El Rancho Hotel and Casino

Common card · No. 494001

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 investigated 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 Joe Wells, another partner in the resort, took over his position as managing director. Wells added a horse racing track called Thunderbird Downs, located behind the resort. The Thunderbird hosted numerous entertainers and shows, including Flower Drum Song and South Pacific. Business at the resort declined as ownership changed several times...

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