Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

The cost of renovation is so high, especially for an older property, that it may make financial sense to implode and start from scratch.

I would be sad to see it go, however. Bally's holds a special spot in my heart. I stayed there with my parents when I was eight years old, my first trip to Vegas. This was back when it was still the MGM, long before the fire. I felt like James Bond in "Diamonds are Forever." My dad's host even called me Mr. S! Very cool!

Mmmmmmmm. I loves a good implosion. Does this mean that Rush Hour 3 is filming at Bally's? *This* would be a bitchin' video to put up at RateVegas. (Not Rush Hour, the implosion, obviously.)

But how much work would it need?

The guest rooms were recently refurbished (finished in 2003).

The property is a mish mash, but we're talking Harrah's here. I'd bet they'll renovate one tower at a time and then build out the property to the Strip to give it some curb appeal.

I'm with socalduck. The MGM was the first casino I stepped into in Las Vegas or anywhere else for that matter. I thought I was really something.

Along with two previous posters, I too have very fond memories of the original MGM Grand. I stayed there starting in the early 70s and vividly remember so many of the unique features including the hallway leading to the Jai Alai fronton lined with the life masks of MGM stars, each mask encased in arcrylic on its own pedestal. It certainly was "grand", with two huge theaters -- one for Hallelujah Hollywood and the other for the celebrity du jour, Dean Martin, Tom Jones, etc. In between was the "Cub Lounge" where Lou Rawls and performers of that level could be seen. That lounge later became the Baccarat lounge, the original Baccarat lounge having been in a recessed pit in the center of the casino. The Keno lounge was massive, as large as some sports books. In the cocktail lounge at the rear of the casino, a quartet of string players would move from table to table serenading the guests. What a place it was. When I turned on the television one morning and saw my favorite hotel belching smoke and flame, it was next to unimaginable. Nothing matched its level of sophistication and grandeur until Bellagio came along. Bally's ownership brought with it an unimaginable level of tackiness. And ironically, Bellagio now under MGM's stewardship has lost so much of its original panache.

I have no memories of Bally's except that it is an anesceptic property with no life. I would welcome a good implosion on that corner. Can we include the Flamingo as well.

Although they started including some Cirque type acts for variety, Jubilee was one of the few remaining (and probably the best) "classic Vegas" topless shows.

I agree with BigBellagioFan, we also stayed at the
MGM in the 70's up until the fire and then also after the fire. In fact we stayed there the week of the MGM/Bally's turnover. We always had to eat at Tracy's and could not believe they turned that fantastic room into the Big Kitchen Buffet!! Moved slots in and around the Lounge in the back, which used to be so quiet and fancy with table games all the way back on that side of the casino. Bally's tore the "CLASS" out of the entire casino. It is now like going to a county fair.