Last Lady of the Strip – The Riviera

The Riviera was the first high rise resort to open on the Strip and it was the 9^th resort; the opening was a grand affair by the legendary flamboyant Liberace the Riviera was a luxury resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The fact that the Riviera was high rise changed the outlook of the strip before her all Vegas Strip properties were low rise motel affairs, so you could say that Riviera changed the Strip for ever. The Rivera’s past is far form clean its building and ownership were entwined with the Mafia on a better note Dean Martin and the Marx Brothers have been part owners of the Rivera.

The Riviera has featured in many films including Oceans 11, Austin Powers, 3000 Miles from Graceland (under no circumstances watch this film its terrible) and the best Vegas movie ever Casino.

Now a days the Rivera is a long way from the luxury of it’s hey day but it is still one of the resorts that I ensure that I always visit. The Rivera is how Vegas was, she stands nearly still in time and you really do feel like Ace could be watching you. The tables have low limits usually $5 as well as huge amount of low level slot machines. The rooms are basic but clean and cheap I can’t say whether they are good value and I have to say that my visits to the Riviera are limited to a few hours I do not stay there. There are several shows on at Riviera Crazy Girls a topless review, La Cage – impersonators, ICE direct from Russia, The comedy club, and various acts in the La Bistro theatre. The shows are ok now better no worse there are better shows on the strip but with the exception of Ice you can usually pick up some good deals with many 2 for 1 offerings, if you are on a budget and want to see a show its worth considering. The location of the Riviera is not good it’s North Strip, it used to have some great friends around it but sadly they have all gone it’s a fair walk North to Sahara or South to Wynn it used to be comforted by the New Frontier and the Stardust but sadly these have now both been imploded.

The retro feel there is great and each visit I fear may be the last before she joins her friends Stardust, Aladdin, Desert Inn, and Hacienda etc as nothing more than memories of Vegas bygone days and big piles of dust. I am sorry to go on about it but everyone who loves Vegas should see how it was and the only place to do that now is at The Riviera, in my opinion the nail in the coffin for Riviera was the monorail avoiding it this may have given her a hope but without it she is doomed. There will be a tear in my eye when she goes, don’t leave it too long get down there before it’s too late.