The year 1967 brought about another name change and image change. From the space age New Frontier, to the Frontier Hotel and Casino. About this time, there was concern about hidden ownership and a skimming scheme. Concerned about the possible corruption, authorities encouraged billionaire Howard Hughes to buy the Frontier. Hughes brought in his own people, which resolved any problems.

In 1988 the Elardi family, headed by matriarch Margaret Elardi, bought the Frontier and Silver Slipper from Summa corporation. They tore down the Silver Slipper and replaced it with a parking lot.

The Elardis made changes at the Frontier, cutting back on entertainment and other amenities. They also cut employees wages and benefits, causing 550 of their employees to go on strike starting on September 21, 1991. The strike was the longest labor walkout in U.S. history, lasting for 2325 days. There was very little support for the Elardis, during the strike. Even other casinos supported the striking workers. William Bennett, of the Circus Circus, provided hot meals three times a day, to the picketing workers, for free.

Finally, more than 6 years after the strike started, and after losing a few courtroom confrontations, the Elardis sold the Frontier to Phil Ruffin for 167 million. Ruffin signed contracts with the unions, ending the strike. The name was changed one more time to the New Frontier.

Nearly 10 years later, in May 2007, Phil Ruffin sold the Frontier to New York based Elad Group for 1.2 billion.

On July 16, 2007, at 1201 a.m., an alarm sounded at the New Frontier, signaling the closing of the resort. In the days leading up to the closing, customers and collectors were buying chips, dice, cards, and anything else showing the resorts name or the "F" logo. According to a security guard, people were even prying the room number plates off the doors in the hotel! I wish my husband and I could have been there for a few last pictures and memories.

The Frontier was imploded in November of 2007.

Elad, which is controlled by billionaire Yitzhak Tshuva, plans to spend $5 billion to construct a mixed-use development modeled after New York's Plaza Hotel.

To see what the Hotel Last Frontier and the 21 Club Casino looked like, get a copy of the Roy Rogers movie "Heldorado." A lot of it was filmed at the Last Frontier (and the good guy always wins, and the horse gets higher billing than the heroine does!)

First published in the Casino Chip and Token News Magazine, Volume 20, Summer 2007 issue.

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