This is a great question and you compiled a good list. We can trace a few of the name changes you cite a little further and we have a few additions of our own.
For example, Hooters was the San Remo, yes, but before it was the San Remo, it was the Polynesian. Before it was the Polynesian, it was the Treasury, and before that it was the 20th Century. Before it was the 20th Century, it opened as a Howard Johnson’s (also known as Ho Jo Paradise, familiarly just the Paradise).
Also, before Planet Hollywood was the Aladdin, but before the Aladdin, which opened in 1966, it was the King’s Crown for a year, originally known as the Tally Ho, which opened in 1963.
And the MGM Grand absorbed the Marina Hotel.
Here’s the rest of the name changes we could come up with; if anyone has any others, please let us know.
In 1905, the Miller Hotel, located at One Fremont Street, opened; the name was changed to the Hotel Nevada a year later. In 1931, the casino was added and the name was changed Sal Sagev, which became the Golden Gate in 1955.
Hotel Apache and the El Dorado went through a configuration or two before they became the Horseshoe Club in 1950. It was renamed Binion’s Horseshoe in 1966. That was shortened to just Binion’s in 2005.
We just wrote about Mermaids (QoD 2/16/2010), which was previously known as Sassy Sally’s, Sundance West, the Gamblers Hall of Fame, the Carousel, and the Silver Palace, which opened in 1956.
Across the street, the La Bayou’s original name was the Northern Club, which opened in 1931. It went through the Turf Club, the Monte Carlo Club, then the Coin Castle, before it settled on La Bayou.
The Holiday International opened downtown in 1977. That name was changed to the Park in 1980. That name became Main Street Station in 1991.
The Union Hotel opened in 1970; it was changed to the Union Plaza a year later. It was altered again to Jackie Gaughan’s Plaza in 1992. That was shortened to just the Plaza in 1999.
Boomtown opened in 1994; it was renamed Silverton in 1998.
The Continental opened in 1975; it went through a few ownership changes between 1996 and 1999, when it closed and was renovated; it reopened in 2000 as Terrible’s.
The Royal Inn opened in 1972. That became the Paddlewheel in 1986, which turned into the Debbie Reynolds in 1993, the Convention Center Hotel in 1999, then the Greek Isles in 2001.
Club Bingo opened in 1948; in 1952, it turned into the Sahara.
Club Bingo is not to be confused with the Bingo Palace, which opened in 1976; that name was changed to Palace Station in 1984.
And there was actually another Club Bingo downtown. That joint opened as the Westerner, then became the Las Vegas Club in 1961, which was shortened to just Vegas Club in 2005.
The Fiesta opened in 1992, to become the Fiesta Rancho in 2001. Similarly, the Reserve opened in 1998 and became the Fiesta Henderson, also in 2001.
The Flamingo opened in 1946; the name was changed to the Flamingo Hilton in 1974, then to the Flamingo Las Vegas when it was bought by Harrah’s in 2004.
Nob Hill opened at center Strip in 1979; in 1992, it turned into Casino Royale.
The Las Vegas Hilton opened as the International in 1969; that name lasted three years till it became the Hilton.
The original name of Wynn Las Vegas was Le Reve; that was changed before it opened.
The Silver Nugget opened in 1964; it had Mahoney’s added to the name in 1989.
The Sundance opened in 1979; it was renamed Fitzgeralds in 1987.
The Maxim opened in 1977; its name was changed to Westin Casuarina in 2003.
The King 8 opened in 1975; that name was changed to Wild Wild West.
The Regent opened in 1999, it later changed to Rampart.
South Point opened as South Coast.
Stratosphere replaced Vegas World.
