Barbary Coast Changes Owners and Name

Barbary Coast, which anchored one of the corners at the busy mid-Strip intersection of Flamingo Boulevard and the Las Vegas Boulevard, is no more. No, it hasn’t been demolished, just re-branded.

New owners Harrah’s, which bought the property from Boyd Gaming Corporation, has officially changed the name of the hotel & casino to Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon. The name is an homage to company founder Bill Harrah.

The Harrah’s management team from the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino will be responsible for day-to-day supervision of operations. This includes a new restaurant, The Steakhouse at Bill’s, which opens on March 9.

Drai’s restaurant and nightclub will continue to operate Sunday through Wednesday through the end of this month. After that, it is expected just the acclaimed after-hours nightclub will remain in operation at the property.

Daily live entertainment will also take place in Bill’s Lounge, including “Big Elvis” Monday through Friday.

Bill’s makes the eighth strip property for Harrah’s, which now owns a whole chunk of Strip real estate that includes Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s, The Flamingo, O’Sheas, Imperial Palace, Caesar’s Palace and, of course, Harrah’s. The company also owns the Rio, just off the Strip.