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Harrah's Lake Tahoe is a
hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...
and
casino A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...
in
Stateline, Nevada Stateline is a census-designated place (CDP) on the southeastern shore of Lake Tahoe in Douglas County, Nevada, Douglas County, Nevada, United States. It lies next to the border with California and is conurbated with South Lake Tahoe, California ...
. Harrah's is branded with the name of its former owner and operator,
William F. Harrah William Fisk Harrah (September 2, 1911 – June 30, 1978) was an American businessman and the founder of Harrah's Hotel and Casinos, now part of Caesars Entertainment (2020), Caesars Entertainment. Early years and education Harrah was born in So ...
. It is owned by
Vici Properties Vici Properties Inc. is an American real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in casino and entertainment properties, based in New York City. It was formed in 2017 as a spin-off from Caesars Entertainment Corporation as part of its bankr ...
and operated by
Caesars Entertainment Caesars Entertainment, Inc., formerly Eldorado Resorts, Inc., is an American hotel and casino entertainment company founded and based in Reno, Nevada, that operates more than 50 properties. Eldorado Resorts acquired Caesars Entertainment Corpora ...
. The 18-story tower and 512 rooms, plus casino make it one of the largest resorts at
South Lake Tahoe South Lake Tahoe is the most populous incorporated city in El Dorado County, California, United States, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The city's population was 21,330 at the 2020 census, down from 21,403 at the 2010 census. The city, along the ...
.


History

Harrah's was established in
Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe (; Washo language, Washo: ''dáʔaw'') is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the Western United States, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Lying at above sea level, Lake Tahoe is the largest a ...
when
William F. Harrah William Fisk Harrah (September 2, 1911 – June 30, 1978) was an American businessman and the founder of Harrah's Hotel and Casinos, now part of Caesars Entertainment (2020), Caesars Entertainment. Early years and education Harrah was born in So ...
purchased George's Gateway Club in January 1955, for $500,000. Harrah's Lake Club opened on June 20, 1955, and was later renamed
Harveys Lake Tahoe Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe (formerly Harveys Lake Tahoe) is a hotel and casino located in Stateline, Nevada. It has 742 rooms and suites as well as six restaurants and a casino with of space. It also has a video arcade, wedding chapel, po ...
. In 1956, Harrah's Lake Club was sold for $5.25 million in cash to Harvey Gross, which at the time was the most expensive casino purchase ever. In 1958, Bill Harrah acquired an interest in the Stateline Country Club and Nevada Club across the street from Harrah's modern location and opened Harrah's Stateline Club. Also in 1956, a new radio station,
KOWL KOWL (1490 AM, "NewsTalk 1490AM") is a radio station licensed to serve South Lake Tahoe, California, United States. The station, established in 1956, is currently owned by Rothschild Broadcasting LLC. Programming KOWL broadcasts a news/talk ...
, opened its
studio A studio is a space set aside for creative work of any kind, including art, dance, music and theater. The word ''studio'' is derived from the , from , from ''studere'', meaning to study or zeal. Types Art The studio of any artist, esp ...
inside the
Harrah's Stateline Club Harrah's Entertainment (later named Caesars Entertainment Corporation, previously The Promus Companies) was an American casino and hotel company founded in Reno, Nevada, and based in Paradise, Nevada, that operated over 50 properties and seven go ...
. They were located on the upper floor. The station's transmitter and broadcast tower were roughly two miles south of the casino in
South Lake Tahoe, California South Lake Tahoe is the most populous incorporated city in El Dorado County, California, El Dorado County, California, United States, in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The city's population was 21,330 at the 2020 census, down from 21,403 at the 20 ...
. The South Shore Room opened in 1959, at a cost of $3.5 million. This 750-seat showroom, whose opening act was comedian
Red Skelton Richard Bernard Skelton (July 18, 1913September 17, 1997) was an American entertainer best known for his national old-time radio, radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program ''The Red Skelto ...
, made entertainment a priority at Harrah's. By 1960,
Guy Lombardo Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was a Canadian and American bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane racing, hydroplane racer whose unique "sweet jazz" style remained popular with audiences for nearly five decade ...
and his Royal Canadians Orchestra also appeared at Harrah's in collaboration with the vocalists Kenney Gardner, Cliff Glass and Bill Flannigan. Their performance featured popular songs composed by his brother Carmen including: ''Boo-Hoo'' and ''Return To Me''. Lombardo concluded the concert leading the audience in a sing-along which was followed by a rousing chorus of ''
Auld Lang Syne "Auld Lang Syne" () is a Scottish song. In the English-speaking world, it is traditionally sung to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on Hogmanay/New Year's Eve. It is also often heard at funerals, graduations, and as a far ...
''. The concert was recorded live for Capital Records (T1393, 1960). In 1962, Harrah's interiors were used for the
Curtis Enterprises Curtis Enterprises was an American company established by actor Tony Curtis in 1961. The company was formed following the dissolution of Curtis' previous film production company, Curtleigh Productions, which he had co-founded with his first wife ...
and
Universal-International Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American film production and distribution company headquartered at the Universal Studios complex in Universal City, ...
film ''
40 Pounds of Trouble ''40 Pounds of Trouble'' is a 1962 comedy film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Tony Curtis, Suzanne Pleshette, Larry Storch and Phil Silvers. It is a retelling of Damon Runyon's 1932 short story '' Little Miss Marker''. Plot Casino man ...
'', starring
Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor with a career that spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 films, in roles co ...
,
Suzanne Pleshette Suzanne Pleshette (January 31, 1937 – January 19, 2008) was an American actress. Pleshette was known for her roles in theatre, film, and television. She was nominated for three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. For her role as Emily Hart ...
and
Phil Silvers Phil Silvers (born Phillip Silver; May 11, 1911 – November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and comedic actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah". His career as a professional entertainer spanned nearly 60 years. He achieved major popularity w ...
. The comedy film was about a gambler who dies and leaves his daughter in the hands of the casino's manager. The film had its premiere on January 19, 1963, at Harrah's South Shore Room, which Curtis and his wife
Christine Kaufmann Christine Maria Kaufmann (; 11 January 1945 – 28 March 2017) was a German-Austrian actress, author, and businesswoman. The daughter of a German father and a French mother, she won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress f ...
attended. In 1963,
Barry Keenan Barry Keenan (June 26, 1940 – November 13, 2022) was an American businessman, best known as the mastermind behind the 1963 kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. At the age of 21, Keenan was already successful in the business world, as well as being t ...
, Joseph Amsler and John Irwin abducted
Frank Sinatra Jr. Francis Wayne Sinatra Group note. (; January 10, 1944 – March 16, 2016), known professionally as Frank Sinatra Jr., was an American jazz and big band singer, songwriter, and conductor. He was the son of singer and actor Frank Sinatra and his ...
, the 19-year-old son of singer
Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...
, after his performance at the South Shore Room opening for George Jessel. In February 1979,
Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western (genre), Western TV series ''Rawhide (TV series), Rawhide'', Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the "Ma ...
and
Sondra Locke Sandra Louise Anderson (née Smith; May 28, 1944 – November 3, 2018), professionally known as Sondra Locke, was an American actress and director. An alumna of Middle Tennessee State University, Locke broke into regional show business with ass ...
stayed at Harrah's while participating in the 2nd annual
John Denver Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. (December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997), known professionally as John Denver, was an American Country music, country and Folk music, folk singer, songwriter, and actor. He was one of the most popular acoustic m ...
Celebrity Pro-Am ski tournament. Portions of the
Bette Midler Bette Midler ( ;''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and author. Throughout her five-decade career Midler has received List of awards and nominations received by Bette Midler, numero ...
film ''
Jinxed! ''Jinxed!'' (also branded as ''Jinxed'' on promotional media) is a 1982 American comedy film starring Bette Midler, Rip Torn and Ken Wahl. The film was the last to be directed by Don Siegel, who suffered a heart attack during production. Siege ...
'' were shot on location at Harrah's in the summer of 1981 for the summer 1982 release of the film. Other locations used in the film were Harrah's in Reno, and the Harrah's Auto Museum, also in Reno. Harrah had been planning to build a hotel at Lake Tahoe for many years, but had been hindered by costs. However, in 1971, when Harrah's went public, he finally acquired the finances to build his dream hotel. In 1972, Harrah broke ground on his $25-million, 18-story, 250-room hotel which opened on November 9, 1973. Each room was furnished with a fully stocked bar, bay windows, two bathrooms with TVs and telephones. It earned the first five-star diamond rating in casino history. The 20-story pre-cast concrete sculpted building façade was designed and constructed by Thomas J. Geever. The hotel was expanded in 1976 with 290 additional rooms. The hotel and casino were damaged on August 27, 1980, when a bomb planted by terrorist and extortionist John Birges across the street in Harveys Lake Tahoe exploded, destroying the neighboring casino. Harrah's, which was connected to Harvey's via a tunnel, suffered damage from the explosion, mostly from shattered windows. No one was injured in the explosion and both casinos were empty when the bomb detonated. In 2000, a $26 million renovation was done to update the casino, hotel rooms and restaurants on the 18th floor including the Forest Buffet and Friday's Station. On December 3, 2005, a shootout occurred in a private booth near the casino floor. One person was killed and two Douglas County Sheriff's Deputies were injured. Caesars Entertainment began a major effort to remodel and revitalize Harrah's Lake Tahoe beginning in 2005; they remodeled floors 12 to 15 of the hotel and remade the rooms in mini suites with large couches, dry bars and brand new décor and furniture. The remodel was completed in mid-2006. Following the hotel remodel, Caesars completely remodeled the hotel's lobby and added a food court and luxury diamond outlet signature to Caesars called Park Place Jewelers in 2007. In 2008, Caesars added an upscale, luxury Chinese/Cantonese restaurant called Gi Fu Loh. On October 6, 2017, ownership of the property was transferred to Vici Properties as part of a
corporate spin-off A corporate spin-off, also known as a spin-out, starburst or hive-off, is a type of corporate action where a company "splits off" a section as a separate business or creates a second incarnation, even if the first is still active. It is distinct ...
, and it was leased back to Caesars Entertainment. There is access to Harveys via an underground pathway that features an arcade and live acts at Sammy Hagar's CaboWabo.


References

* Mandel, Leon (1981). ''William Fisk Harrah – The Life And Times Of A Gambling Magnate''. Doubleday & Company, Inc. .


External links

* {{Authority control 1955 establishments in Nevada Caesars Entertainment Casinos completed in 1955 Casinos in Stateline, Nevada Harrah's Entertainment Hotel buildings completed in 1955 Hotels established in 1955 Hotels in Stateline, Nevada Resorts in Nevada Casino hotels in Stateline, Nevada