyntrout]

Wild Burritos!? Yum!

Wynn:D

[Barth]

I used to stay at the Circus Circus for what seemed less than a Motel 6.
For around $8/9 dollars we would get prime rib at all you could eat buffet for dinner.
You could walk around the casinos and get free drinks.
Good Times

I cashed my paycheck one Friday and took my 17 year old girlfriend there.
We played blackjack and drank all weekend.
And that's a much funner story you will not get to hear.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/375206159_3d5abf62e1.jpg

[wyntrout]

I think that's where my wife and I stayed... and yes, had the prime rib, too, back in August(?) 1986 as we drove back to Colorado and then by her base at Andrews in D.C. on my way to Loring AFB up in Limestone, ME. We were still honeymooning... got married in March in Bayfield, Colorado, on the way to my re-qualification in the B52... G-model this time at Castle AFB, near Merced, CA.

Wynn:)

[Armybrat]

Back in '59-'60 we lived about 10 miles west of Bergstrom AFB - it was a SAC base then - "Peace is Our Profession".
When they warmed up their BUFFs at 2am our house & windows rattled with the massive roar. :D

And once in a while a bigazz sonic BOOM would shake the area when those awesomely cool B-58 Hustlers from Carswell in Fort Worth flew overhead.

:Amflag2:

[wyntrout]

I don't think that I ever saw those. I did get to see the B47's and B50's flying around Tampa where they were stationed at Macdill AFB. The B50's were B29's with an added jet engine under each wing! I think that was late 50's early 60's. The B47's did patterns with the drag chute deployed... weird.

Wynn:)

[Barth]

I worked for NASA at the Dryden Flight Research Center.
Edwards Air Force Base (1977 - 1981).
We would stop work and go outside for SR-71 fly overs.
I was standing on the tarmac when the first shuttle landed.
http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff1998/webart/255_36.jpghttp://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/images/content/725411main_EC01-0264-55_466.jpghttp://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2005/Images/Page_136_Image_0001.jpghttp://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/STS-1/Small/EC81-15104.jpg

[ltxi]

The Strip is crawling with LEOs so the only stealing is done by the casinos, but I hear North Las Vegas is a crime-infested craphole.

I was referring to the marriage bit. Too easy when you've been drinking.