If you’re headed through Mesquite, take a good look at the former Si Redd’s Oasis, which Black Gaming CEO Randy Black wants to demolish — in a metaphorical demonstration of what he’s done to that market (another beneficiary of the “liberalized” regulation that Gary Loveman lurves). Actually, the idea is probably not Black’s but that of power-behind-the-throne Michael Gaughan.
With the Oasis gobbling up copious acreage for the sole purpose of sustaining 16 slot machines — making it surely the largest slot route location in Nevada — there’s considerable incentive to repurpose the property or sell the land to reduce Black Gaming’s $253 million debt load. At some future point, Black’s Virgin River Convention Center will supposedly revert to its origins as a casino … although the time may have passed when Mesquite could support four casinos, counting the non-Black-owned Eureka.
Anyway, it was bad enough when the buffoonish Black took Redd’s legendary name off the Oasis. (And it’s the world’s safest bet that the words “legendary” and “Randy Black” will never appear in the same sentence unless something like “gasbag” is interposed betwixt them.) Still, I’m glad old Si isn’t around for this latest indignity.
Apparently the place was going downhill for quite a while. This reviewer @ Trip Advisor obviously agrees with the Black plan:
“My husband and I spent one long night at the Oasis on 10/22/08. He had booked the room through a Mesquite golf website in order to get a room/golf package. Next time, I’ll be doing the booking! He doesn’t know about Trip Advisor obviously! This place was the worst place I’ve ever stayed in. The building they stuck us in was right next to the interstate, so we had to deal with the traffic noise all night long. Thank goodness we were on the top floor so we didn’t have to listen to footsteps above, because our floor creaked like crazy when we walked across the room. I am not that squeemish, but I did keep my socks on when walking on the carpet. The bedspreads were very old and ugh, the blankets had holes and must have been at least 30 years old. We had people outside on our floor screaming at each other – did I mention that these rooms all have exterior doors.
The best thing they could do for this “hotel” is to raze it and start over again.”