![]() Nevada governor Paul Laxalt declared a "Circus Circus Premiere Week" to mark the opening. The opening was attended by numerous government officials and film stars, as well as media from across the United States. An invitational costume party preceded the public opening. The $15 million Circus Circus ultimately opened on the night of October 18, 1968. The tent-shaped roof reached 90 feet in the air, and was made of a plexiglass material which was painted white and hot pink. The casino included a circus tent structure, made of steel and concrete. However, work was sped up during the final month to get the casino opened sooner, resulting in a higher construction cost. Johnson estimated the project to cost $3.9 million. The Circus Circus owners had $4.2 million to cover the construction costs, and R. The opening was eventually delayed to October 1, 1968. Circus Circus was built on the Las Vegas Strip, across from the Riviera resort, on property next to the Westward Ho motel. Ĭircus Circus was designed by the California firm of Rissman and Rissman Associates. Approval was granted after a $1.1 million loan was provided by relatives of Kirk Kerkorian. The Nevada Gaming Control Board gave preliminary approval for Circus Circus, but this was overturned by the Nevada Gaming Commission, which noted that Sarno's group had only 70 percent of the necessary funds to finance the project. ![]() Planning for Circus Circus was underway at the end of 1967, and the opening was initially planned for August 1, 1968. Sarno called Circus Circus "the most exciting project of my life". Explaining the casino's double name, Sarno said, "At first I planned a Roman circus motif, but changed my mind and decided to build a circus like we are all familiar with – instead of a Roman circus, it's a circus circus." A circus-themed casino was a departure from Sarno's previous Las Vegas resort, the luxurious Caesars Palace. At the time, the resort included the only RV park on the Las Vegas Strip.Ĭircus Circus was originally owned by Jay Sarno and Stanley Mallin. In 2019, MGM sold Circus Circus to Las Vegas casino owner Phil Ruffin. Fifty years after its opening, Circus Circus remained popular among families. MGM intended to renovate and expand Circus Circus, but canceled such plans amid the Great Recession. The resort was sold to MGM Mirage (later MGM Resorts International) in 2005. The resort was owned through Circus Circus Enterprises, which was renamed Mandalay Resort Group in 1999. The Circus Circus property also includes the small Slots-A-Fun Casino, which Sarno opened in 1971. The amusement park was added in 1993, and a 35-story tower was completed three years later. Bennett and Pennington eventually purchased Circus Circus in 1983, and added a 29-story tower in 1986. A year later, Circus Circus added a series of motel structures, increasing the total room count to 1,610. Another 15-story tower was added in 1975, followed by an RV park in 1979. The property thrived under its new management. In 1974, the casino was leased to Bill Bennett and William Pennington, taking over operations from Sarno and Mallin. Sarno and Mallin were subsequently investigated for tax code violations and alleged connections with organized crime. A 15-story tower, with 409 rooms, was added in 1972. It struggled financially during its early years, in part because of its lack of a hotel. Circus Circus was the first family-oriented casino in Las Vegas. ![]() It included a casino on its first floor, while a second floor contained carnival games for children. It opened without a hotel on October 18, 1968. The resort also includes the Adventuredome, an indoor amusement park.Ĭircus Circus was originally owned by Jay Sarno and Stanley Mallin. It features circus and trapeze acts, as well as carnival games, at its Carnival Midway. Circus Circus includes the largest permanent circus in the world.
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