El Rancho Vegas The First Hotel on the what would become the Las Vegas Strip

Aerial shot of the El Rancho Vegas - Notice the Union Pacific Railroad line in the background

The El Rancho Vegas was the first resort on the what would become the Las Vegas Strip and open on April 3, 1941. The hotel was located on the corner of Highway 91 and San Francisco Ave, now know as Las Vegas Blvd. and Sahara Ave..  It was the largest hotel in Las Vegas with 110 rooms in 1941. When it opened, El Rancho Vegas’s dining room was the largest in Las Vegas. The casino consisted of four table games—two blackjack tables, one roulette table, and one craps table—and seventy slot machines. The hotel gained much of its fame from the gourmet buffet that it offered.

On July 17, 1960, the hotel was destroyed by fire. In 1982, the former Thunderbird Hotel located across the street was re-branded as the El Rancho Casino, creating some confusion. In 1970, billionaire Howard Hughes purchased 60 acres of the land. In 1978, the remnants of the old resort were demolished. The Hilton Grand Vacation Club now occupies a portion of the land. but the rest of the property for over 50years still remains a dirt lot on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd, aka “The Strip” and Sahara Ave.

Steve Wynn (born January 27, 1942)  He played a pivotal role in the 1990s resurgence and expansion of the Las Vegas Strip. His companies refurbished or built what are now widely recognized resorts in Las Vegas, including the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, Wynn, and Encore.

The Mirage was the first project in which he was involved in the design and construction of a casino. The $630 million cost to build the facility was financed largely with junk bonds issued by Michael Milken. The property was considered a high-risk venture by the standards then prevailing in Las Vegas because of its high cost and emphasis on luxury. However, it became enormously lucrative and made Wynn a major part of Las Vegas history.

Steve-Wynn SEO of Wynn Resorts

Now, as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Wynn Resorts, Wynn has developed Wynn Las Vegas, which opened on April 28, 2005; Wynn Macau, which opened in September 2006; Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, which opened December 22, 2008; and Encore at Wynn Macau, which opened on April 21, 2010.

As of March 2012, Wynn is the 491st richest man in the world with a net worth of $2.9 billion.