Laughlin Time Line

The gaming industry in Laughlin, 40+ years ago, was the Riverside Bait Shop and the Bobcat Club. The area was called "South Point", because it's location being the most southerly portion of Clark County and Nevada. Davis Dam had been completed in the 1950's with most of the housing being located on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. The Nevada side consisted of these two small clubs and some fishing camps. Basically, nothing was happening on the Nevada side of the river.

In 1965, Don Laughlin bought the Riverside and Oddie Lopp bought the Bobcat Club. The Riverside became a full sized casino with motel rooms and the Bobcat Club was renamed the Nevada Club. Parking lots were built on the Arizona side of the river and Taxi boats started carrying passengers to the casinos. Irwin Soper and Jack Cleveland built the Monte Carlo (later named Crystal Palace and later just a burnt out building owned by Don) and that was the start of Laughlin, Nevada. The casinos prospered, flourished and expanded.

Year	Laughlin History notes
The gaming industry in Laughlin, 40+ years ago, was the Riverside Bait Shop and the Bobcat Club. The area was called "South Point", because it's location being the most southerly portion of Clark County and Nevada. Davis Dam had been completed in the 1950's with most of the housing being located on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. The Nevada side consisted of these two small clubs and some fishing camps. Basically, nothing was happening on the Nevada side of the river. In 1965, Don Laughlin bought the Riverside and Oddie Lopp bought the Bobcat Club. The Riverside became a full sized casino with motel rooms and the Bobcat Club was renamed the Nevada Club. Parking lots were built on the Arizona side of the river and Taxi boats started carrying passengers to the casinos. Irwin Soper and Jack Cleveland built the Monte Carlo (later named Crystal Palace and later just a burnt out building owned by Don) and that was the start of Laughlin, Nevada. The casinos prospered, flourished and expanded.
1931	Gambling legalized in Nevada. Thanks Bugsy!
1942	Construction starts and stops on Davis Dam; last steamboat runs the Colorado River; last precious metal taken from Katherine Mine. Bullhead City is created.
1946	Construction resumes on Davis Dam
1953	Davis Dam finished.
1966	Don Laughlin buys Riverside Bait Shop and opens as Riverside Resort.
1967	Second casino, Bobcat Club opens in Laughlin. Later becomes the Odie Lopp's Nevada Club and evolves into Golden Nugget - Laughlin.
1968	Third casino the Monte Carlo Later becomes the Crystal Palace opens. U.S. postal inspector officially renames South Point as Laughlin.
1979	Colorado Club, later becomes Pioneer Hotel opens.
1980	Regency opens. Laughlin pop. 80
1982	Edgewater opens.
1984	Sam's Town Casino opens.
1987	Colorado Belle opens. Laughlin Bridge opens.
1988	Ramada Express opens
1990	Flamingo Hilton Laughlin opens. Laughlin population 4,791
1993	First jet lands at Bullhead City airport. Don Laughlin and Bob Cashell sign agreements with Fort Mohave Tribe to run casinos on reservation land. Laughlin population 7,500;
1995	Riverside Resort completes new tower adding approx. 1000 more rooms and a non-smoking casino area
1995	Avi Resort opens operated by the Fort Mohave Tribe.
1998	Gold River Hotel becomes the River Palms Hotel and Casino. Construction begins at the Riverside Resort for a 34 lane bowling center to be completed by Jan.1999
1999	Riverside Lanes opens Jan 29th
1999	Plans are announced for the addition of 2 new casinos. Tentative plans call for a Mall/Theater/Casino to be built south of Harrah's Del Rio Resort. The 2nd Casino will be located on the land behind the Ramada Express.
2000	Flamingo Hilton Laughlin changes name to Flamingo
2001	Regency Closes
2003	Regency reopens
2006	Flamingo closes and reopens as Aquarius
2007	Ramada Express closes and reopens as Tropicana Express