History
The Wheel Casino opened on February 15, 1961.
By 1962, the Wheel was closed, and Paul Perry agreed to buy it. Attorney Bill Boyd represented him in the transaction, in exchange for a stake in the property. Boyd brought in other investors: a fellow lawyer, his aunt, and his father, Sam Boyd, general manager of the Mint. They reopened it as the Eldorado Casino on July 1.
Around 1965, they acquired the adjacent Royal Club, doubling the Eldorado's size.
The Boyds took over ownership in 1966. Sam bought half of the property for $6,667 and Bill bought a quarter for $3,000, while another of the original investors, Joe Crowley kept the remaining quarter, until he was later bought out. The Boyds tried to emphasize Henderson's small-town feel in operating the casino.
A $1.5-million renovation in 1977 expanded the casino to 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2), to keep up with the town's growth.
Boyd Gaming acquired the casino in 1993. The company uses it as a training ground for executives, because its small size requires a hands-on management approach.
In 2007, a $700,000 renovation was completed.
Read more about this topic: Eldorado Casino
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