In the early morning hours of June 17, 1976, the Las Vegas Strip was buzzing with activity. The city’s newest hotel and casino, the Tangiers, was set to open its doors to the public in just a few hours.
The Tangiers was the brainchild of businessman Sheldon Adelson, who had made his fortune in the computer industry.
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Adelson had originally wanted to build a hotel and casino in Jerusalem, but when that plan fell through, he turned his sights to Las Vegas. He bought a piece of land on the Strip and set about building a luxurious property that would rival anything else in the city.
The Tangiers was meant to be a different kind of casino, one that would cater to high rollers and offer a more sophisticated gambling experience than what was currently available in Las Vegas. To that end, Adelson hired famed casino designer Roger Thomas to create a unique property that would stand out from the rest.
Thomas’s design for the Tangiers was inspired by the Moroccan city of the same name. The exterior of the hotel featured minarets and arches reminiscent of a mosque, while the interior was decked out in rich fabrics and Moroccan-style furnishings.
The casino floor was laid out in a concentric circle, with gaming tables and slot machines arranged around a central stage where live entertainment would be performed.
The Tangiers opened its doors on June 17, 1976, with a lavish gala event that featured performances by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. The casino quickly became popular with high rollers from all over the world, who came to gamble in its opulent surroundings.
However, just four years after it opened, the Tangiers ran into financial trouble. Adelson was forced to sell off his stake in the property and it eventually went through several more owners before closing for good in 1996.
Despite its relatively short lifespan, the Tangiers made an indelible mark on Las Vegas history. It was one of the first casinos to Target high rollers and offer them a luxurious gambling experience.
Its Moorish-inspired design was unlike anything else on the Strip at that time or since. And while it may be gone now, it will always be remembered as one of Sin City’s most iconic casinos.
