Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino

Imperial Palace is a 2,640 room hotel and a 75,000 square foot (7,000 m²) casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The hotel and casino were owned by Imperial Palace LLC until purchased by the current owner, Harrah’s Imperial Palace Corporation a subsidiary of Harrah’s Entertainment.

History

From 1959 to 1979 the property was called the Flamingo Capri. In 1979, it was renamed to the Asian-themed Imperial Palace by new owner Ralph Engelstad. When Ralph died in 2002, the casino ownership transferred to the Ralph Engelstad and Betty Engelstad Trust. The casino operated as its own limited partnership, Imperial Palace LLC, under the Trust’s oversight.
Film history

* In Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the character Alotta Fagina stays at the Imperial Palace.
* The Imperial Palace is in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas under the name “The Four Dragons”. It is owned by the Triads, allies of the protagonist, Carl “C.J.” Johnson.

Attractions

* The hotel is home to The Auto Collections. The Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino is the world’s largest classic car showroom with more than $100 million worth of inventory on display and for sale. More than 250 antique, classic, muscle and historically significant cars are on display and nearly all are for sale.

* Legends in Concert, a full-production musical spectacular of celebrity impersonators, is one of the longest running shows in the Las Vegas area.

Underwent a major renovation in 1988 which added an 18-story tower.

On August 22, 2005, Harrah’s announced plans to purchase this property. The acquisition was completed on December 23, 2005.

During a conference call with investors on November 20, 2005, the Chairman for Harrah’s, Gary Loveman, did not surprise industry analysts when he said that both the Imperial Palace and neighboring O’Sheas “are going to require very substantial modifications or complete tear-downs and rebuilds” in order to make room for a Harrah’s and/or Flamingo expansion on the Strip.