Question of the Day - 02 November 2025

Silverton, located about three miles south of the Las Vegas Strip on Blue Diamond near Interstate 15, has evolved from a struggling locals casino into a rustic-themed resort known for its Bass Pro Shops, massive aquarium, and good-value locals orientation. Owned and operated by billionaire Ed Roski, Jr., it features 300 rooms, a 65,000-square-foot casino, and various dining and entertainment options. 

Ed Roski, today, is an 87-year-old American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune by inheriting his father's real estate company, Majestic Realty, after serving as a Marine officer in Vietnam. Privately held Majestic owns more than 83 million square feet of real estate throughout the U.S. and is primarily a business-park developer. 

In 1989 when Roski was in his early 50s, he picked up an 80-acre parcel along Interstate 15, initially intending to build an industrial warehouse, but later changed the plan. In 1993, he partnered with Boomtown, the northern Nevada casino company, to develop a $70 million project on 56 of those acres. Roski's company handled construction, while Boomtown provided financing and operations.

The hotel-casino opened in May 1994 during Vegas' go-go years as Boomtown South, with the same country-western theme as the casino in Verdi, 10 miles west of Reno. It had 304 rooms and a 460-space RV park, 1,200 slot machines and 18 table games, and an 800-seat showroom. But this Boomtown had a hard time ramping up, mostly due to its remote location; the most successful element of the property was the RV park, which we considered the best in the area (it's long gone). 

In 1997, Boomtown merged with Hollywood Park, which prompted Roski to end the partnership. He acquired the operating company, gained 90% ownership (the other 10% held by his Majestic Nevada Inc.), renamed the place Silverton, and spent $10 million on the rebranding; the mining-town theme was altered slightly to a rustic-lodge aesthetic (the full name today is Silverton Casino Lodge) and was marketed to locals and younger visitors.  

In 2004, a $150 million expansion added a 165,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, a 117,000-gallon aquarium with live mermaid shows, new restaurants (Sundance Grill and Twin Creeks Steakhouse), and an expanded casino floor. This transformation was successful in revitalizing the property. Further additions over the next few years included a buffet and Mexican restaurant, 35,000 square feet of new casino space, two more restaurants, and a five-level parking garage with 1,500 spaces. 

And the hits kept coming. Nevada's first Cracker Barrel opened there in 2016, along with an 18-story 400-unit timeshare tower called the Berkley (built separately, but integrated into the resort). A couple of years later, the $60 million Silverton Village project added 28,000 square feet of retail space, including a 24-hour Starbucks and a 150-room Hyatt Place hotel, owned and operated by Silverton. In fall 2023, the hotel and pool reopened after a $45 million overhaul and last year Circa Sports took over the sports book.

As for why Silverton's not on any top five or ten lists, we can say only that we agree with your contention: It's an off-Strip gem. Perhaps because it's a bit off the beaten track, or it's not quite as flashy as or well known as the Station and Boyd locals properties, or it remains the rare one-off indie hotel-casino, or even that it's better being a well-kept secret. 

But a quick search through LVA shows the great deals the place consistently puts out. Over the past year or so alone, we wrote about a BOGO fajitas deal at Mi Casa, 30%-off steaks after 7 p.m. on Sundays in Twin Creeks Steakhouse, and an instacomp for a petite-cut prime rib in the Sundance Grill, and we're sure we missed plenty of other specials. Also, Silverton has always been a participant in our coupon program and this year the coupon is good for $10 in free play.

We ourselves have always liked Boomtown/Silverton. We have numerous fond memories of hanging out and enjoying comped meals with Jean and Brad Scott, who often made it their home away from home. And if that's not a good recommendation for the joint, we're not sure what is. Unless it's the fact that it's the questioner's favorite Las Vegas casino.