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El Rancho Vegas | America 250 Nevada
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Postcard of the El Rancho Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas, circa 1940s.
Fred and Maurine Wilson Photograph Collection. PH-00014. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
El Rancho Vegas
2755 South Las Vegas Boulevard (opposite today’s Sahara Hotel and Casino)
Opened 1941
Founded in 1941, the El Rancho Vegas was the first true “resort” on the Las Vegas Strip. Blending an Old West aesthetic with the luxury of modern gaming machines and live performances, it debuted the signature all-you-can-eat “Chuck Wagon” buffet that became a Las Vegas staple. From everyday workers grabbing a bite to hosting legendary performers like Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., El Rancho helped define Las Vegas as an accessible hub for recreation and entertainment.
People:
- Herb McDonald (1919-2002)
- Herb McDonald was a visionary promoter who is credited with bringing the National Finals Rodeo, The Beatles, and the iconic “all-you-can-eat buffet” to Las Vegas. One night in 1946, he laid cheese and cold cuts from the kitchen out on the El Rancho bar to make himself a sandwich and accidentally attracted hungry gamblers, inspiring the first “all-you-can-eat” buffet in the city.
Learn More:
- https://www.lasvegasnvmuseum.org/el-rancho-vegas/#:~:text=El%20Rancho%20Vegas%20with%20signage,wanting%20to%20escape%20the%20desert
- https://neonmuseum.org/news/history-of-the-demolished-hotels-in-las-vegas
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Two women enjoy the pool area at the El Rancho Vegas Hotel, with the iconic windmill in the background, circa 1950s.
Union Pacific Railroad Photographs. PH-00043. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada
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Union Pacific Railroad Photographs. PH-00043. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
For questions or comments, please reach out to the Clark County Museum at ccmuseum@clarkcountynv.gov.