Vegas4Visitors Museum


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Vegas4Visitors Museum: Thunderbird

The Thunderbird opened in 1948 as only the fourth major resort on the Las Vegas Strip (after El Rancho, Frontier, and Flamingo). It was located on the northern end between what is now the Riviera and The Sahara, almost directly across the street from what is now Circus-Circus. It was remodeled slightly after an ownership change in 1977 and renamed The Silverbird and then underwent a major overhaul in 1982 to become El Rancho (no relation to the original El Rancho of 1941). The hotel struggled financially for a decade and closed in 1992 and sat as a derelict property until it was torn down in 2000. The lot is empty as of 2006 but is rumored to be the site of a future development called Fountainbleau.

50s Postcard - Exterior

70s Postcard - Exterior

Thunderbird

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50s Postcard - Exterior
This color drenched photo is undated but is most likely from the early 1950s. Note the tall tower with the Thunderbird mascot atop it at the far right of the photo and, of course, the lovely ladies leaning against the fence in the foreground.

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70s Postcard - Exterior
When the owners of this hotel (who also owned Caesars Palace) sold it to the folks who owned The Dunes in 1977, it was remodeled and renamed The Silverbird - a name it only kept for 5 years so this photo had to have been taken in the late 70s or early 80s.

Note the prices for the meal deals - $1.95 for fried chicken, $3.95 for "Choice N.Y. Steak," $4.95 for Iowa prime rib, and a buffet ranging from about $3-4 for brunch, dinner, or a Sunday Champagne Brunch.

Also note the big marquee above the main entrance advertising the show "Ipi Tombi." In case you can't read it, it is described as an "All-African pulsating action-packed musical." Wow.

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