The Linq

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The Linq
Linq hotel.jpg
The Linq in 2017
Location Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Address 3535 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Opening date 1959; 59 years ago (1959)
No. of rooms 2,640
Total gaming space 32,890 sq ft (3,056 m2)
Permanent shows Mat Franco – Magic Reinvented Nightly
Signature attractions High Roller
Mat Franco Theater
The Auto Collections
The Linq Promenade
O'Sheas Casino
Notable restaurants Yard House
Owner Caesars Entertainment Corporation
Architect Merlin J. Barth (Imperial Palace)
Previous names Flamingo Capri (1959–1979)
Imperial Palace (1979–2012)
The Quad (2012–2014)
Renovated in 1972, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987–89, 2012, 2014
Coordinates 36°07′03″N 115°10′22″W / 36.11750°N 115.17278°W / 36.11750; -115.17278Coordinates: 36°07′03″N 115°10′22″W / 36.11750°N 115.17278°W / 36.11750; -115.17278
Website caesars.com/linq

The Linq (formerly Flamingo Capri, Imperial Palace and The Quad) is a 2,640-room hotel, casino and shopping promenade on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corporation. As of 2012, the casino is 32,890 sq ft (3,056 m2)[1] with 830 slot machines, 55 table games, and a race and sports book.[2]

It originally opened in 1959 as the 180-room Flamingo Capri motel, located adjacent to the Flamingo hotel and casino. Ralph Engelstad purchased the property in 1971, and added a casino the following year. In 1977, the hotel had 650 rooms, after the completion of its Imperial Palace Tower. The resort was later reopened as the Asian-themed Imperial Palace in 1979.

Several additional hotel towers were added during the 1980s, bringing the resort's room count to an ultimate total of 2,637, after the completion of a fifth and final hotel tower in 1987. At the time of Engelstad's death in 2002, the resort had 2,600 employees and was the second-largest privately owned hotel in the world. In 2012, the resort was renamed as The Quad. The resort was renamed again as The Linq in 2014, after a $223 million renovation.

History[edit]

Flamingo Capri (1959–1979)[edit]

The property began as the $2 million, 180-room Flamingo Capri motel, owned by George E. Goldberg and Bill Capri. The motel was built directly north of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino, where Capri was an employee. The motel began construction in May 1959,[3] with a planned completion date of August 15, 1959.[4] Douglas Honnold and John Rex, both of Beverly Hills, California, were the architects. Maurice N. Aroff of Beverly Hills was the general contractor.[4] The Flamingo Capri opened in 1959.[5] The original Flamingo agreed to provide hotel services to guests at the Capri.[3][4]

Ralph Engelstad purchased the motel in 1971, and added a casino in 1972.[3] Prior to the addition of a casino, the motel had 250 employees.[6] In 1973, four motel buildings from the Flamingo Capri were relocated and converted to become part of Engelstad's other property, the Kona Kai motel.[7] Engelstad's construction company added a three-story wing at the east end of the motel, as well as a northern addition,[3] both of which opened in 1974 along with the Shangri-la pool.[3]

By 1976, the motel was being operated as part of the Best Western hotel chain, while retaining the Flamingo Capri name. The new Imperial Palace Tower, which raised the number of rooms from 300 to 650, was completed in July 1977.[8]

Imperial Palace (1979–2012)[edit]

Imperial Palace in 2006

The property re-opened as the Asian-themed Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino on November 1, 1979,[3] with the number of employees increasing to 1,000.[6] Merlin J. Barth was the architect of the resort,[9] which was themed after an Asian palace.[10] Engelstad chose the Oriental theme, and Barth chose blue tile imported from Japan for the roof of the resort, having been influenced by Japanese temples. The interior heavily featured the Oriental theme as well, and included carved dragons and giant wind chime chandeliers.[6]

At the time of opening, the resort included Court of a Thousand Treasures, a four-story shopping arcade with 60 stores, overlooking the east end of the 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2) casino.[11][12][13] The Imperial Theatre showroom with 850 seats was opened in June 1980.[3] In addition to live shows, the showroom was also expanded to be used for filming of sports and entertainment television specials.[6] A second hotel tower with 850 rooms was added in early 1981.[citation needed] The Auto Collections opened on December 1, 1981,[3] on the fifth floor of a new parking garage which was added that year.[citation needed] A 650-room hotel tower opened in August 1982, bringing the total room count to more than 1,500.[6][13] By 1982, the shopping arcade included the free Imperial Palace School of Gaming, for gamblers who did not know how to play.[14][15][16] The school operated as a mini casino overlooking the main 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) casino.[17] During the 1980s, the resort served as the starting and finishing location of the annual Imperial Palace Antique Auto Run.[18][19]

In 1984, a couple from Missouri were assaulted in their guest room by a man dressed as a hotel employee. They were beaten, bound and gagged, and the wife was raped. The assailant was never caught. The couple sued the Imperial Palace, claiming that the hotel did not provide adequate security. The lawsuit lasted until at least 1989, with allegations that hotel employees destroyed evidence relating to their security practices. The case was ultimately settled on undisclosed terms.[20]

The lawsuit would lead indirectly to more trouble for the casino. In 1988, several employees, angry about being placed on leave as punishment for talking to the plaintiff attorney, began speaking to the Gaming Control Board and local media about two Nazi-themed parties Engelstad had held at the Imperial Palace. The parties were held in Engelstad's so-called "war room", which featured a large collection of World War II Nazi memorabilia, including a portrait of Engelstad in the likeness of Hitler. A national controversy ensued. Engelstad claimed the collection was purely of historical interest, and not meant to glorify the Nazis. The Gaming Control Board recommended that Engelstad lose his gaming license and be fined $200,000 for reflecting poorly on the reputation of the Nevada gaming industry. An agreement was ultimately reached whereby Engelstad kept his license, but paid $1.5 million in penalties.[20]

In 1985, the parking garage was expanded to include more than 1,000 additional parking spaces,[3] becoming one of the largest parking facilities in Las Vegas.[21] In December 1985, the foundation was laid for a 560-room hotel addition,[22] which was completed in 1986 as the resort's fourth tower, bringing the room count total to 2,100.[3] The Imperial Palace became the seventh largest hotel in the world, and had more than 2,200 employees. Also in 1986, the casino was expanded by 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2), and convention facilities were increased from 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m2) to 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2).[21] A fifth and final hotel tower, standing 19 stories with 547 rooms, was completed in July 1987, bringing the total to 2,637 rooms.[3][23] The tower was the former location of the resort's pool.[21]

In 1987, the Governor's Committee for the Handicapped named the Imperial Palace as "Employer of the Year" for its extensiving hiring of handicapped people.[24] A three-phase expansion began in August 1987 and concluded in July 1989.[21][25] The three-phase expansion included the addition of a new Olympic-size swimming pool, a heated spa, and a poolside bar.[6] The final phase of the expansion – including a race & sportsbook, and fitness center – extended the resort to the sidewalk along Las Vegas Boulevard. The sportsbook was completed in September 1989,[6] and a drive-through option was created in 1991, making the Imperial Palace the first casino in Las Vegas to offer such a feature. The drive-through sportsbook, located on Koval Lane behind the hotel, became popular among customers.[26] In 1991, the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities named the Imperial Palace "National Employer of the Year" for its hiring of disabled people.[25] In 1993, an independent 24-hour medical facility serving guests and employees was opened.[citation needed] In the 1990s, the Imperial Palace's gaming school operated on the main casino floor.[27][28] In 1997, Engelstad opened a second Imperial Palace in Biloxi, Mississippi.[3]

As of 1997, the Imperial Palace was the 10th largest hotel in the world and the world's largest privately owned hotel.[6] When Engelstad died in 2002, the casino ownership transferred to the Ralph Engelstad and Betty Engelstad Trust. The casino operated as its own limited partnership, Imperial Palace LLC, under the Trust's oversight. At the time of Engelstad's death, the resort was the second-largest privately owned hotel in the world, with nearly 2,700 rooms and 2,600 employees.[3]

On August 22, 2005, Harrah's Entertainment announced plans to purchase the property. The acquisition was completed on December 23, 2005. During a conference call with investors on November 20, 2005, the Chairman for Harrah's, Gary Loveman, noted that both the Imperial Palace and neighboring O'Sheas Casino "are going to require very substantial modifications or complete tear-downs and rebuilds" in order to make room for an expansion of the nearby Harrah's and/or Flamingo hotel-casinos.[29] However, since then, Harrah's has invested millions of dollars into refurbishing both the hotel rooms and the casino itself.

In July 2009, Harrah's announced new plans for the area around the Imperial Palace, O'Sheas, and Flamingo casinos, confirming that the Imperial Palace will not be demolished at this time. Harrah's planned to add approximately 20 restaurants and bars between O'Sheas and the Flamingo.[30]

In August 2011, Caesars Entertainment Corporation announced it will be building a massive entertainment complex adjacent to the Imperial Palace and on the site of O'Sheas casino, called Project LINQ. The Imperial Palace name will be retired and the property renamed.[31]

The Quad (2012–2014)[edit]

The Quad in 2013

On September 17, 2012, Caesars Entertainment Corporation announced that Imperial Palace would be renamed The Quad Resort and Casino. The official conversion was completed on December 21, 2012.[32][33]

The Linq (2014–present)[edit]

In July 2014, Caesars announced that the Quad would be again renamed The Linq Hotel & Casino[34] in order to join the LINQ Promenade, an adjacent shopping and entertainment center that opened in January 2014, following a $223 million renovation of the property.[35] The hotel and casino were officially renamed on October 30, 2014.[36]

Film history[edit]

Attractions[edit]

The Linq Promenade[edit]

The Linq Promenade with the High Roller in the background in 2014

The Linq Promenade is an open-air retail, dining, and entertainment district located between The Linq and Flamingo resorts that began a soft open in January 2014.

Caesars Entertainment Corporation announced the intended addition of Fly LINQ, expected to be the first and only zipline on the Las Vegas Strip. Construction began in the spring of 2018 and opens in late 2018.[38]Once complete, the Fly LINQ attraction will feature 10 side-by-side zip lines. [39]

The High Roller[edit]

Further information: High Roller (Ferris wheel)

On March 31, 2014, Caesars Entertainment opened the 550-foot-tall High Roller, The World's Tallest Observation Wheel at The LINQ Promenade.

O'Sheas Casino[edit]

Main article: O'Sheas Casino

O'Sheas Casino reopened in December 2013, attached to the Linq's casino floor and to its shopping promenade.[40][41]

The Auto Collections[edit]

1930 Cord, part of the Auto Collections in 2005
The Auto Collections

The Auto Collections was a collection of classic vehicles on display at the resort until 2017.[42] The museum opened on December 1, 1981,[3][43] known then as the Antique and Classic Auto Collections.[13][44] The museum initially consisted of Engelstad's own private car collection,[42] worth over $10 million at the time of the opening.[43] The exhibition was located in an air-conditioned facility on the 5th floor of the resort's parking garage.[45][46]

Don Williams and Richie Clyne took over operations of the museum in 1999.[47] Under their management, the museum began offering its vehicles for sale and trade on February 1, 2000.[48] Approximately 200 vehicles were kept in storage nearby. Vehicles would be taken out of storage to take the place of those that had been sold in the exhibit. Approximately half of the vehicles in the collection were owned by Williams and Clyne.[49] The Auto Collections closed on December 30, 2017.[42][50] Rob Williams, the general manager and a part-owner, said about the closure, "It's time; it's basically that simple. We've had a great run here … It's just time to close it down and move on to our next endeavors." Although visitor attendance had slightly declined, it was not a reason for the closure.[42]

The exhibit was located in 125,000 sq ft (11,600 m2) of space. The collection was the world's largest classic car showroom, with more than $25 million worth of inventory on display and for sale. More than 250 antique, classic, muscle and historically significant cars were on display and nearly all were for sale. Prices varied dramatically depending on many factors and ranged from as low as $30,000 to several million dollars for the especially rare pieces in the collection. Some of the cars presented included those once driven by famous celebrities or utilized by state officials, such as the 1955 Lincoln Capri Convertible owned by Marilyn Monroe, the 1939 Chrysler Royal Sedan formerly belonging to Johnny Carson or the 1962 Lincoln Continental Towne Limousine serving President John F. Kennedy.

Shows[edit]

Mat Franco - Magic Reinvented Nightly[edit]

Mat Franco - Magic Reinvented Nightly stars Mat Franco, the season nine winner on NBC's America's Got Talent. In the newly renovated "Mat Franco Theater", Franco performs multiple tricks involving audience participation, as well as his awarding winning sleight-of-hand. In 2016 Magic Reinvented Nightly was awarded "Best Show" and "Best Magic Show" by Las Vegas Weekly and the Las Vegas Review-Journal respectively.[51]

Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas[edit]

Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas was a drag revue starring Las Vegas' longest-running headliner, Frank Marino,[52] who hosted the revue as his most famous impersonation, Joan Rivers.[53] The show moved to the Imperial Palace from the Riviera Hotel and Casino in 2010, and ran for eight years, until it was shut down in July 2018 due to controversy involving a charity scandal.[54]

Dealertainers[edit]

Beginning in 2003,[55] the casino had approximately eight blackjack tables on the lower level that featured celebrity impersonators as dealers. These impersonators, which included Joliet Jake from the Blues Brothers, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Cher, Shakira, Roy Orbison, Zac Brown, Shania Twain, Britney Spears, Buddy Holly, and others, alternated dealing cards and performing a song on a small stage in the center of the tables. The Dealertainers pit was discontinued as of September 8, 2014.[55]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nonrestricted Square Footage Report (PDF) (Report). Nevada Gaming Commission. January 13, 2012. p. 5. Retrieved 2012-12-10. 
  2. ^ Nonrestricted Count Report (PDF) (Report). Nevada Gaming Commission. October 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-10. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Steffner, Jim (Summer 2006). "The Man and the Palace" (PDF). Casino Chip and Token News. Retrieved 16 October 2014. 
  4. ^ a b c "Ground Is Broken For Luxury Motel". The Arizona Republic. June 6, 1959. Retrieved January 26, 2017. 
  5. ^ Velotta, Richard N. (1 July 2014). "Caesars to spend $223 million on revamping Quad, rebranding it as Linq hotel". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 28 August 2018. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Imperial Palace history". Arizona Republic. 5 January 1997. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  7. ^ "Clark County Department of Building & Safety" (PDF). www.dsnet.co.Clark.NV.US. September 26, 1973. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014. 
  8. ^ Quinlivan, Mike (July–September 2003). "The Flamingo Capri Revisited" (PDF). Casino Chip and Token News. p. 4. Retrieved 16 October 2014. 
  9. ^ "Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino". Emporis. Retrieved 28 August 2018. 
  10. ^ "Neon Survey: Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Retrieved 28 August 2018. 
  11. ^ "Court of a Thousand Treasures". The Arizona Republic. 28 October 1979. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  12. ^ "Gazette tour". Indiana Gazette. February 1983. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  13. ^ a b c McCann, Steven (13 June 1982). "Imperial Palace Constructing 650 Room Tower Addition". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 23 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  14. ^ "At the Imperial Palace: Free gambling classes held daily". Los Angeles Times. 3 January 1983. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  15. ^ "Imperial gaming school adds specialty classes". Los Angeles Times. 7 August 1983. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  16. ^ "Vegas hotel has two special drawing cards". Daily Breeze. 26 August 1984. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via NewsLibrary. (Subscription required (help)). 
  17. ^ "Imperial Palace offering instruction in etiquette of craps, '21,' roulette". Los Angeles Times. 22 January 1984. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  18. ^ "3rd Imperial Auto Run in final planning stages". Los Angeles Times. 22 January 1984. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  19. ^ "Antique autos again will hit the road in Las Vegas". Los Angeles Times. 18 October 1987. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  20. ^ a b Burbank, Jeff (2005). License to Steal: Nevada's Gaming Control System in the Megaresort Age. University of Nevada Press. pp. 55–79. ISBN 0-87417-624-7. 
  21. ^ a b c d "Imperial Palace plans expansion; 19-story tower, new pool included". Los Angeles Times. 27 September 1987. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  22. ^ "On the Grow". Reno Gazette-Journal. 22 December 1985. Retrieved 23 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  23. ^ "29 firms honored". Reno Gazette-Journal. 29 November 1987. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. 
  24. ^ "Imperial Palace honored as top employer". Los Angeles Times. 25 October 1987. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  25. ^ a b "Imperial Palace celebrates 25 years on Strip". The Arizona Republic. 25 February 2001. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  26. ^ Patterson, Spencer (6 July 1999). "Convenience? You bet!". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 28 August 2018. 
  27. ^ "Free gaming classes offered at Imperial". The Arizona Republic. 14 February 1993. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  28. ^ "Feeling gaming-impaired? Take a class". Los Angeles Times. 18 January 1998. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  29. ^ Benston, Liz. "North Strip: Birth of a boom?". Casino City Times. Retrieved 23 January 2012. 
  30. ^ Benston, Liz (12 July 2009). "Harrah's plans new 'street' of bars, eateries near Strip". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 29 September 2011. 
  31. ^ Harwood, Elissa. "Inside Gaming: The Linq, Hooters Casino Fights Foreclosure, & Sex and the City". pokernews.com. Retrieved 23 January 2012. 
  32. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2012-10-03. 
  33. ^ http://www.8newsnow.com/story/25920733/quad-hotel-to-get-223m-upgrade-new-name-linq
  34. ^ "Hotels, Motels & Accommodations Tips - Stay Here". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 3 April 2018. 
  35. ^ Don Chareunsy (July 1, 2014). "Caesars Entertainment to transform Quad into Linq Hotel & Casino". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2014-07-02. 
  36. ^ "Not Just A Name Change For The LINQ". CBS. October 30, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2016. 
  37. ^ Cassavetes directs : John Cassavetes and the making of Love stream / Michael Ventura. -- Harpenden, Herts. : Kamera Books, 2007. Page 120.
  38. ^ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/caesars-entertainment-introduces-fly-linq-200000604.html
  39. ^ attractionsmagazine.com/fly-linq-zipline-coming-to-las-vegas-strip-in-late-2018/
  40. ^ "O'Sheas". Caesars Entertainment. Retrieved 23 August 2018. 
  41. ^ Cullen, Natalie (27 December 2013). "O'Sheas Casino Reopens on Las Vegas Strip". KLAS-TV. Retrieved 23 August 2018. 
  42. ^ a b c d Segall, Eli (December 12, 2017). "Long-running auto collection on Las Vegas Strip shutting its doors". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 31, 2017. 
  43. ^ a b "Mason City". Globe Gazette. 19 November 1981. Retrieved 23 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  44. ^ "Can't Honk This Horn". Sacramento Bee. 11 September 1991. Retrieved 23 August 2018. (Subscription required (help)). 
  45. ^ "Antique, classic auto collection on display at Imperial Palace". The Arizona Republic. 15 August 1982. Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  46. ^ "Las Vegas museums show off culture high and low". Detroit Free Press. 11 April 1999. Retrieved 23 August 2018 – via Newspapers.com. (Subscription required (help)). 
  47. ^ "Hundreds of famous autos to be auctioned this weekend". Las Vegas Sun. 26 October 2000. Retrieved 23 August 2018. 
  48. ^ Hogan, Jan (April 17, 2000). "Imperial Palace exhibit adds classic car sales". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on June 17, 2001. 
  49. ^ Noland, Eric (18 April 2003). "Miles of Memories at Las Vegas Auto Exhibition". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 23 August 2018. 
  50. ^ "Closure notice". The Auto Collections. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2017. 
  51. ^ "Las Vegas Magic Shows - Mat Franco - LINQ Hotel & Casino". www.caesars.com. Retrieved 3 April 2018. 
  52. ^ As shown in an episode of Plastic Surgery: Before and After featuring a segment on Frank Marino, Discovery Health Channel, first aired May 2005.
  53. ^ Frank Marino's official web site.
  54. ^ "Divas Ended Over Charity Non Payment". July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018. 
  55. ^ a b Katsilometes, John (10 September 2014). "The pit is closed for the Dealertainers at the Quad". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 3 November 2014. 

External links[edit]

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