Hacienda
The Hacienda was a Las Vegas, Nevada hotel/casino that operated from 1956 to 1996.
Located by itself on the far South End of the Las Vegas Strip, it was the first resort seen by tourists driving up from California. Since it was so far from the other resorts at the time, many people who stayed at the Hacienda would not go elsewhere. The Hacienda was also located close to McCarran International Airport, and at one point they had their own airline, Hacienda Airlines, so they could fly in gamblers from all over the world. The Hacienda was known for their inexpensive, all-inclusive junkets marketed to American Midwestern retirees.
the Hacienda after implosion
History
In 1995, the Hacienda was purchased by Circus Circus Enterprises (later Mandalay Resort Group). By this time, it was dwarfed by the many new megaresorts that were being built, in particular the Luxor which had just been recently completed. On December 1, 1996, the Hacienda was closed to the public, and on New Year's Eve 1996 it was imploded during a live telecast. Despite the implosion, parts of the old resort still stood, as if it still had a bit of spirit left in it. The next day a wrecking crew was brought in to bring down the remaining parts.
In March 1999, it was replaced by the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
The Hacienda name lives on in the Boulder City casino property, which is unaffiliated.