Harveys Lake Tahoe
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2009) |
| Harveys Lake Tahoe | |
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| Location | Stateline, Nevada, U.S. |
| Address | 18 U.S. Route 50 |
| Opening date | 1944 |
| Theme | Pavilion |
| No. of rooms | 740 |
| Total gaming space | 87,500 sq ft (8,130 m2) |
| Notable restaurants | 19 Kitchen – Bar Caba Wabo Cantina Cinnabon Hard Rock Cafe Sage Room Starbucks Straw Hat Sports Bar & Grille |
| Owner | Caesars Entertainment Corporation |
| Architect | Martin Stern, Jr. and Associates |
| Previous names | Wagon Wheel Saloon & Gaming Hall Harveys Wagon Wheel |
| Renovated in | 1963: 11-story Mountain Tower 1986: 19-story Lake Tower |
| Website | Official website |
Harveys Lake Tahoe is a hotel and casino located in Stateline, Nevada. It has 740 rooms and suites as well as six restaurants and a casino with 87,500 square feet (8,130 m2) of space. It also has a wedding chapel, pool, convention center and a full-service health club. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corporation.
History
Harvey's was originally opened in 1944 and operated by Sacramento meat wholesaler Harvey Gross and his wife Llewellyn. They opened the first high rise tower and an 11-story, 197-room hotel in 1963.[1]
The hotel suffered an explosion from a 1,000 pound bomb on August 27, 1980, that left a crater three stories deep when it was accidentally detonated by the FBI. (The area around the hotel had been cleared and no one was injured.) The bomb was placed by John Birges, a heavily in-debt Fresno landscaper who had lost at least $1 million at casinos in Stateline and was hoping to extort another $3 million from the bomb threat. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, where he died from liver cancer in 1996.[2]
In 1983, Harvey Gross died at the age of 78; however, the company continued to operate under family management. In 1985, Harveys sold Harvey's Inn, northeast of Stateline, which reopened as the Lakeside Inn. The 18-story, $74 million, glass "Lake Tower" opened in 1986,[3] the same year the trademark "Wagon Wheel" was replaced on the 11-story tower with the current Harveys brand.
In early 1992, Harveys entered a bidding war with Hilton Hotels Corporation over the right to buy Bally’s Reno, which opened on May 3, 1978, as MGM Grand Reno (now Grand Sierra Resort). Harveys announced an agreement on a $70 million deal, only to see Hilton up the ante to $73 million and assumption of Bally's debt. Several weeks later, after considering even higher bids, a federal bankruptcy court settled the matter by approving Hilton’s final $83 million offer.
After going public on February 15, 1994, Harveys began new projects including a joint venture with Hard Rock America for an $80 million casino in Las Vegas, which it later sold its interest in 1997 and then a casino resort in Central City, Colorado. A riverboat casino-convention center in Council Bluffs, Iowa followed in early 1996.
In the late 90's, Bill Cosby was signed on as the spokesman for Haveys.[4] This include putting the actor on several of the casino chips[5] and recording several specials at the casino.[6]
In 1999, Colony Capital bought a controlling interest in Harveys Casino Resorts. Harveys announced on April 24, 2001, that it would be acquired by Harrah's Entertainment for $625 million.
References
- ^ "Harvey's hotel now open to the public," Lake Tahoe News, April 5, 1963
- ^ "John Birges, Sr.," The Associated Press, September 6, 1996
- ^ "Celebration set for new tower," Tahoe Daily Tribune, June 26, 1986
- ^ http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/harveys-casino-resorts-history/
- ^ http://www.marlowcasinochips.com/nevada/TahoeStateline/Harveys/Harveys.htm
- ^ http://www.laketahoenews.net/2014/01/now-stateline-casino-ownership/
- Ferchland, William (August 22, 2005). "Harvey's bombing changed casinos forever". Tahoe Daily Tribune.
- "25th anniversary of Harveys bombing". Reno Gazette-Journal. August 2005.
External links
38°57′39″N 119°56′34″W / 38.960831°N 119.942733°W
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