Whatever Became of the Barbary Coast?

Whatever became of the Barbary Coast hotel/casino? I enjoyed their casino and I miss their coffee shop. I could get a great breakfast during their graveyard shift at fantastic prices.

And at the end of the answer is your link to the new poll on favorite casino names.

In the mid-1950s on the corner of the Strip and Flamingo Road, a 72-room motel called the Desert Villa opened. Its name was later changed to Empey's Desert Villa, after the owner, Phil Empey.

The Gold Rush-themed Barbary Coast replaced Empey's and opened in March 1979, a partnership between 36-year-old Michael Gaughan, son of legendary downtown casino owner Jackie Gaughan, and 37-year-old Kenny Epstein, who met Jackie Gaughan when he, Kenny, was 12 years old (he now owns the El Cortez, running it with his family). Michael, Kenny, and a few other partners (big names around town) built the Barbary Coast for $11 million.

It opened with a fairly classy casino and 150 rooms; another 50 were added in 1983, when the fourth floor of the parking garage was turned into the first floor of the hotel. Tasteful stained-glass signs and a vividly colorful 30-foot Tiffany-style mural, The Garden of Earthly Delights, set apart the Barbary Coast, but it was perhaps best known for Michael's, namesake of owner Michael Gaughan, a highly rated gourmet restaurant that predated the fine-dining boom that started showing up around Las Vegas in the late 1990s. The hot dog cart was also an instant success.

And yes, the Victorian Room had good food for a coffee shop and in what became a tradition for later Coast casinos, the menu featured an extensive selection of Chinese items.

In 1997, Victor Drai opened Drai's, a French-oriented restaurant, in the basement of the Barbary Coast. Starting in 1999, the venue remained open after the restaurant closed and turned into Drai's After Hours, which pioneered bottle service in Las Vegas and was the first to put on electronic dance music.

As anyone familiar with the history of advantage play in Las Vegas can tell you, the Barbary Coast was infamous, nationwide, for having what we would politely call a "low tolerance" for card counters. It was so low that many an unsuspecting recreational blackjack player, who perhaps had won a few hands in a row, was somewhat stunned when an officious floorman made a strong suggestion that he or she go play the slots. It became something of a game among blackjack players, many of whom played there for fun to see how long they could last before having their chips pushed back by a boss and getting unceremoniously kicked out. It wasn't by accident that one of the AP nicknames for the casino was "Bar-You Coast."

Michael Gaughan and partners went on to build and open the Gold Coast, Orleans, and Suncoast, all of which, along with the Barbary Coast and South Coast (under construction at the time; it became South Point), were sold to Boyd Gaming in early 2004 in a deal reportedly worth $1.3 billion. Less than two years later, Boyd spent $16 million buying up the 4.3-acre lot that the Barbary Coast occupied and had been leasing.

Then, in 2007, Boyd traded Harrah's Entertainment the Barbary Coast and its land in exchange for 11 acres on the north Strip where the demolished Westward Ho had been; Boyd at the time was planning the Echelon Place project.

Harrah's closed the Barbary Coast on February 27, 2007; two days later, the property reopened as Bill's Gambling Hall & Saloon. It took several more days, but Harrah's managed to get the name “Bill’s” up on the front of the building. For a while that month, it looked like it might be “Drai’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon.” But Bill's it was, named for company founder Bill Harrah.

In March 2013, Caesars (the former Harrah's) announced that it was renovating Bill's to the tune of $185 million, then putting it under the brand of the New York luxury-hotel company Gansevoort. Six months later, Caesars and Gansevoort parted ways (over Gansevoort's alleged connection to the Russian mob), but the big renovation proceeded and room was made for a restaurant from cookbook author and TV personality Giada De Laurentiis.

In April 2014, Caesars changed the hotel-casino's name from Bill's to the Cromwell. At the time, we wondered why Caesars would name it after Oliver Cromwell, the "Lord Protector" who, at least according to our reading of British history, turned out to be more dangerous and autocratic than even the most tyrannical king. Indeed, Winston Churchill wrote that “the rule of Cromwell became hated as no government has ever been hated in England before or since."

Of course, the name might also refer to Oliver's great-great grand uncle Thomas, who wrenched England away from the Roman Catholic Church and started his own religion so that Henry VIII might divorce his current wife in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Poor Thomas was later beheaded when he lost favor with Henry.

All that said, now, more than seven years later, it's just a name. And it's certainly preferable, in our humble opinion, to Gansevoort, though Peter Gansevoort was a hero in the Revolutionary War.

The Cromwell is also now a bona fide high-end boutique property, with Giadia, along with the 65,000-square-foot Drai's Beachclub and Nightclub around the rooftop pool and Drai's After Hours club, still in the basement.

And here's your link to the new poll on favorite casino names.

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AyeCarambaPoker May-26-2021

Cromwell

It was Thomas, not Oliver, who lost his head under orders from Henry VIII although I assume it’s just a typo in the 3rd to last paragraph 

Oliver did lose his head in 1661, albeit fairly pointlessly given he’d actually died in 1658

In all my visits to Vegas I’ve never even considered that the place might have been named after either one although I suggest the next new builds are named after reviled characters from my side of the pond - how about The John, The Jack or The Goodwin?

Adam Cohen May-26-2021

Early Trips

My early trips to Vegas before I fell in love with Downtown and interestingly enough the Tez were at the Barbary cost I loved the over sized rooms.  I never realized the connection of the two hotels.

VegasVic May-26-2021

Love the BC

The BC was my go to place to stay back in the day.  200 rooms, great location.  Would walk down to Bourbon Street and Maxim. I'm not one where "everything was better back in the day" but I do miss the old strip.

Gregory May-26-2021

RE: Adam Cohen

I never in a million years hought that I would stay at the El Cortez.  It's been my go-to for the last 5 years now.  I made the connection between the El Cortez tower and the Barbary Coast long ago.  The long narrow(ish) rooms, with the funky little windows in the shower were the exact same floor plans.   The Barbary Coast opened in 1979 and the El Co tower opened in 1980.  Given the family connection in owership, those buildings were probably built by the same contractor or at least with the same basic blueprints.

Diamonddog2801 May-26-2021

Favourite bar

The Barbary Coast was always our favourite bar to sit and play video poker - great view out over the Strip and the bar staff were always very generous and courteous.

mofromto May-26-2021

I loved the Barbary Coast

I remember great times at the BC. I would stay there sometimes in one of those wonderfully red flocked wallpapered rooms with the Victorian furniture and the tiny bathroom with the window that opened onto Flamingo Rd while you were showering. The decor always seemed to me to be what I imagined early 1900's  brothel to be like. I hit several nice royal flushes there on .25c video poker machines in the days when they paid out 4700 coins for a royal. Michael's was a great dining room for lobster but my favorite was Drai's roasted chicken which was the best in town. When it became Bill's, I went once or twice never to return. I sure do miss it just as I still miss the old Starlight, the Desert Inn and the Frontier where I remember their buffet caused a sensation when they added clams and mussels to their food choices back in the late 80's and the line-ups for it were huge. Happy memories!

O2bnVegas May-26-2021

liked it

Stayed at BC once, liked that it was just a few steps from the registration desk to the elevator.  Exiting the elevator you were right in the casino.  No long treks at BC.

The room was like mofromto mentioned, big room, huge canopied bed (the most comfortable bed ever) with the flowery bed coverings and wallpaper.  To show my ignorance, I felt more like it might have been Miss Kitty's room at the Long Branch Saloon in Gunsmoke.  Maybe they first used the Victorian theme in the old west.  I did not like the teeny tiny bathroom at all, so that would be my first and last stay at that property, despite the positives.

Candy

Jeffrey Small May-26-2021

The Abandoned Motel

I recall seeing an abandoned motel on the corner of Flamingo and the Strip on one of my first trips to LAS in the mid-1970s.  I asked my local friends about it--they told me that the owners (the Empeys, I assume) were being "stiffed" by the Flamingo when they were trying to sell the property.  According to the story, the Flamingo did not believe that anyone would pay top dollar for the property since it was too small of a lot to build on.  Later I heard that they were surprised when the Barbary got built--partially blocking their sign--and realized their mistake!
   Some other things about the Barbary that were not mentioned.  On the main floor the coffee shop served excellent Cantonese food and it was inexpensive!  Also, at one point there was a McDonald's in the basement.  I recall being there once in the middle of the night--not sure why--and had quite a people watching experience.  Quite an "interesting" collection of various individuals there at 3am on a Sunday morning!

Kevin Lewis May-26-2021

The good old days

Like so MANY things in Vegas, this property used to be a lot of fun and a good value. That, of course, is now illegal on the Strip.

The old BC was indeed a sweaty, sweaty joint. They also had a habit of, when introducing a new game, bringing it in with the worst rules possible. Nonetheless, it was a good place to gamble, at least until Chunky and Spike appeared behind you and rumbled that maybe you should go to another casino.

The coffee shop was an excellent late-night refuge where you could reassemble what was left of your brain after a long, strenuous workout with your diminishing bankroll. The late-night specials were awesome.

The current occupant of the space, the Cromwell, is, well, uh...cromulent.

Hoppy May-26-2021

Cool place

The sunken casino floor really removed it from street level. Craps dealers were very involved though never got in the way. Beautiful

Jerry Patey May-26-2021

Barbary Coast

A very !!!! Fun place was replaced by a DUD in name of progress. Recall all the 10/7 DB poker plus good payback on slots. Replaced by big name expensive meals and rules that do nothing to attract visitors Harrah’s. Very same thing. They had the Blazing 7’s that were amazing. Slot workers would tell you in morning what slots hit during the night. Those were the good old days. I have said before Vegas is self imploded.

jay May-26-2021

Down Hill

The Barbary coast in the 90's was a nice break from the traditional strip properties, and you could not beat the hotdogs.  

Over time the place became a dump, even the hookers who hung out there were end of career girls, and just when you thought it couldn't get worse it became Bills Gambling hall with Beer Pong, people sitting on the floor and slumped upside the wall. 

I got comped by Caesars when the Cromwell opened, I was skeptical of what the rooms were going to be like, but it was very nice. The dealers wore tux's. As a hotel guest you got comped vip access to Drai's club at pool level, come and go as you please. They had a nice boutique spread in the center lounge area in the morning for hotel guests. Very chic.

Two years later - I paid a premium to stay there, but rationalized that with the free entry to the club, and nice breakfast it would be worth while. The local mid strip is hard to beat. Those perks were both long gone. For the $ I would stay at the Venetian..

AlwaysTails May-26-2021

Shuttles

The only times I went to the Barbary coast was to take the shuttle to the Orleans to play poker. I don’t think I ever went inside except maybe to pick up some magazines.

Reno Faoro May-26-2021

drinks, GIADA'S

ah yes , early drinks c.2014 ? was enjoyed , great drinks and the best part ----- on our 'friends ' TY , TYVM

rodfan May-26-2021

Wynn

I remember very well I the first time I read Steve was naming his new hotel “Wynn”. Who wouldn’t want to visit/stay/play at WIN?!  And then Encore!  Brilliant!

Brent Peterson May-26-2021

Mickey D's

There used to be a McDonald's in the basement of Babary Coast before Drai's. Quite the contrast. In any case, I would make a point of going to Mickey D's every trip. I'm not exactly sure why, but I did. I've never gone to Drai's.

sarahcuda May-26-2021

Loved it

Funny, I was just taking notes on an old Barbary coast notepad. I miss staying there. Didn't some of the rooms have a Bellagio fountain view? They had excellent video poker, and always had breakfast in the Victorian Room, especially for their coffee cake. You couldn't beat the location. Best value on the strip. Vegas has lost a lot by getting rid of these awesome places. I haven't been back in years now.

Teeye May-26-2021

Barbary Coast

The sweet Barbary Coast lives on forever im my memories. Just last night I had a great conversation with the poker room manager at the South Point about Michael Gaughan and the Barbary Coast' heyday. Everything felt so right about that place, the smaller casino, the coffee shop, the tiny sportsbook. But what I always loved was the newsstand and giftshop right on the casino floor at the east entrance.

gaattc2001 May-26-2021

Oliver Cromwell was the quintissential Piuritan...

who lived in constant fear that somewhere, someone might be having a good time: not the sort of person you'd expect to have a casino named after him. When the monarchy returned after he died, they literally dug him up and hanged him--I heard hanged rather than beheaded; wiki says both [1]--as a symbolic rejection of all he had stood for.
Thomas Cromwell of Henry VIII fame was a political schemer and hanger-on, largely responsible for the martyrdom of Sir Thomas More (according to the movies) and not exactly casino namesake material either. 
Fast-forwarding to Cromwell Las Vegas, I remember reading at the time that the name came from the "Cromwell Current" in the Pacific Ocean, in turn named after its discoverer [2]--but that sounds almost as far-fetched. 
Officially, "Caesars declined to explain how the name was chosen." [3]
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cromwell_Current
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cromwell_Las_Vegas

Michael Taylor May-26-2021

Cheers

Barbary Coast was old time Vegas. Some good dealers, some surly (like Casino Royale). I believe that was where we used to go to see Big Elvis before Harrahs but not sure if was BC or had changed to Bills.

Robert Dietz May-26-2021

Barbary Coast Memories

I still have Barbary Coast baseball caps stashed in the bottom drawer of my living room cabinet. I recall the McDonald's (barely). I loved the coffee shop. I remember the first time I saw Big Elvis was at the BC. I was filling out the football contest entries at a table in the lounge, looked up, and thought the guy was wearing a fat suit. At the time, he was more like 750 than his svelte self today.

One adventure -- I would park at the BC Sunday mornings so I could watch NFL at the old Imperial Palace. Well, youngsters would stumble out of Drai's about the time I got there early. Those youngsters would be going down the curly cue parking ramps while I was driving up. It was a true gamble.

Question of the Day - 26 May 2021

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