The Last Don is a 1996 novel by American author Mario Puzo , best known as the author of the 1969 novel The Godfather . The story follows an aging Mafia Don and his family as they try to retain power.
59-679: The story alternates between the film industry and the Las Vegas Strip casinos , and how the American Mafia is linked to both. The Last Don was adapted into a television miniseries of the same name , which aired in 1997. A sequel to the miniseries, The Last Don II , aired in 1998. This novel also effectively became the last release during Puzo's lifetime, before his death in 1999, although he still released two more novels, both of which were released after his death. The last plan of Don Domenico Clericuzio, an aging Mafia boss,
118-630: A $ 2 million sale of the North Las Vegas Air Terminal to Howard Hughes . The following year, Engelstad received approval to add several slot machines to the motel's tavern. In 1973, four motel buildings from Engelstad's other Las Vegas Strip property, the Flamingo Capri motel , were relocated and converted into a one-story motel building for the Kona Kai. Katsumi Kazama, a business partner of John Woodrum, purchased
177-588: A casino and condo hotel resort known as Paramount Las Vegas. The Klondike closed in June 2006, and was demolished in March 2008. Royal Palm Las Vegas had difficulty obtaining financing for the Paramount project, and the land was put up for sale later in 2008. A Harley-Davidson dealership opened on the former Klondike property in 2014. The hotel sat on 5.29 acres (2.14 ha) of land on Las Vegas Boulevard , between
236-475: A casino and 20-story boutique hotel next to Harry Reid International Airport began construction in 2022 for an opening originally scheduled for 2024. Construction was halted in March 2023 due to stalled funding plans. It could resume construction in January 2024 and the opening has been rescheduled to the end of 2025. Astral Hotels planned to start building Astral, a 34-story, 620-room hotel and casino on
295-431: A dedicated broadcast booth, and the ability to watch up to 15 sporting events at once. The sports network ESPN is broadcasting sports betting shows from a dedicated studio at The Linq. Some sportsbooks are now offering self-service betting kiosks. The Las Vegas Strip is known for its lounges, showrooms, theaters and nightclubs, most on the hotel casino properties. Some of the more popular free attractions visible from
354-480: A key point in transforming Las Vegas Strip entertainment. In an effort to attract families, resorts offered more attractions geared toward youth, but had limited success. The Wet 'n Wild water park opened in 1985 and was located on the south side of the Sahara hotel. It closed at the end of the 2004 season and was later demolished. The current MGM Grand opened in 1993 with MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park , but
413-521: A subsidiary of the Boca Raton -based Royal Palm Communities – bought 5.25 acres of land adjacent to the Klondike for $ 42 million. In September 2005, the Klondike and its 5.29 acres were sold to Royal Palm for $ 23.7 million, for a total of 10.5 acres. Woodrum acknowledged one reason for the sale being that the Klondike would not be able to compete with new, larger resorts. Another reason for the sale
472-475: A tightening credit market. Demolition of the Klondike began around March 17, 2008, and concluded on March 20, 2008. The land was put up for sale in May 2008, at a price of $ 18 million per acre. In May 2013, plans for a Harley-Davidson dealership were announced, to be built on the former land of the Klondike. The two-story, 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m ) dealership, built at a cost of $ 18 million, opened on
531-551: Is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada , that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos . The Strip , as it is known, is about 4.2 mi (6.8 km) long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city limits in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester , but is often referred to simply as "Las Vegas". Many of the largest hotel, casino, and resort properties in
590-448: Is aware of being on the blacklist, catches Dante in a trap. Having acted against the family, he waits for the Don's vendetta, but, to his own surprise, his life is spared and he is only condemned to exile. Cross then resumes his romance with actress Athena Aquitane. The story ends with the revelation that Don Clericuzio planned this outcome, even anticipating his grandson's death, all along, for
649-553: Is the southernmost resort considered to be on the Strip (the Klondike was the southernmost until 2006, when it was closed, although it was not included in the Strip on some definitions and travel guides). According to Clark County, the southern end of the Strip is the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign; the county acknowledges that some argue for Russell Road at the southernmost terminus. The first casino to be built on Highway 91
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#1732801199238708-408: Is to eventually have his family enter the legitimate world and assimilate into American society. Twenty-five years later, his grandson Dante and grandnephew Crocifisso "Cross" De Lena make their way through life, and the eighty-year-old Don is semi-retired. Cross, who holds a majority share in a Las Vegas casino, is supposed to become the strong arm of the family. However, when he refuses to take part in
767-612: The Dunes golf course in the mid-90s. Steve Wynn , founder of previously owned Mirage Resorts , purchased the Desert Inn and golf course for his new company Wynn Resorts and redeveloped the course as the Wynn Golf Club. This course closed in 2017, but the development planned for the course was cancelled and the course was renovated and re-opened in late 2019. In 2000, Bali Hai Golf Club opened just south of Mandalay Bay and
826-571: The Las Vegas Strip . In May 1964, the Kona Kai opened a lounge and restaurant known as Talk O' the Town. Later that year, the lounge and restaurant was renamed Robin's, after co-owner Robin Criswell. In June 1965, Sonny Morris reopened the restaurant and lounge as Sonny's Restaurant. The motel was robbed of $ 640 in September 1965. Ralph Engelstad purchased the motel in 1969, using money from
885-745: The SLS Las Vegas continued to transform the Strip in 2014. The Las Vegas Festival Grounds opened in 2015. In 2016, T-Mobile Arena , The Park, and the Park Theater (now known as Dolby Live) opened. On October 1, 2017, a mass shooting occurred on the Strip at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, adjacent to the Mandalay Bay hotel. 60 people were killed, and approximately 867 were injured. The gunman, Stephen Paddock , opened fire on concertgoers with several rifles from his suites on
944-754: The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and McCarran International Airport . The Klondike was the southernmost hotel on the Las Vegas Strip until its closure. Mandalay Bay is now the southernmost hotel. Woodrum also operated a sister property, the Klondike Sunset Casino , in nearby Henderson , from 1999 until his death in 2014. The Klondike initially opened in 1962 as the Tiki/Hawaiian-themed Kona Kai Motel, located at 5191 South Las Vegas Boulevard on
1003-472: The "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. Clark County uses the phrase Resort Corridor to describe the area including Las Vegas Boulevard between 215 Beltway and Sahara Avenue and surrounding areas. The Sahara is considered the Strip's northern terminus by Clark County, though travel guides typically extend it to the Strat 0.4 miles (0.64 km) to the north. Mandalay Bay , just north of Russell Road
1062-529: The 1990s, more than 12 new hotels opened, including themed hotels like the Luxor , Excalibur , and Mandalay Bay . At $ 1.7B, the most expensive hotel in the world at the time, The Bellagio , was built in the 1990s. These huge facilities offer entertainment and dining options, as well as gambling and lodging. In 1993, the launch of the Mystère show at the new Treasure Island hotel by Cirque du Soleil marked
1121-484: The 1990s, several pedestrian footbridges were erected over Las Vegas Boulevard to increase pedestrian safety and alleviate traffic congestion at popular intersections. The first was the Tropicana – Las Vegas Boulevard footbridge. Some mimic the theme of nearby resorts. . The footbridges include: Pedestrians have complained that they must walk as much as a quarter-mile to reach a footbridge or intersection to cross
1180-901: The 4,500 bollards will be shortened from 54 inches to 36 inches. The shortened bollards line 20 driveways. Studies conducted by Clark County in 2012 and 2015 identified issues with congestion. The studies resulted in $ 5 million of improvements, including LED lights, ADA ramps, containment fencing, widening sidewalks, and removing permanent obstructions, such as signs, signposts, trash cans, and fire hydrants. The studies also identified non-permanent obstructions causing congestion, such as street performers, vendors, handbillers, sign-holders, and illegal street gambling. Modifications to non-obstruction zones and increased enforcement were implemented in order to reduce congestion. Taxis are available at resorts, shopping centers, attractions, and for scheduled pickups. The Nevada Taxicab Authority provides information about taxi fares and fare zones. In 2021, there
1239-615: The City of Las Vegas. Caesars Palace was established in 1966. Opening in 1969, the International Hotel , with 1,512 rooms, began the era of mega-resorts. The International is known as Westgate Las Vegas today. The first MGM Grand Hotel and Casino opened in 1973 with 2,084 rooms. On November 21, 1980, MGM Grand suffered the worst resort fire in the history of Las Vegas as a result of electrical problems, killing 87 people. It reopened eight months later. In 1986, Kerkorian sold
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#17328011992381298-404: The Las Vegas Strip. The hotel contained 153 rooms, and the casino measured 7,700 sq ft (720 m ). The Klondike was popular among local residents and was known for its cheap restaurant specials and cheap gambling, while the hotel was popular for its low room rates. According to Woodrum, approximately 90 percent of the Klondike's customers were local residents. In its later years,
1357-551: The MGM Grand and the Sahara at each end of the route. The stations include: The monorail began operating in 1995 with two trains from Walt Disney World . In 2020, the monorail was acquired by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Tens of thousands of pedestrians are walking along the Strip at any given time. As of 2019, about 50,000 pedestrians walked the Strip on an average day. In
1416-478: The MGM Grand to Bally Manufacturing , and it was renamed Bally's . The opening of The Mirage in 1989 set a new level to the Las Vegas experience, as smaller hotels and casinos made way for the larger mega-resorts. Some of the key features of The Mirage included tropical landscapes with waterfalls, an erupting volcano, restaurants with world-class chefs, and a show with illusionists Siegfried & Roy . In
1475-701: The Mandalay Bay's 32nd floor. Paddock's motive was never determined, and he committed suicide after the massacre. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history. In 2018, the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino was renamed the Park MGM and in 2019, the SLS changed its name back to Sahara Las Vegas . In 2021, the Pinball Hall of Fame moved near the "Fabulous Las Vegas" sign at
1534-524: The North and South Las Vegas Strip routes are classified as Nevada Scenic Byways and National Scenic Byways . Historically, casinos that were not in Downtown Las Vegas along Fremont Street sat outside the city limits on Las Vegas Boulevard. In 1959, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was built exactly 4.5 miles (7.2 km) outside the city limits. The sign is currently located in
1593-942: The Strip include the water fountains at Bellagio , the volcano at The Mirage , and the Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain at Caesars Palace . There are several Cirque du Soleil shows, such as Kà at the MGM Grand, O at Bellagio, Mystère at Treasure Island, and Michael Jackson: One at Mandalay Bay . Many notable artists have performed in Las Vegas, including Elvis Presley , Frank Sinatra , Wayne Newton , Dean Martin , Sammy Davis Jr. , Rod Stewart and Liberace , and in more recent years Celine Dion , Britney Spears , Barry Manilow , Cher , Elton John , Bette Midler , Diana Ross , Donny and Marie Osmond , Garth Brooks , Jennifer Lopez , Reba McEntire , Mariah Carey , Janet Jackson , Kylie Minogue , Shania Twain , Criss Angel , Olivia Newton-John , Queen + Adam Lambert , Lady Gaga , and Gwen Stefani have had residencies in
1652-420: The Strip trended towards the luxurious high-end segment through most of the 2000s, while some older resorts added major expansions and renovations, including some de-theming of the earlier themed hotels. High end dining, specialty retail, spas and nightclubs increasingly became options for visitors in addition to gambling at most Strip resorts. There was also a trend towards expensive residential condo units on
1711-897: The Strip, including: The Strip also hosts the Las Vegas Grand Prix which has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 2023 . It will also house the New Las Vegas Stadium for the Oakland Athletics in 2028 when the team relocates to the Las Vegas Valley. The Aladdin had a nine-hole golf course in the 1960s. As land values on the Strip have increased over the years, the resort-affiliated golf courses have been removed to make way for building projects. The Tropicana Country Club closed in 1990 and
1770-685: The Strip. In 2004, MGM Mirage announced plans for CityCenter , a 66-acre (27 ha), $ 7 billion multi-use project on the site of the Boardwalk hotel and adjoining land. It consists of hotel, casino, condo, retail, art, business and other uses on the site. Most elements of the project opened in late 2009. In 2012, the High Roller Ferris wheel and a retail district called The Linq Promenade broke ground in an attempt to diversify attractions beyond that of casino resorts. Renovations and rebrandings such as The Cromwell Las Vegas and
1829-424: The Strip. In 2016, a TopGolf opened near the Strip. Adventuredome indoor amusement park at Circus Circus on the Strip is a major tourist attraction; it is enclosed in glass, with a carousel, mini-golf, two roller coasters, bowling, spinning rides, an arcade, virtual reality rides, a carnival midway, and clown shows. Klondike Hotel and Casino Klondike Hotel and Casino (also known as Klondike Inn )
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1888-523: The Strip. Most of the resorts have a showroom, nightclub and/or live music venue on the property and a few have large multipurpose arenas. Major venues include: The Strip is populated with many restaurants and fine dining establishments, many of which are inside the casinos and resorts. In recent years, many celebrity chefs have opened restaurants along the Strip, including Wolfgang Puck , Michael Mina , Gordon Ramsay , Guy Savoy , and Joël Robuchon . Professional sports are found at venues on or near
1947-854: The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and South Strip Transfer Terminal to the Bonneville Transit Center (BTC) and the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas , with stops near every casino. Several free trams operate between properties on the west side of the Strip: While not on the Strip itself, the Las Vegas Monorail runs a 3.9-mile route on the east side of the Strip corridor from Tropicana Avenue to Sahara Avenue, with stops every 4 to 8 minutes at several on-Strip properties including
2006-514: The average trip gambling budget, $ 591.06, was increased from 2018. About nine in ten (89%) visitors who gambled did so on the Strip Corridor. UNLV reported that in 2019, Big Las Vegas Strip Casinos (defined as Strip casinos with more than $ 72M in annual gaming revenues) had more than $ 6B in annual gaming revenues, corresponding to about 26% of total annual revenues. From the time period spanning 1985 to 2019, there have been some changes in
2065-599: The city's rising debt. Instead, Gus Greenbaum of the Flamingo led a group of casino executives to lobby the Clark County commissioners for town status. Two unincorporated towns were eventually created, Paradise and Winchester . More than two decades later, the Supreme Court of Nevada struck down a 1975 Nevada state law that would have folded the Strip and the rest of the urban areas of Clark County into
2124-611: The completion of the Flamingo construction with mob money. The Flamingo casino opened in December 1946, and the hotel opened in March 1947. Wilbur Clark 's Desert Inn resort opened in 1950. The funding for many Las Vegas projects was provided through the American National Insurance Company , which was based in the then-notorious gambling empire of Galveston, Texas . Las Vegas Boulevard South
2183-411: The hotel's clientele included out-of-town construction workers. Bob Stupak , a longtime friend of Woodrum, was a frequent customer at the Klondike, as well as singer Tom Jones . By 1997, Woodrum had declined several offers to purchase the Klondike. At that time, the casino included five table games and 450 slot machines. In 2000, Woodrum stated that Clark County wanted to demolish aging motels on
2242-776: The hotel, restaurant and bar closed on June 30, 2006. The Klondike had 45 employees at the time of closure, down from 150 employees three months earlier. Many employees from the Klondike were expected to be transferred to Woodrum's Klondike Sunset Casino in nearby Henderson . Shortly after its closure, the property was used for training by the K9 unit of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department . The Klondike's replacement would have been called Paramount Las Vegas. The new resort, initially expected to cost $ 1 billion, would have included an 1,864-room condo hotel and 80,000 sq ft casino. Plans for
2301-523: The land in September 1975, and the property remained under the ownership of the Kazama family for the next 30 years, while Woodrum owned the motel. Woodrum, a former business partner of Bill Boyd , took over operations of the motel on May 12, 1976, and it was renamed that year as Klondike Inn. In 1976, Woodrum provided a power line to the nearby Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign , which had not been lit for several years. The county later provided power to
2360-502: The long-term survival of his family. The Last Don was the basis for the 1997 CBS television miniseries of the same name written by Joyce Eliason and starring Joe Mantegna , Danny Aiello , and Daryl Hannah . In 1998, this was followed by The Last Don II , in which Cross is restored from exile to take reluctant command of the Clericuzio Family upon the Don's death. Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip
2419-430: The median just south of Russell Road (which is 4.2 miles (6.8 km) from The Sahara. ), across from the location of the now-demolished Klondike Hotel and Casino and about 0.4 miles (0.64 km) south of the southernmost entrance to Mandalay Bay , which is the Strip's southernmost casino. In the strictest sense, the Strip refers only to the stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that is roughly between Sahara Avenue and
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2478-617: The mix of table games in casinos on the Strip: Casino operators have been expanding sports betting facilities and products, as well as renovating and upgrading equipment and facilities. Although sports betting has a relatively low margin, the high-end sportsbooks can generate significant amounts of revenue in other areas, such as food and drink. As a result, sportsbooks have been expanding and upgrading food and drink offerings. High-end sportsbooks include features such as single-seat stadium-style seating, large high-definition screens,
2537-546: The murder of an old friend, Dante is left to be the sole tough guy. Dante's greed for power and blood lead him to plan the elimination of his relatives, who are an obstacle to the desire to become as powerful as the old Don himself. When Dante arranges a hit on Cross's father, strongman Pippi De Lena—who, in a subplot, once commanded the elimination of the rival Santadio Family whose scion, Jimmy, married Don Clericuzio's daughter Rose Marie and fathered Dante before his family's assassination, driving Dante's mother to insanity—Cross, who
2596-460: The new resort were approved by Clark County in October 2006, but Royal Palm Las Vegas did not expect to begin construction in the near future. Plans for the project were delayed in late August 2007, when an investor pulled out shortly before closing on restructuring a land loan. By September 2007, homeless people were living in the abandoned motel rooms of the Klondike. Royal Palm Las Vegas LLC
2655-508: The park closed in 2000 due to lack of interest. Similarly, in 2003 Treasure Island closed its own video arcade and abandoned the previous pirate theme, adopting the new ti name. In addition to the large hotels, casinos and resorts, the Strip is home to many attractions, such as M&M's World , Adventuredome and the Fashion Show Mall . With the opening of Bellagio , Venetian , Palazzo , Wynn and Encore resorts,
2714-524: The sign. People frequently parked at the Klondike and ran across the street to take pictures of the Las Vegas welcome sign. The Klondike received a gaming license in 1982, and ultimately became known as the Klondike Hotel and Casino, while retaining the Klondike Inn name. The Klondike included a western theme, and was the first hotel-casino encountered by people travelling north on
2773-519: The site of the former El Rancho Hotel and Casino and Algiers Hotel . The Tropicana closed in April 2024 and was demolished in October 2024. It will be replaced with a new Bally's Las Vegas resort and New Las Vegas Stadium which will become the home of the Oakland Athletics after they relocate to Las Vegas. The Mirage also closed in July 2024. BLVD is opening in 2025. Dream Las Vegas ,
2832-546: The south end of the Strip. Later that year, Resorts World Las Vegas , opened on the site of the former Stardust Resort and Casino . Resorts World incorporates portions of a previously planned resort known as Echelon Place , which was canceled in 2008. In 2022, Bally's was renamed the Horseshoe Las Vegas . The Sphere venue opened in 2023. Also, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened on
2891-406: The southern Las Vegas Strip for new megaresorts. Regarding the Klondike, Woodrum said, "It's a little ragged and not what they'd like to see on Las Vegas Boulevard and I understand this. But there isn't one of us left that wouldn't fight until our last breath." In September 2004, Leroy's Horse & Sports Place began operating a sportsbook at the casino. In May 2005, Royal Palm Las Vegas LLC –
2950-454: The southern Las Vegas Strip, but the project is delayed. In 2022, businessman Tilman Fertitta received approval to eventually build a 43-story resort at the southeast corner of Harmon Avenue. LVXP Las Vegas , a planned 752-tall resort project and an arena, is opening in 2029. RTC Transit (previously Citizens Area Transit, or CAT) provides bus service on the Strip with double decker buses known as The Deuce . The Deuce runs between
3009-520: The street. After a driver drove into pedestrians on the sidewalk in front of Paris Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood in December 2015, 800 bollards began to be installed on Las Vegas Blvd. starting in 2017. The construction of the bollards resulted in the removal of 49 of the 82 stars of the Las Vegas Walk of Stars . In 2019, the bollards on Las Vegas Blvd. were shortened after drivers complained that they were obstructing street views. 283 of
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#17328011992383068-612: The various resorts on the Strip. The only movie theatre directly on the Strip was the 10-screen Regal Showcase Theatre in the Showcase Mall. The theater opened in 1997 and was operated by Regal Entertainment Group , until its closure in 2018. During 2019, 51% of visitors attended shows, which was down from 2015, 2017, and 2018. Among visitors who saw shows, relatively more went to Broadway/production shows than in past years, while relatively fewer saw lounge acts, comedy shows, or celebrity DJs. Numerous entertainment venues populate
3127-432: The world are on the Strip, known for its contemporary architecture, lights, and wide variety of attractions. Its hotels, casinos, restaurants, residential high-rises, entertainment offerings, and skyline have established the Strip as one of the most popular and iconic tourist destinations in the world and is one of the driving forces for Las Vegas's economy. Most of the Strip has been designated as an All-American Road , and
3186-636: Was a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada , in the United States . The property began as the Kona Kai Motel in 1962, and was purchased by Ralph Engelstad in 1969. The motel was sold to John Woodrum, who renamed it as the Klondike Inn in 1976. A casino was eventually added, and the Klondike became popular among local residents. In 2005, the Klondike was sold to Royal Palm Las Vegas, which planned to replace it with
3245-414: Was an increase in taxi passengers due to declines in rideshare drivers and rideshare surge pricing. Rideshare services, including Uber and Lyft , are available on the Strip. In 2019, about eight in ten (81%) visitors said they gambled while in Las Vegas, the highest proportion in the past five years. The average time spent gambling, 2.7 hours, represents an increase over the past three years. Also,
3304-481: Was ordered by Clark County to either demolish the buildings by November 13, 2007, or repair them by December 18, 2007. County officials considered the Klondike dangerous because of deterioration, which put its second floor at risk of collapsing. The Klondike was boarded up in November 2007. By January 2008, plans for the Paramount project were uncertain as Royal Palm Las Vegas had difficulty obtaining financing, due to
3363-631: Was previously called Hwy 91, or the Arrowhead Highway , or Los Angeles Highway. The Strip was named by Los Angeles police officer and businessman Guy McAfee , after his hometown's Sunset Strip in Hollywood. In 1950, Mayor Ernie Cragin of the City of Las Vegas sought to annex the Las Vegas Strip, which ran through unincorporated Clark County territory, in order to expand the city's tax base to fund his ambitious building agenda and pay down
3422-631: Was the Pair-o-Dice Club in 1931, but the first full service casino-resort on what is currently called the Strip was the El Rancho Vegas , which opened with 63 bungalow hotel rooms on April 3, 1941. Its success spawned a second nearby hotel, the Hotel Last Frontier in 1942. Organized crime figures such as Bugsy Siegel took an intense interest in the growing Las Vegas gaming center and funded another resort; financing
3481-459: Was the Klondike's rising property taxes , which had doubled in recent years. The Woodrum family continued to operate the Klondike through an open-ended lease, while a closing date initially remained undetermined. Woodrum stated that the Klondike had remained financially successful but that, "Like anything else, progress takes its toll […]. You can only stand in the way of it so long and it rolls over you." The casino closed on June 28, 2006, while
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