Las Vegas is almost as infamous for tearing buildings down, as it is for its casinos. There is a continual demand to make The Strip bigger and more successful. Inevitably, there are casualties along the way. One such casualty was the Shenandoah.
In 1980, Vegas legend Wayne Newton, provided the start up money for a new casino. It was to be named the Shenandoah, after the valley of the same name in Virginia, where Newton was raised.
The Shenandoah was built at 120 East Flamingo Rd. It was flanked by The Maxim and Barbary Coast--now Bill's Gambling Hall and Saloon.
The Shenandoah was nine floors high and had 166 guest rooms. There were no table games in the casino, just slots. It was designed to be a low key Vegas establishment.
By 1984, the Shenandoah still had not opened and the project went bankrupt, as a result of poor management.
In 1985, Canadians bought the building. They renamed it The Bourbon Street Hotel and Casino and opened it to the public. Bourbon Street was the first foreign-owned casino in Vegas.
In 2005, Harrah's bought Bourbon Street. On Valentine's Day 2006, the casino was imploded, making it the eleventh imploded building in Vegas. As of September 2010, Harrah's plans for the land are unknown.
