Fiesta Rancho

A $26 million, 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) expansion took place in 1999, adding a food court, a parking garage, and additional casino space.

It remained closed while other casinos began reopening, with most of its customer base relocating to the company's nearby Santa Fe Station.

George J. Maloof Jr. had wanted to own a casino in Las Vegas,[2] and he convinced his family to build one there.

The Maloof family chose to build in a location off of the Las Vegas Strip, where real estate prices were significantly higher.

[4] The Maloof Companies announced the $15 million[5] Fiesta in 1990,[6] with initial plans to include an RV park.

"[7] Because of the financing issue, construction was later scheduled to begin in early 1993, with completion approximately 10 months later, at a cost of $20 million.

Other features in the planned expansion included an entertainment lounge, an additional 200 or 300 slot machines, a larger casino pit for more table games, and a race book that would be added to the sportsbook.

[11] Sports on the Run, a drive-through sportsbook addition that uses pneumatic tubes, was built at a cost of over $500,000 and was opened in September 1995.

[28] In 1998, the Nevada Gaming Control Board considered fining the Fiesta for participating in illegal betting practices on horse races.

"[32] At the time, the Fiesta included 1,400 video poker and slot machines, and five restaurants,[32] and was among nine other Las Vegas casinos to offer SportXction, a new interactive betting system.

Ahead of concerts, the pipe organ had to be temporarily removed by a hydraulic lift to make room for entertainers.

The Fiesta had received approximately 8,000 customers a day, but Maloof projected the number to increase to 10,000 after the expansion.

[37][40] Maloof planned to use the money from the sale to fund his new $250 million hotel-casino on Flamingo Road,[37] which eventually became the site of his Palms Casino Resort.

[41] In October 2000, Station agreed to purchase the Reserve hotel-casino in Henderson, Nevada, and considered redesigning it and renaming it as another Fiesta location.

[44] The Fiesta also had a reputation among local gamblers for its loose video poker machines, but many customers felt that this was no longer the case after the sale to Station.

Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor, said, "Any time there's a little change, these people (local gamblers) are very fickle.

Station launched a large-scale marketing plan to promote the Fiesta Rancho and bring back its clientele.

Instead, Station planned to begin construction on a 31,000 sq ft (2,900 m2) 1,400-seat ice arena at Fiesta Rancho in April 2004, for an autumn 2004 opening.

[60] Nevada casinos were among businesses required to close on March 17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the state.

[64] The company announced in August 2020 that the reopening of closed properties, including the Fiestas, was dependent on demand, noting that the closures may be permanent.

[64][68] Analysts viewed the demolition plan as a defensive move to prevent future competition from gaming rivals.

[69][65] North Las Vegas mayor John Lee was hopeful that the land would be redeveloped as commercial space.

[69] Pat Spearman, a mayoral candidate for North Las Vegas, had suggested saving Fiesta Rancho and repurposing it as a skills training center for people who lost their jobs to technology.

[71][72] The Pepsi Ice Arena remained after demolition and would continue operations until Station sold the land.

[74] City officials had considered purchasing the Fiesta and Texas Station properties for redevelopment as affordable housing.

[75] In July 2023, plans were announced by Agora Realty & Management to redevelop the two properties as a mixed-use project, known as Hylo Park.

"[26] In 2003, the Fiesta Rancho was chosen by readers and staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal for "Best Video Poker".