| El Rancho Hotel and Casino | |
|---|---|
   | |
| Location | Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| Address | 2755 South Las Vegas Boulevard |
| Opening date | September 2, 1948 |
| Closing date | July 6, 1992 |
| Theme | Navajo (as Thunderbird) Western (as El Rancho) |
| No. of rooms | 79 (1948) 206 (1950) 460 (1976) 385 (1977) 1,007 (1992) |
| Total gaming space | 90,000 sq ft (8,400 m2) (as of 1990) |
| Signature attractions | Thunderbird Downs horse track |
| Notable restaurants | Joe's Oyster Bar |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | List
|
| Architect | Martin Stern Jr. (1965; 1980s) |
| Previous names | Thunderbird (1948–77) Silverbird (1977–82) |
| Renovated in | 1962–63, 1965, 1977, 1982, 1987–88 |
| Coordinates | 36°8′15″N 115°9′32″W / 36.13750°N 115.15889°W |
The El Rancho Hotel and Casino (formerly known as the Thunderbird and Silverbird) was a hotel and casino that operated on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. It originally opened on September 2, 1948, as the Navajo-themed Thunderbird. At the time, it was owned by building developer Marion Hicks and Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Clifford A. Jones. A sister property, the Algiers Hotel, was opened south of the Thunderbird in 1953. During the mid-1950s, the state carried out an investigation to determine whether underworld Mafia figures held hidden interests in the resort. Hicks and Jones ultimately prevailed and kept their gaming licenses. Hicks died in 1961, and his position as managing director was taken over by Joe Wells, another partner in the resort. Wells added a horse racing track known as Thunderbird Downs, located behind the resort. The Thunderbird also hosted numerous entertainers and shows, including Flower Drum Song and South Pacific.
Business at the resort declined as ownership changed several times. In 1965, Wells and Jones sold the Thunderbird to Del E. Webb Corporation, which later sold it to Caesars World in 1972. Caesars World planned to demolish the Thunderbird and construct a $150 million resort in its place, but the project was canceled because of a lack of financing. The Thunderbird was sold to Tiger Investment Company, which leased it to Major Riddle starting in 1977. Riddle renovated and expanded the resort, and renamed it as the Silverbird, hoping to reinvigorate it. After Riddle's death in 1980, the Silverbird was taken over by his estate. The resort closed on December 3, 1981, after an auction failed to produce a buyer on the lease. Ed Torres subsequently purchased the Silverbird and reopened it as the El Rancho on August 31, 1982. The resort featured a western theme and was named after the original El Rancho Vegas across the street. Torres added a 13-story hotel tower in 1988.
The El Rancho closed on July 6, 1992, unable to compete with newer mega-resorts. It sat vacant for the next eight years while two companies made several failed attempts to reopen or replace the resort. A news investigation later found the decrepit buildings to be in violation of health and safety regulations. Turnberry Associates purchased the El Rancho and its 20 acres in May 2000. The company had been developing the Turnberry Place high-rise condominiums on 15 acres located behind the El Rancho. The closed resort was considered an eyesore for the new project, so Turnberry Associates had it demolished. The El Rancho's last remaining building, the 13-story hotel tower, was imploded on October 3, 2000. The former property of the El Rancho and Algiers later became the site of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort, which began construction in 2007 and opened on December 13, 2023, after delays.