don laughlin's riverside resort and casino flights

In his later years, Don Laughlin spent his time shuttling between his penthouse suite atop the Riverside Resort and his cattle ranch in nearby Kingman, often using his private helicopter for transportation. He also helped expand the airport to accommodate commercial airliners fully. He played a vital role in financing the construction of a bridge over the Colorado River, connecting Laughlin to the Laughlin-Bullhead International Airport in Arizona. 2ĭon Laughlin’s contributions extended beyond the casino. The most substantial expansion occurred in 1994, bringing the total room count to 1,405. In 1972, it added 48 new rooms, and in 1975, an additional 52 rooms were incorporated. Over the years, the Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino expanded significantly. Postal Service inspector suggested it as the name for the local post office, reflecting Don Laughlin’s Irish heritage. The name “Laughlin” became synonymous with the area when a U.S. Accommodations were initially limited to four of the motel’s eight rooms, with Laughlin’s family occupying the remaining four. 2 At the time, the casino featured twelve slot machines and two live gaming tables. In less than two years, Laughlin transformed the Riverside Resort into a popular destination, offering gambling and famous all-you-can-eat chicken dinners for just 98 cents. This vision led him to purchase a shuttered eight-room riverfront motel on 6.5 acres for $250,000, as several landowners chose to sell the property to him due to his prior casino experience. His legacy in Laughlin, Nevada, and the gaming industry as a whole is significant.įacebook post from Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort.īorn in 1927, Don Laughlin relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, in the late 1950s and ventured into the casino business by purchasing his first establishment, the “101 Club.” 1 However, it was during a fateful flight over the tri-state area near the Colorado River in 1964 that Laughlin envisioned the potential of the region as a resort destination.

Laughlin, Nevada, Octo– Don Laughlin, the visionary founder of the Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino, passed away on October 22, 2023, at the age of 92.

Don laughlin's riverside resort and casino flights