About a mile west of the tourist-familiar Las Vegas strip Coast Resorts, Inc. (the same people that brought you the Barbary Coast and Gold Coast Hotels and Casinos) has decided to add what it hopes will be yet another successful destination: The Orleans Hotel & Casino. Because of it's location,at 4500 W. Tropicana, about a mile from the strip on Tropicana Blvd., it will be geared initially to the ever-growing local population.

(Artist's conception supplied by LGT Advertising & Coast Resorts).

The Orleans will be designed to reflect the "flare and flavor" of the French Quarter in New Orleans, LA. The 810 rooms and 30 suites will be housed in a 11 story tower with a great view of the strip and downtown. The property will also boast 100,000 square feet of casino space, a number of specialty bars including The Mardi Gras Party Bar and The Crawfish Shack and as many as five restaurants including two famous for their Louisiana presense, cooking up Cajun favorites as well as other common venues.

In its effort to reproduce the favorites that have made New Orleans popular with tourists worldwide, the Orleans will feature themed sections including Bourbon Street, The Garden District, Mardi Gras, the Mississippi River and other well known New Orleans features. The casino will also feature a wrought iron balcony and railing surrounding the entire second floor casino, a 70 lane bowling center, 40,000 square feet of banquet space, four movie theatres, a Branson showroom, and a 17,000 square foot Ballroom and Wedding Chapel.

The new property is set to open December 18 with fireworks at 7pm. Oh, and by the way the gator's official name is Alphonse.

Here is a couple of shots of the ongoing construction as of early November.

The Orleans should be accepting reservations now. For more information you can call them at (702) 365-7111 or 800-331-5334. Be sure to mention you saw them online in the Las Vegas Leisure Guide...

If your Las Vegas hotel, casino, restaurant or establishment has new major construction, public activities (sorry, slot tournaments and bingo night don't count) or other interesting tidbits to offer, send them to us at Las Vegas Leisure Guide on company letterhead and if we think LVLG readers will be amazed, astounded, or even slightly interested we'll publish it. Make sure to send LOTS of pictures! We, and our readers, love pictures!

Last Updated: December 10, 1996