Riviera Hotel and Casino

Nevada, United States

No longer standing

Demolished or destroyed.

Find out more

The Riviera was a hotel and casino on the northern Las Vegas Strip that opened on April 20, 1955, and held the distinction of being the first skyscraper in the Las Vegas Valley. Its original nine-story structure with 291 rooms remained the area's tallest building until 1956. Over decades of operation, the property expanded significantly, adding a 12-story tower in 1966, a 17-story tower in 1975, and a 24-story tower in 1988, eventually comprising 2,075 rooms and a 103,800-square-foot casino. After businessman Meshulam Riklis acquired the property in 1973, the Riviera navigated bankruptcy filings in 1983 and 1991, ultimately emerging under new ownership and targeting middle-class visitors. The resort became known for live entertainment, including female impersonator Frank Marino and the topless revue Crazy Girls. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority purchased the 26-acre property in February 2015 for $191 million with plans for expansion of the adjacent convention center. The resort closed on May 4, 2015, and was demolished in stages throughout 2016, with the tallest tower imploded on June 14.

Built: 1955–2016
Type: skyscraper, hotel, casino
Place: Nevada, United States

This building on

Architecturally similar

Location

36.13500, -115.16200