CasaBlanca Resort

CasaBlanca is a hotel, casino, and RV park located in Mesquite, Nevada. The resort originally opened as Players Island on June 29, 1995, developed by Players International. However, financial struggles led to its sale to Randy Black Sr. in 1997, who rebranded it as CasaBlanca in July 1997. The resort spans 42 acres (17 ha) and features 472 hotel rooms, 24 timeshare units, and a 45-space RV park.

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Before its development, the site was farmland owned by Bryan Hafen, who sold the land to Players International in May 1994. A month later, the company announced plans for a hotel-casino, marking its first venture into land-based resorts after primarily operating riverboat casinos. Construction began in late 1994, and by early 1995, the nine-story hotel had been topped off. Merv Griffin, who held a 12.4% stake in Players International, was also responsible for producing a theatrical show for the resort.

Players Island embraced a tropical island theme, featuring lush landscaping with lawns, fountains, waterfalls, and palm trees, while the exterior of the resort was painted pink. The resort had an unadvertised soft opening on June 29, 1995, followed by an official grand opening on July 28, 1995. It became the third major resort in Mesquite, following Oasis and Virgin River. The casino spanned 40,000 square feet and offered 850 slot machines, 29 table games, a sportsbook, and keno. Players Island also introduced new card games to the area, including mini-baccarat, Caribbean stud poker, and pai gow poker. The resort included multiple restaurants, convention space, and a spa that offered mud baths. A 45-unit RV park and tennis courts opened in August 1995, while an 18-hole golf course was scheduled to be completed the following year. The $80 million resort was expected to employ up to 900 people, with plans to eventually expand the hotel to 1,500 rooms.

The resort debuted a 90-minute family-friendly show called “Island Fever” in August 1995, performed in the 425-seat Bali Hai Theater, which was later expanded to accommodate 550 guests. A magic show was added in July 1996. Although the resort was initially well-received, particularly among visitors from Las Vegas and Utah, it struggled financially over time. Marketing efforts were later expanded to Colorado and Southern California, but Players Island failed to maintain an 80% occupancy rate. Free room offers were eventually extended to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City residents to help fill vacancies. Observers in the gaming industry believed the local market was oversaturated, and Players Island’s upscale amenities, including a spa and golf course, were considered too luxurious for the region and its typical visitors along Interstate 15.