Dunes
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA landmark Las Vegas Strip hotel and casino that operated from 1955 until 1993.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Dunes was a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, remembered for its distinctive desert-themed identity, large neon architecture, entertainment innovations, golf course, restaurants, and spectacular demolition. It opened on May 23, 1955, as the tenth resort on the Strip. The original development group consisted of businessmen from several states, including Robert Rice, James A. Sullivan, Milton Gettinger, and Alfred Gottesman. The project had earlier been proposed under names including Araby, Vegas Plaza, and Hotel Deauville before being developed as the Dunes. Construction began in June 1954 and was completed by the Los Angeles-based McNeil Construction Company in approximately eleven months. The resort opened with 194 rooms at a difficult moment for Las Vegas. Several resorts opened within a short period, creating an excess of hotel rooms while tourism demand was relatively weak. The Dunes was also geographically isolated at the southern end of the Strip. Its owners faced creditor pressure, a losing casino streak, high entertainment costs, and internal disagreements. Kirk Kerkorian acquired a small interest shortly after opening, marking his first Las Vegas investment. In August 1955, the Sands Hotel Corporation agreed to lease and operate the struggling property. Frank Sinatra headlined a lavish celebration marking the management change, but the Sands closed the casino in January 1956 after profits deteriorated and relinquished control the following month. Businessman Major Riddle and hotel operator William Miller then reorganized the operation. The casino reopened in June 1956, and Riddle became the central figure in the resort's recovery. He remained involved until his death in 1980. In 1961, St. Louis businessmen Sid Wyman, Charlie Rich, and George Duckworth joined the operation through a lease arrangement, with Wyman overseeing casino activities. The Dunes subsequently became one of the Strip's most recognizable entertainment properties. In 1957, it presented Minsky Goes to Paris, widely identified as Las Vegas's first topless show. Later productions by Frederic Apcar also became associated with the resort. The property expanded substantially. A convention center and parking facility were planned in 1959. The Emerald Green golf course opened in 1964 and was one of only two Strip resort golf courses at the time. At 7,240 yards, it was described as Nevada's longest course. A 21-story tower, initially called the Diamond of the Dunes, opened in 1965 as part of a major expansion, increasing the room count to 960 and contributing to the resort's prominent skyline. The Dunes also became known for a 181-foot free-standing sign and themed restaurants such as the underwater-inspired Dome of the Sea and the Top O' the Strip. A 17-story southern tower opened in 1979, bringing the resort to 1,282 rooms, and the Oasis Casino was added in 1982. Despite its attractions, Dunes faced recurring ownership, financing, regulatory, and governance difficulties. M&R Investment merged with Continental Connector Corporation in 1969, and the Securities and Exchange Commission later sued Continental Connector over allegedly inaccurate financial statements concerning Dunes earnings. Federal authorities also prosecuted or investigated several officials in connection with alleged tax violations and casino revenue skimming. The property attracted sustained scrutiny because of alleged organized-crime connections, disputed ownership interests, and the presence of figures associated with organized crime. Nevada gaming regulators conducted an extensive investigation into the finances and associations of attorney Morris Shenker, who acquired a substantial interest during the 1970s. The resort changed hands repeatedly in the 1980s. Prospective buyers included Steve Wynn, Circus Circus Enterprises, and other investors. Japanese investor Masao Nangaku bought the Dunes in 1987 for $157 million and intended to renovate and expand it, but regulatory scrutiny made financing difficult. Mirage Resorts, controlled by Wynn, acquired the property in November 1992 for $75 million. The Dunes closed on January 26, 1993. Its North Tower was imploded on October 27 that year in a heavily publicized event attended by an estimated 200,000 spectators, partly serving to promote Wynn's Treasure Island resort. The South Tower was demolished on July 20, 1994. Bellagio ultimately opened on the former Dunes site in 1998, making the Dunes an important predecessor in the redevelopment of the central-southern Strip.
History
The Dunes originated in 1953 when a group of out-of-state businessmen proposed a resort in the southern part of the Las Vegas Strip. The project passed through several names before becoming the Dunes. Groundbreaking occurred on June 22, 1954, and McNeil Construction Company completed the initial resort in about eleven months. The property opened on May 23, 1955, with 194 rooms. Its launch came during a period when several new resorts entered the market almost simultaneously, producing excess room capacity and intense competition. The Dunes's location at the southern edge of the Strip further limited early traffic. The original owners struggled with casino losses, expensive entertainment commitments, unpaid construction obligations, and disagreements among themselves. The Sands Hotel Corporation assumed operational control in late 1955 and staged a major promotional celebration featuring Frank Sinatra, but the Sands closed the casino in January 1956 and surrendered control soon afterward. Major Riddle and William Miller reorganized the property, reopening the casino in June 1956. Riddle became the leading figure in the resort's operations and remained associated with it until his death in 1980. The property also went through a sheriff's sale in 1957 arising from construction debt, although members of the original ownership group later reacquired it. The Dunes recovered under Riddle and expanded its entertainment and physical facilities. Its 1957 presentation of Minsky Goes to Paris is generally regarded as the first topless show in Las Vegas, a development that influenced entertainment programming across the Strip. In 1959, the resort marked the simultaneous groundbreakings of a convention center and a large parking facility. A new operating group involving Sid Wyman, Charlie Rich, and George Duckworth took over in 1961, while Riddle retained a major ownership role. The resort developed a reputation for celebrity entertainment and hosted several notable weddings, including those of Mary Tyler Moore and Grant Tinker, Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, and Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim. Physical expansion accelerated during the 1960s. Interstate 15 construction resulted in the condemnation of part of the western edge of the property. The Emerald Green golf course opened in 1964, making the Dunes one of only two Strip resorts with a golf course at that time. A 21-story tower opened in 1965 as the Diamond of the Dunes and later became known as the North Tower. The expansion increased capacity to 960 rooms. The resort also added a prominent 181-foot free-standing sign, themed restaurants, and elevated dining facilities, including Dome of the Sea and Top O' the Strip. A 17-story South Tower opened in 1979, bringing the room total to 1,282. Ownership and regulatory problems accompanied the expansion. In 1969, M&R Investment merged with Continental Connector Corporation, which owned the Dunes and its land. The SEC subsequently filed suit over allegedly inaccurate statements about Dunes earnings. In 1971, a federal grand jury indicted several resort officials over alleged tax fraud and skimming from gaming operations. The Dunes also had long-running alleged connections with organized-crime figures, including disputed hidden ownership interests and the use of resort facilities by people under law-enforcement scrutiny. Nevada regulators conducted an extensive investigation into Morris Shenker's financial interests and relationships after he became a major shareholder during the 1970s. These issues complicated financing and contributed to the resort's unstable ownership history. The Dunes continued adding facilities, including the Oasis Casino in 1982, but financial pressure intensified in the following decade. Several buyers considered the property, among them the Perlman brothers, Circus Circus Enterprises, and Steve Wynn. Masao Nangaku purchased the Dunes in 1987 for $157 million and planned a major renovation and expansion. An unusually prolonged gaming-control investigation made it difficult to secure financing for those plans. Mirage Resorts acquired the property from Nangaku in November 1992 for $75 million. The Dunes closed on January 26, 1993. The North Tower was imploded on October 27, 1993, before a large public audience, partly as publicity for Wynn's Treasure Island. The South Tower followed on July 20, 1994. Bellagio opened on the former Dunes site in 1998, replacing the old resort with one of the Strip's most important later developments.
- 1998
Bellagio opens on the former site
[1]Bellagio opened on the former Dunes property after the site's redevelopment.
- 1994
South Tower demolition
[1]The remaining South Tower was imploded on July 20.
- 1993
Closure and North Tower implosion
[1]The resort closed in January, and its North Tower was imploded in October before a large public crowd.
- 1992
Mirage Resorts acquisition
[1]Mirage Resorts purchased the Dunes and announced plans for a replacement lake resort.
- 1987
Nangaku acquisition
[1]Masao Nangaku bought the resort and proposed a major redevelopment.
- 1982
Oasis Casino added
[1]The Dunes expanded its gaming facilities with the opening of the Oasis Casino.
- 1979
South Tower opens
[1]A 17-story tower opened and brought the resort's total room count to 1,282.
- 1965
Diamond of the Dunes tower opens
[1]A 21-story tower opened during the resort's tenth-anniversary expansion, increasing capacity to 960 rooms.
- 1964
Emerald Green golf course opens
[1]The resort added a 7,240-yard golf course, one of only two Strip resort courses at the time.
- 1961
New operating partners join
[1]Sid Wyman, Charlie Rich, and George Duckworth joined the operation, with Wyman taking responsibility for casino operations.
Products and positioning
A large, theatrical Las Vegas Strip resort built around desert imagery, casino gaming, headline entertainment, themed dining, and destination amenities. The Dunes combined spectacle and architectural visibility with an increasingly diversified resort offer, but its reputation was also shaped by financial instability, ownership disputes, regulatory scrutiny, and alleged organized-crime associations.
Hotel accommodation · 1955
Dunes Hotel
The hotel began with 194 rooms and expanded through the addition of a 21-story North Tower in 1965 and a 17-story South Tower in 1979. The completed resort had 1,282 rooms and a highly visible desert-themed architectural presence on the southern Las Vegas Strip.
Casino gaming · 1955
Dunes Casino
The original casino was the central gaming operation of the resort. It suffered early losses, closed temporarily under Sands management, and reopened under Major Riddle's operating group in 1956. The property later added a second gaming venue, the Oasis Casino.
Casino gaming · 1982
Oasis Casino
Opened in 1982, the Oasis Casino gave the Dunes a second gaming facility and extended the resort's casino capacity during its later operating period.
Live entertainment · 1957
Minsky Goes to Paris
This revue debuted at the Dunes in 1957 and is widely recognized as Las Vegas's first topless show. Its success encouraged other Strip resorts to adopt similar entertainment formats.
Golf and leisure · 1964
Emerald Green golf course
The Emerald Green course opened in 1964. At 7,240 yards, it was described as Nevada's longest course and made the Dunes one of the few Las Vegas Strip resorts offering an on-site golf facility.
Restaurant
Dome of the Sea
Dome of the Sea was an underwater-themed restaurant added during the Dunes' 1960s expansion, reflecting the resort's emphasis on theatrical dining environments.
Restaurant
Top O' the Strip
Located at the top of the hotel tower, Top O' the Strip was a high-elevation dining venue introduced as part of the resort's expansion and skyline-oriented positioning.
Controversies
1974
Nevada investigation into Morris Shenker
The Nevada Gaming Control Board expanded an investigation into Morris Shenker's financing and relationships after he acquired a substantial interest in the Dunes. Shenker denied that his ownership represented a front for organized-crime interests.
1971
Tax and gaming-revenue indictments
A federal grand jury indicted several Dunes officials on allegations that they filed false corporate income-tax returns and conspired to skim money from gaming tables. The accused officials pleaded not guilty.
1970
Alleged organized-crime ownership and influence
The resort faced recurring allegations that organized-crime figures held concealed interests or received preferential treatment. The FBI conducted surveillance, while Nevada regulators examined the property's ownership and associations.
1969
SEC allegations concerning Continental Connector reporting
The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Continental Connector Corporation, alleging inaccurate financial statements related to earnings from the Dunes.
Marketing campaigns
- 1993North Tower implosion publicity event
United States
Mirage Resorts staged a highly publicized implosion of the North Tower after closing the Dunes, using the event to promote the nearby Treasure Island resort.
Outcome. The event attracted approximately 200,000 spectators and became one of Las Vegas's best-known resort demolitions.
- 1955Dunes opening celebration
United States
The resort's opening used celebrity attendance and entertainment to establish the Dunes as a major new Strip destination.
Outcome. The opening generated visibility, but the resort soon encountered serious financial and operating difficulties.
- 1955Sands takeover celebration
United States
A three-day celebration beginning September 9 marked the Sands Hotel Corporation's assumption of operations. Frank Sinatra headlined and made a highly theatrical entrance on a camel.
Outcome. The promotion could not reverse the resort's weak casino performance, and Sands ended its operating role in early 1956.
Brand decisions
1992
Mirage Resorts acquires and plans replacementM&ABackground
The Dunes remained financially troubled and had failed to secure a viable large-scale redevelopment under its previous ownership.
Action taken
Mirage Resorts bought the property and announced plans to replace it with a lake resort.
Aftermath
The Dunes closed in January 1993, its towers were demolished, and the site was eventually redeveloped as Bellagio.
Acquisition price. $75 million (November 1992)
1987
Sell the resort to Masao NangakuM&ABackground
The Dunes faced financial problems and had attracted several prospective buyers during the 1980s.
Action taken
Masao Nangaku acquired the resort and proposed renovation and expansion.
Aftermath
A lengthy gaming-control investigation discouraged financiers, and the proposed redevelopment was not completed.
Acquisition price. $157 million (1987)
1982
Open Oasis CasinoProduct launchBackground
The resort sought to expand its gaming operation during a period of financial pressure and ownership uncertainty.
Action taken
A second gaming facility, the Oasis Casino, was added to the property.
Aftermath
The addition broadened the Dunes' gaming footprint but did not prevent further financial and ownership difficulties in the 1980s.
1979
Open the South TowerGeneration changeBackground
The Dunes continued to expand its accommodation inventory despite increasing ownership and regulatory pressures.
Action taken
The resort opened a 17-story second tower.
Aftermath
Total capacity increased to 1,282 rooms, creating the North and South Tower configuration associated with the later resort.
1965
Expand with the Diamond of the Dunes towerGeneration changeBackground
The resort pursued greater room capacity and a stronger visual presence on the Strip.
Action taken
A 21-story tower opened as part of a $20 million expansion project and later became known as the North Tower.
Aftermath
The resort reached 960 rooms and gained one of Nevada's tallest hotel structures at the time, along with a prominent 181-foot sign.
Expansion project cost. $20 million (1965)
1964
Add Emerald Green golf courseStrategyBackground
The resort was broadening its offer beyond casino gaming and entertainment.
Action taken
The Dunes opened the Emerald Green golf course, measuring 7,240 yards.
Aftermath
The course reinforced the Dunes' position as a full-service resort and was one of only two Strip resort golf courses at the time.
1957
Introduce topless revue entertainmentProduct launchBackground
The Dunes sought distinctive entertainment capable of drawing visitors despite its difficult location and early financial problems.
Action taken
The resort launched Minsky Goes to Paris, identified as the first topless show in Las Vegas.
Aftermath
The format became influential across the Strip, and the Dunes later presented additional successful productions.
- Other Las Vegas Strip resorts — Other resorts subsequently followed the Dunes with similar topless entertainment.
1956
Reopen casino under Major Riddle and William MillerStrategyBackground
The Sands operating arrangement failed, leaving the hotel open but without a functioning casino operation.
Action taken
Major Riddle and William Miller formed an operating partnership and reopened the casino in June.
Aftermath
Riddle became the principal figure in the resort's recovery and remained associated with the property until 1980.
1955
Lease operations to Sands Hotel CorporationStrategyBackground
The newly opened resort was struggling because of weak tourism, excess Strip room supply, casino losses, and expensive entertainment commitments.
Action taken
The owners transferred operational control to the Sands Hotel Corporation under a lease arrangement.
Aftermath
Sands closed the casino in January 1956 and relinquished control after reportedly losing $1.2 million operating the property.
Operating loss reported for Sands' Dunes operation. $1.2 million loss (1955-1956)
Sources1 sources
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