What would become the Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall initially opened in 1979 as the Colorado Club[3] and was built by Tom Ward and Ed Nigro.

[4] The current owners continue utilizing the western theme that has been the signature of The Pioneer Club since its inception.

[1] River Rick is the name of the neon sign that resembles a cowboy that was erected at the Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall in 1981.

[7] When Margaret Elardi, owner of the Pioneer Club in Las Vegas, bought the Pioneer Club Laughlin in 1981 she commissioned the River Rick neon sign to be built, which was an almost exact copy of Vegas Vic found at the Pioneer Club in Las Vegas at a cost of $1.5 million.

River Rick is one of three neon cowboys in Nevada, the others being Vegas Vic and Wendover Will.