Sports

Laughlin, Nevada is known as UnVegas

Do you remember the story of the Native Americans who sold Manhattan for a few trinkets? The former owners of a tiny eight-room motel on the banks of the Colorado River must have the same feeling of despondency.

It’s not that visionary Don Laughlin ripped off these motel owners, it’s just that now, four decades later, Laughlin has cashed in on that $235,000 investment in a sprawling resort empire that has so far attracted eight other casino/hotels to his small stretch. from the colorado Meanwhile, Laughlin has pumped millions of casino profits into community projects like a bridge to Arizona and an airport capable of landing 737s.

Who could blame the people if they also named the city after him?

Laughlin had made a few bucks selling a gambling club in Las Vegas, and as he flew over what is now Laughlin, Nevada, the resort mogul-to-be looked down and saw a stretch of river nestled between two sets of craggy mountains. The river is also the dividing line between Nevada and Arizona, and California is just a few miles down the road.

“If we build it, they will come.” Not Don Laughlin’s words, but certainly his feelings as he looked into his unusually reliable crystal ball and envisioned the development of another Las Vegas about an hour’s drive south of the real one. In 1966 he opened the Riverside Casino with 12 slot machines and two gaming tables. There were only four rooms to be used for accommodation because the Laughlin family lived in the other four rooms.

Fast forward to a Riverside Casino that, over the years, has grown to over 1,400 rooms, including two towers, multiple casinos, and plenty of extras to make the property a favorite for Laughlin visitors. Many other household names have now made claims across the Colorado, including Flamingo, Golden Nugget, and Harrahs. There are now 10,000 rooms and 60 restaurants that cater to the more than 5 million visitors that come to Laughlin each year.

The reason people come to Laughlin is best explained when you look at the demographics of the city’s visitors. For starters, they’re a bit older: About two-thirds of them are 50 or older, and about a third are 65 or older. They spend an average of $33 a night to stay in Laughlin, but will budget over $400 to play while in town for their two or three day stay.

In short, people who come to Laughlin would rather spend money on gambling than fancy hotel rooms, and they are also likely to have a bit of a phobia of the traffic and parking issues they think they might encounter in Las Vegas. As one hotel marketing person told us, many visitors actually view Laughlin as Old Las Vegas, the one that was more focused on providing cheap beds and cheap meals, but plenty of gambling opportunities. Another phrase we heard was “un-Vegas” which takes visitors to a simpler time and place that’s easier on the wallet.

Judging by our recent visit to Laughlin, the niche still seems to be working, despite the current increased competition from Indian casinos which has diverted some of the California visitors who may now be content to stay and gamble at a more affordable casino. close to home But Laughlin still draws them very well from various parts of California and many other places across the country, including destinations in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Three different airlines now provide charter services to Laughlin from dozens of destinations.

The weather was great during our November visit – mid 70’s, sunny clear skies. In fact, winter is the best time to visit Laughlin because the locals will tell you that summer can be 10 degrees hotter than already toasty Las Vegas.

With consistently warm weather, another factor comes into play in Laughlin: The River. We read somewhere that this is the only part of Nevada that really has that much water to play in, and judging by the many ski-doos and speedboats on the Colorado, we wouldn’t be surprised. Hotels showcase the river as much as they would a big-name artist: Almost all have boat slips and shuttle boats for guests to cross the river, and there are also cruises on replica sternwheelers and even high-speed riverboats.

In fact, the river walk in Laughlin is not unlike the river walk in New Orleans: the Colorado at this junction is a little narrower than the Mississippi, but the festive walk with restaurants and shops along the way can be just as entertaining. And of course, Laughlin has a number of casinos, while New Orleans only has one on the waterfront.

Laughlin really doesn’t have Vegas quality entertainment. The city hosts high-quality and current acts, including many of the top country music artists on the charts today. But it is also likely that he sees someone who has already peaked, possibly a few years ago. While we were there, current and upcoming attractions included names like Vicki Lawrence, Charo, Mel Tillis, Roy Clark and a special “Where Are They Now?” in Edgewater with several former child stars including Paul Peterson (Donna Reed Show) and Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell on Leave it to Beaver).

On the plus side, entertainment in Laughlin is comparatively inexpensive. If you’ve been to Las Vegas and passed up the entertainment just because it was too expensive, you’re in for a pleasant surprise at Laughlin. Instead of $100 or $150 per ticket, name acts can be as little as $25 per seat.

Most of the big name entertainment comes to Riverside, which was our base of operations while in Laughlin. With little plastic signs in our room reading “Customer is always King,” we couldn’t help but get the feeling that Don Laughlin has trained his staff to focus on customer service. Throughout the Riverside community there are special indications that Riverside has been a work in progress. There is a 34 lane bowling alley and an adjacent Kids Castle that allows you to drop off your kids for $6.50 an hour. A “Losers Lounge” has pictures of famous losers on the walls. There is a magnificent museum of vintage cars. Oh, and of course, don’t miss Watch Man, a place where you’ll find thousands of watches with thousands of designs, including several with Jesus Christ on the face. There is something for everyone at Riverside.

There doesn’t seem to be much sin in this version of Sin City, either: no one handing out fliers advertising escorts, no over-the-top billboards or signs, no real attention to girl shows except for a “Showgirls” magazine. in one of the hotels. You get the feeling that many of the visitors here might be some of those voters concerned with moral values, and one assumes that whatever happens in Laughlin will most certainly not stay in Laughlin.

Reinforcing this was our chance meeting with some favorite relatives from Hemet, California, who were visiting Laughlin at the same time as us, and also staying in Riverside. We know them as God fearing church going people who were in town for four days of what they consider to be good clean fun.

Somehow, we think that’s exactly what Don Laughlin had in mind when he first saw that little eight-room motel on the banks of the Colorado River.

TAKE A LOOK

WHERE: Laughlin is in the southern tip of Nevada and about a five to six hour drive from many points in Southern California.

WHAT: Laughlin is a trip back in time to Las Vegas from 40 years ago. The nine-casino strip is walkable, for the most part, using a footbridge along the Colorado River.

WHEN: Any time of the year, although summers can be very hot. The best bet is to visit in the winter when temperatures are in the 70s and the sun shines frequently.

WHY: Laughlin is a good place to visit if you’ve grown tired or worried about Las Vegas crowds, lines, traffic and prices. However, if you compare Laughlin to Las Vegas, the experience is definitely more subdued.

HOW: Accommodations at Riverside and other Laughlin hotels are quite reasonable. For more information on Riverside or flight packages, call 1-800-227-3849 or visit riversideresort.com. For more information on Laughlin, call 1-800-4-laughlin. Or visit the Laughlin Visitors Bureau website at visitlaughlin.com.

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