Jump to content

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

Coordinates: 36°07′29″N 115°10′19″W / 36.12472°N 115.17194°W / 36.12472; -115.17194
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from The Transformers Experience)

Treasure Island
Treasure Island is located in Las Vegas Strip
Treasure Island
Treasure Island is located in Nevada
Treasure Island
Location Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Address 3300 South Las Vegas Boulevard
Opening dateOctober 26, 1993; 31 years ago (October 26, 1993)
ThemePirate
No. of rooms2,885
Total gaming space47,927 sq ft (4,452.6 m2)
Permanent showsMystère
Signature attractionsMarvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.
Notable restaurantsGilley's Saloon
Señor Frog's
Seafood Shack
Phil's Steak House
Casino typeLand-based
OwnerPhil Ruffin
ArchitectJoel Bergman
Jon Jerde
Renovated in1999, 2003, 2019–20
Coordinates36°07′29″N 115°10′19″W / 36.12472°N 115.17194°W / 36.12472; -115.17194
Websitetreasureisland.com

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino (also known as Treasure Island Las Vegas and "TI")[1] is a pirate-themed hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, U.S. It includes 2,885 rooms and a 47,927 sq ft (4,452.6 m2) casino. The resort is owned and operated by businessman Phil Ruffin.

Treasure Island was developed by casino owner Steve Wynn through his company, Mirage Resorts. Project designers included Joel Bergman and Jon Jerde. Wynn announced Treasure Island in October 1991, and construction began four months later. The resort opened on October 26, 1993. Treasure Island was among several family-oriented resorts to open in Las Vegas during the 1990s, taking advantage of the growing tourist demographic. Treasure Island's facade was built with a lagoon containing two pirate ships. Free pirate battles were performed daily for spectators over the next two decades. The resort has also hosted Mystère since 1993, making it the longest-running show by Cirque du Soleil.

In 2000, MGM Grand Inc. acquired Mirage Resorts and was renamed MGM Mirage. Treasure Island's pirate theme was scaled back during a 2003 project aimed at attracting a more mature audience, in contrast to the family trend of the 1990s. MGM's revamp included new signage abbreviating the resort's name as "TI", while the original pirate show, Battle of Buccaneer Bay, was replaced by Sirens of TI.

MGM struggled financially during the Great Recession. In 2009, it sold Treasure Island to Ruffin for $755 million. Ruffin targeted a middle-class clientele, making various changes to appeal to the demographic. He added two signature restaurants: Gilley's Saloon in 2010, and Señor Frog's in 2012. The pirate shows ended the following year, although the ships remain on display.

History

[edit]

In 1986, casino owner Steve Wynn purchased property on the Las Vegas Strip extending north to Spring Mountain Road.[2] He opened a resort, The Mirage, on the southern portion of the land in 1989. Wynn had always wanted to build a second casino on the remaining acreage, which was being used as a parking lot for the Mirage.[3]

Wynn's company, Mirage Resorts, announced the Treasure Island project on October 30, 1991. Like other new resorts in Las Vegas, Treasure Island was planned as a family-oriented property, taking advantage of the growing tourist demographic. It would also cater to a middle-class clientele, unlike the Mirage.[4][5][6] Groundbreaking took place on March 2, 1992, earlier than anticipated. Construction was originally expected to cost $300 million,[7] but the final cost rose to $430 million.[8]

Employees and their families stayed at Treasure Island a couple days before the opening to put the resort through a trial run.[9] Treasure Island opened to the public at 10:00 p.m. on October 26, 1993, following a private opening for VIPs, including Nevada governor Bob Miller. The resort's facade featured a free pirate show taking place in a man-made lagoon.[10][11] Wynn's other Strip resort, the shuttered Dunes, was imploded the following night in a grand ceremony which incorporated the pirate show. One of the ships fired its cannon as the implosion began, simulating the resort's destruction by cannonballs.[12][13][14]

Treasure Island (1995)

In 1996, Treasure Island hosted a naturalization ceremony for 93 workers. It was the first Las Vegas resort to hold such an event.[15]

A man robbed the casino twice in 2000, stealing more than $30,000. He was arrested after a failed third attempt, during which he shot a security guard. He was sentenced to 130 years in prison.[16][17][18]

The Prairie Island Indian Community, owners of a Treasure Island casino resort in Minnesota, filed a $250 million damages lawsuit against Mirage Resorts in May 2000. The suit alleged that Wynn violated trademark law by using the "Treasure Island" name for his own casino resort. The suit also requested that Wynn be barred from using the name,[19][20] which Wynn said he registered in 1993.[21]

Wynn departed Mirage Resorts in 2000, when it was acquired by MGM Grand Inc.,[22] later renamed MGM Mirage.[23]

Treasure Island's family amenities included the pirate show and an arcade.[8][24] However, the pirate theme and family appeal would be gradually scaled back in subsequent years.[25][26] In April 2003, Treasure Island announced a major revamp to transform the resort into a more sophisticated property aimed primarily at adults,[25][27][28] although children would still be welcomed.[29] Describing the resort's transformation, Treasure Island president Scott Sibella said, "We've seen a return of Las Vegas to its roots as an adult destination. As the city has evolved, so too has Treasure Island."[30] He said, "We've evolved from a yo-ho-ho feel to a more sophisticated feel. We want to change the exterior to introduce the outside to what we've already done inside." As part of the revamp, Treasure Island began using the abbreviated name "TI". Sibella described the new name as trendy and sexy, and said it was a name that residents and guests already used. He compared the abbreviated name to the former Desert Inn resort, also known as "D.I."[25] MGM Mirage began a marketing campaign for TI in June 2003, including advertisements in various publications.[31]

MGM struggled financially during the Great Recession, and businessman Phil Ruffin made an offer to buy Treasure Island. MGM accepted and announced the deal at the end of 2008.[32][33][34] The purchase was finalized on March 20, 2009,[35] at a cost of $755 million.[36] At the time, Treasure Island was the only hotel-casino on the Strip to be owned by a single individual, as others are corporate-owned.[37] Because of the sale, Treasure Island was removed from MGM's extensive customer database. Later that year, the resort joined K Hotels, a worldwide collection of approximately 50 hotels.[38] Amid the recession, Ruffin spent $20 million on various changes to target a middle-class clientele.[36][39][40] The hotel rooms were left untouched, as MGM had conducted a $92 million renovation of them shortly before selling the resort to Ruffin.[40]

A rooftop swamp cooler caught fire in July 2012, sending smoke through hallways of the upper hotel floors, which were evacuated. The fire caused $20,000 in damage, but resulted in only minor injuries for guests.[41][42]

Ruffin is a business partner of Donald Trump's and a supporter of his presidential campaign. Trump has held several campaign rallies at Treasure Island,[43][44] including one in 2016 during which an audience member attempted to assassinate him.[45][46]

In 2019, Treasure Island's hotel joined Radisson Hotel Group. Under the agreement, the resort kept its name and exterior signage.[47][48] Room renovations began that year.[49] State casinos were temporarily closed in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada, and the closure allowed planned renovations across the resort to accelerate.[50][51] Among the additions was an expanded sportsbook.[52]

Features

[edit]
Treasure Island with new paint color

Treasure Island includes a 47,927 sq ft (4,452.6 m2) casino,[53][54] and has 2,885 rooms,[55] located in a 36-story tower.[3] As part of the 2003 transformation, the tower was given a darker paint color,[56] using 6,200 gallons of terra cotta/"Salmon Stream" paint,[57] replacing an earlier pink coloring.[58] Treasure Island received a Four Diamond Award every year from 1999 to 2013.[59][60]

Tangerine, a nightclub featuring an orange and white interior, operated from 2004 to 2007.[61][62] Fashion designer Christian Audigier opened an eponymous nightclub at Treasure Island in 2008, in partnership with Pure Management Group. The decor included rhinestone-encrusted skulls and two large tanks containing jellyfish. Audigier said, "When you're going into a club, you want to see sparkling and glitter and rhinestones".[63][64][65] Christian Audigier did not perform as well as Ruffin would have liked, prompting its closure in 2010.[66][67] Ruffin's other changes included a $3 million makeover of the spa, with renovations overseen by his wife Oleksandra Nikolayenko.[39] At one point, Treasure Island had 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m2) of convention space, which received a $4 million renovation in 2012. Four years later, the space was expanded to 30,500 sq ft (2,830 m2).[51]

In 2013, the resort announced plans to build a three-story mall, replacing the northern portion of the pirate lagoon area.[68][69] It was completed two years later, and includes a CVS Pharmacy on the first floor. At the end of 2015, the resort announced that it would lease the upper floors to Victory Hill Exhibitions.[70][71] In 2016, the company opened the Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N., an interactive self-guided exhibit based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[72]

The Mirage-Treasure Island Tram traveled between the two resorts.[73] It ceased operations in June 2024 prior to The Mirage's closing on July 17, 2024.[74]

Theme and design

[edit]
Pirate village and lagoon in 2011

Various themes were considered for the resort, until a friend of Wynn's suggested the name "Treasure Island", resulting in a pirate theme.[3] It is named after the 1880s novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.[8] The resort was designed by Joel Bergman, who previously designed the Mirage. Bergman designed the Treasure Island tower with a floorplan that branched out three ways in a Y-shape, with elevators in the center. This was done for convenience to guests, making the walk to their rooms brief.[3] The Y-shape was modeled after the Mirage hotel tower.[75]

Wynn's Atlandia Design worked with Jon Jerde and Olio Design to create the pirate village and lagoon area, originally known as Buccaneer Bay,[76][6][77] and later as Siren's Cove.[78] During the design phase, the hotel's lobby entrance was moved to the resort's south side, in order to maintain Buccaneer Bay's location on the east side along the Strip.[3] Jerde's assistants traveled across Europe, India and Nepal searching for historic objects such as doors and columns, which were then replicated for Buccaneer Bay.[77][79] The lagoon is 65 feet deep,[80] and originally contained 2 million gallons of water.[81] It uses wastewater recycled from a water treatment plant located beneath the resort's parking garage.[82] A maintenance team, including divers, works to keep the lagoon clean.[78]

Original skull sign
New TI sign

According to interior designer Roger Thomas, "We thought it would be great fun to create a pirate village with sinking ships and pyrotechnics. The day after it opened we all looked at each other and said, 'What have we done? This is so not us'".[83] Executives realized that the resort's heavy pirate theme did not appeal to people interested in a weekend getaway.[25] By 1998, efforts had begun to downplay the theme.[84] Mirage conducted focus group testing to determine upcoming renovation plans for Treasure Island.[85][86] A $60 million remodeling of the hotel rooms took place in 1999.[87][88]

The resort initially included a roadside sign featuring an 8,000-pound pirate skull,[89] made of fiberglass and measuring 27 1/2 feet.[90] The skull sign was removed on July 10, 2003, in a ceremony accompanied by fireworks.[58][91][92] Sibella said, "It's a cool sign, but it needs to complement what we're doing inside", referring to the property's revamp.[25] The skull portion was donated to the city's Neon Museum, while much of the remaining sign was scrapped.[90] The sign was replaced by an LED neon "TI" sign with a modern and sophisticated design.[89][92][93] The new sign measures 137 feet high and 84 feet wide.[57]

Various pirate memorabilia had been removed from the resort over the course of three years, and was auctioned in September 2003.[94][56]

Restaurants

[edit]

Treasure Island opened with several restaurants, including Buccaneer Bay Club, which overlooked the lagoon and its pirate shows.[95][96][97] Its menu included steak and seafood.[98] A fine-dining Italian restaurant, Francesco's, was added in 1998. It featured artwork by celebrities such as Tony Bennett and Phyllis Diller.[99][84][100]

The arcade was replaced in 2001 by a tropical-themed restaurant and bar named Kahunaville, part of efforts to appeal to a more-adult demographic.[101][102] Kahunaville included a dinner show space for live entertainment.[103] A new buffet, Dishes, was added in 2005.[104] An Asian restaurant known as Social House opened a year later, replacing Buccaneer Bay Club.[105]

Señor Frog's, which overlooks the lagoon area

Ruffin made numerous restaurant changes upon taking ownership. In 2009, he replaced Francesco's with a pizzeria by the same name,[106] stating, "It's quick and it's cheap and that's what people are looking for these days".[39] Ruffin also replaced Social House with his own Asian restaurant, Khotan, featuring jade and ivory antiques from his personal collection.[39][66] In 2010, he opened Gilley's Saloon, a popular Western-themed restaurant, bar and dance hall. It previously operated at Ruffin's New Frontier hotel-casino, which closed in 2007.[39][107][108] The new location replaced Treasure Island's Mist Lounge.[109]

In 2012, Ruffin opened a Señor Frog's restaurant and bar to complement Kahunaville and Gilley's. It replaced Christian Audigier and Khotan,[110][111] the latter relocating elsewhere in the resort.[67] Another new restaurant, Seafood Shack, also opened in 2012. Its interior was created with recycled materials, including reclaimed wood which lines the walls. The restaurant's centerpiece is an anchor pulled from the Atlantic Ocean.[112][113] The resort also has Phil's Steak House, named after Ruffin.[114][115] Kahunaville closed in 2016.[116]

Live entertainment

[edit]
A performance of Sirens of TI

Treasure Island opened with the free Battle of Buccaneer Bay pirate show, performed in the lagoon along the Strip. The 15-minute show was performed several times a day and featured 22 actors.[80] It depicted the landing and subsequent sacking of a Caribbean village by pirates, serving to attract customers from the Strip and into the resort after each show in the same fashion as the volcano fronting the Mirage resort. Notable special effects included a full-scale, crewed British Royal Navy sailing ship that sailed nearly the full width of the property, a gas-fired "powder magazine" explosion, pyrotechnics, and the sinking of the sailing ship Brittania along with its captain.[117][118]

Battle of Buccaneer Bay held its final performance on July 6, 2003, with a total of 16,334 shows performed over the course of nearly 10 years.[119][120][121] It ended as part of the resort's ongoing revamp, which would include a new pirate show. Sibella described the original show as something that would be expected at Disneyland, while calling its successor a "sexy and beautiful, adult Broadway-caliber show."[25]

Illuminated pirate ship in 2017

The new Sirens of TI pirate show debuted in October 2003, marking the resort's 10th anniversary.[122][57][123] The Buccaneer Bay was renamed Sirens' Cove and the new show utilized many of the technical elements of its predecessor. The live, free show was intended to appeal more to adults by including singing, dancing, audio-visual effects, bare-chested pirates and attractive women in the large outdoor show produced by Kenny Ortega.[124][125] The original two ships were kept for the new show but repainted and altered, as well as some special effects.[29]

Sirens of TI was closed on October 21, 2013. The closure was initially intended to be temporary, but was made permanent the following month, to the dismay of the show's actors. The reason cited by Treasure Island was the construction of the new retail space nearby.[126][127] The shows had cost $5 million to put on annually.[40] While Ruffin said the shows brought "a tremendous amount of attention" to Treasure Island, they amounted to minimal foot traffic inside the resort.[70] The pirate ships remain on display in the lagoon, and are lit up at night.[70][117]

Treasure Island is home to Cirque du Soleil's Mystère, which introduced the entertainment style of Franco Dragone. It opened on December 25, 1993,[128][129][130] and has been voted nine times as the best production show in the city by the Las Vegas Review-Journal reader's poll.[131] It is Cirque's longest-running Las Vegas show, reaching 13,000 performances in 2022.[132] Mystère has been updated several times throughout its run.[133] It takes place in a 1,600-seat theater,[133] designed by Scéno Plus.[134] To maximize use of the Mystère theater, Ruffin signed entertainers to perform there on nights when the show is not running. Such entertainers have included Bill Cosby, LeAnn Rimes, and Sinbad.[39][135] The resort has also hosted boxing matches.[136][137]

[edit]

An hour-long promotional program, Treasure Island: The Adventure Begins, aired on NBC in January 1994. It stars Corey Carrier as a 12-year-old on vacation with his parents at the resort. There, he meets and teams up with Long John Silver (Anthony Zerbe) to find lost treasure.[138][139][140] Mirage Resorts paid NBC $1.7 million to air the program.[141] It was directed and produced by Scott Garen,[139] and written by James V. Hart.[142] The special includes an appearance by Wynn,[140][143] and incorporates the Dunes' implosion as its climax.[138][139] The program received low viewership ratings, and was considered an infomercial by critics, who lambasted NBC for not labeling it as such.[140][143]

Treasure Island has been shown or referenced in other media as well:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Treasure Island home page". Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  2. ^ "Castaways sold to group". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 18, 1986. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e Burbank, Jeff (October 28, 1993). "Architect leaving to take it easy". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  4. ^ White, George (October 30, 1991). "Mirage Resorts Plans Family Hotel in Vegas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Wynn to build Strip resort". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 30, 1991. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Newest Las Vegas resort opens Oct. 27". Indiana Gazette. October 17, 1993. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Treasure Island ground broken". Las Vegas Review-Journal. March 3, 1992. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Pyramid scheme: Vegas gambles on 10-story sphinxes, pirate ships". Los Angeles Daily News. October 31, 1993. Retrieved October 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Employees, families give Treasure Island trial run before opening". Reno Gazette-Journal. Associated Press. October 26, 1993. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Treasure Island blast to blow away past". Reno Gazette-Journal. October 27, 1993. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Waddell, Lynn (October 27, 1993). "Steve Wynn opens his latest Treasure". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  12. ^ Sebelius, Steve (October 28, 1993). "Tower tumbles into dust". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  13. ^ "Vegas set for biggest spectacle ever". Reno Gazette-Journal. October 27, 1993. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Even in Destruction, Las Vegas Enjoys the Spectacular Display". Salt Lake Tribune. October 29, 1993. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Niemeyer, Erin (July 3, 1996). "Hotel workers treasure their U.S. citizenship". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  16. ^ Ritter, Ken (December 13, 2000). "Suspect Arrested in Casino Robbery". Associated Press. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  17. ^ Smith, Kim (March 14, 2001). "Casino robber gets 130 years in prison". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "10 of the biggest real-life casino heists of all time". Chicago Tribune. December 30, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  19. ^ "Casinos at Odds Over a Name//' Treasure Island' at Issue in Vegas and Minnesota". St. Paul Pioneer Press. May 26, 2000. Retrieved July 24, 2019 – via NewsLibrary.
  20. ^ "Minnesota tribe sues over name of casino". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. May 27, 2000. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  21. ^ Hogan, Jan (August 7, 2000). "Trademark protection no laughs". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000.
  22. ^ Macy, Robert (May 30, 2000). "Wynn finishes at Bellagio". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  23. ^ "MGM Mirage sells Treasure Island". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. December 16, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  24. ^ "Inside the New Las Vegas". Los Angeles Times. February 20, 1994. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  25. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, Jeff (April 22, 2003). "Old yo-ho-ho getting heave-ho: Trying to deep-six its former image, resort to redo show". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on January 29, 2005.
  26. ^ Simpson, Jeff (October 12, 2003). "The Strip: Then and Now". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 26, 2004.
  27. ^ Smith, John L. (May 2, 2003). "Initial analysis suggests that trendiness inspired change at Treasure Island". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on June 27, 2003.
  28. ^ "Casino's changes have kids walking the plank: HOTEL: Treasure Island will be TI, the battle in the bay is in rewrite, and the arcade is history". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside. July 25, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2019 – via NewsLibrary.
  29. ^ a b Weatherford, Mike (October 24, 2003). "Extreme Makeover: 'Sirens of TI' updates pirate battle with female cast members, rock 'n' roll attitude". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005.
  30. ^ "MGM Mirage bringing sex appeal to pirate battles". Las Vegas Sun. April 22, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  31. ^ "Gaming briefs". Las Vegas Sun. June 13, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  32. ^ Benston, Liz (December 16, 2008). "For strapped casino giant, sale provides sure cash". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  33. ^ Benston, Liz (December 22, 2008). "Treasure Island likely a domino standing alone". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  34. ^ "Treasure Island's buyer talks about the art of the deal". Las Vegas Sun. December 28, 2008. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  35. ^ Benston, Liz; Finnegan, Amanda (March 19, 2009). "From MGM to Ruffin: Treasure Island changes hands". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  36. ^ a b Friess, Steve (June 4, 2009). "The Anti-Wynn". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  37. ^ Prince, Todd (February 3, 2018). "Treasure Island owner stays upbeat on Las Vegas prospects". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  38. ^ Stutz, Howard (July 12, 2009). "K is OK as Treasure Island joins network". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  39. ^ a b c d e f Finnegan, Amanda (April 3, 2010). "Phil Ruffin: Captain of the ship on the Strip". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  40. ^ a b c "Phil Ruffin shuns high end as he modifies Treasure Island". VegasInc. May 31, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  41. ^ Chang, Cristina (July 31, 2012). "Swamp cooler malfunction blamed for Treasure Island fire". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  42. ^ "Vegas hotel fire blamed on swamp cooler". UPI. August 1, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  43. ^ Schreckinger, Ben (October 8, 2015). "Cirque du Trump". Politico. Retrieved October 20, 2022. Treasure Island, owned by Trump's friend and business partner Phil Ruffin, is practically a Trump biosphere.
  44. ^ Craig, Susanne; McIntire, Mike; Buettner, Russ (October 9, 2020). "Trump's Taxes Show He Engineered a Sudden Windfall in 2016". The New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  45. ^ Botkin, Ben (June 18, 2016). "Trump energizes supporters at Treasure Island rally in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  46. ^ "Briton jailed over Trump death plot". BBC News Online. December 13, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  47. ^ Schulz, Bailey (July 25, 2019). "Treasure Island in Las Vegas joining Radisson brand". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  48. ^ Horwath, Bryan (December 16, 2019). "Treasure Island joins Radisson hotels network". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  49. ^ Schulz, Bailey (December 10, 2019). "Treasure Island in Las Vegas joins Radisson brand". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  50. ^ Bracelin, Jason (June 9, 2020). "Treasure Island: Go behind the scenes at the resort's reopening". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  51. ^ a b "TI exec: Pandemic accelerated changes that were coming anyway". VegasInc. September 6, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  52. ^ Barnes, Jim (September 3, 2020). "Treasure Island opens new sportsbook, discontinues app". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  53. ^ "Listing of Financial Statements Square Footage". Nevada Gaming Control Board. March 6, 2018. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  54. ^ "The List: Casino operators". VegasInc. August 27, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  55. ^ Stutz, Howard (December 15, 2008). "Treasure Island deal set". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  56. ^ a b "Former Treasure Island gets face lift". Las Vegas Sun. October 9, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  57. ^ a b c Fink, Jerry (October 27, 2003). "Adult-themed 'Sirens of TI' takes a stand on the Strip". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  58. ^ a b McDarrah, Timothy (July 10, 2003). "Venerable Strip staple ready to re-sign". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  59. ^ Thompson, Gary (February 2, 2000). "Treasure Island joins Four Diamond elite". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  60. ^ "Hotel Awards". TreasureIsland.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  61. ^ Pond, Jeremy (August 17, 2007). "Goodbye Tangerine, hello LAX". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  62. ^ Colton, Jack (October 2, 2008). "Nightclub obituaries". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  63. ^ Friess, Steve (July 10, 2008). "Christian Audigier: The Nightclub at Treasure Island in Vegas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  64. ^ Rilling, Deanna (June 26, 2008). "Audigier est arrive". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  65. ^ Padgett, Sonya (October 2, 2009). "Christian Audigier the Nightclub decor gives establishment otherworldly feel". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  66. ^ a b Woodman, Xania (July 6, 2009). "Ushering in the age of Khotan: a new pan-Asian to rise from the ashes of Social House". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  67. ^ a b "Phil Ruffin goes down the middle". Las Vegas Sun. June 20, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  68. ^ Komenda, Ed (August 5, 2013). "Treasure Island plans to build mall on Las Vegas Strip". VegasInc. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  69. ^ Botkin, Ben (August 5, 2013). "Treasure Island proposes three-story shopping center on Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  70. ^ a b c Stutz, Howard (November 17, 2015). "Treasure Island to house attractions based on the Avengers, Transformers". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  71. ^ Pierceall, Kimberly (November 17, 2015). "Marvel and Transformers display heads to Treasure Island". Las Vegas Sun. Associated Press. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  72. ^ Morris, J. D. (June 15, 2016). "Want to be a superhero? Now you can 'train' to be one at Treasure Island". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  73. ^ Akers, Mick (April 19, 2019). "Tram between TI and Mirage on Las Vegas Strip back in operation". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  74. ^ "Mirage – Treasure Island Tram Permanently Closes on the Las Vegas Strip". VegasChanges.com. June 23, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  75. ^ Smith, Hubble (November 22, 1999). "The Mirage Was For Real". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 20, 2002.
  76. ^ Chase, John; Montag, Warren (2000). Bodies, Masses, Power: Spinoza and His Contemporaries. Verso. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-85984-807-4. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  77. ^ a b Gorman, Tom (December 12, 1993). "With Castles and Casinos, Pirates and Pyramids, The New Las Vegas is Betting On High-Stakes Style". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  78. ^ a b Sylvester, Ron (December 27, 2012). "9 things discovered at the bottom of Siren's Cove at TI". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  79. ^ Thornburg, Barbara (December 12, 1993). "Details, Details". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  80. ^ a b Andersen, Kurt (January 10, 1994). "Las Vegas, U.S.A." Time. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  81. ^ "New cables power Treasure Island attraction". Design News. September 7, 1998. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  82. ^ Macy, Robert (September 8, 1996). "Las Vegas Gambles on Finding Enough Water to Sustain Growth". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  83. ^ Abramovitch, Ingrid (July 8, 2014). "A Las Vegas Casino Design Mastermind Shares His Secrets". Elle Decor. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  84. ^ a b Dretzka, Gary (April 4, 1998). "Staying and Playing in Las Vegas". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  85. ^ Berns, Dave (August 4, 1998). "Guests asked to help redefine Treasure Island". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 1, 1999.
  86. ^ Berns, Dave (September 14, 1998). "Mirage Resorts execs consider changing arcade to cabaret". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on February 8, 1999.
  87. ^ Berns, Dave (July 2, 1999). "Mirage will miss estimates". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 5, 1999.
  88. ^ Berns, Dave (August 6, 1999). "Earnings plunge for Mirage". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on June 7, 2000.
  89. ^ a b Hare, David (July 16, 2003). "Sign of the times". Las Vegas CityLife. Retrieved July 24, 2019 – via NewsLibrary.
  90. ^ a b Mikkelsen, Ginger (July 23, 2003). "No bones about it: Treasure Island skull planned centerpiece of neon sign museum". View News. Archived from the original on March 30, 2004.
  91. ^ "Sign Of The Times". Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 11, 2003. Archived from the original on October 28, 2004.
  92. ^ a b "Marquee to be replaced". Las Vegas Sun. July 11, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  93. ^ Smith, Rod (September 14, 2003). "The Strip: Making their marquee". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 5, 2003.
  94. ^ Smith, Rod (September 27, 2003). "Treasure Island to pass the buc at auction: Pirate memorabilia up for sale as Strip hotel shifts identity". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 27, 2004.
  95. ^ Drucker, Stephen (February 13, 1994). "Las Vegas, Theme City". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  96. ^ Miller, Bryan (March 23, 1994). "Good Food in a City Not Known for Good Taste". The New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  97. ^ White, Ken (May 5, 2004). "Buccaneer Bay offers food with a view". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on January 28, 2005.
  98. ^ "Question of the Day". Las Vegas Advisor. March 9, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  99. ^ Paskevich, Michael (February 18, 1998). "Italian eatery makes debut at Treasure Island". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on February 22, 1999.
  100. ^ "Treasure Island". Orange Coast Magazine. July 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  101. ^ Smith, Hubble (August 23, 2001). "New feel and new meals". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on August 28, 2001.
  102. ^ White, Ken (October 3, 2001). "Kahunaville mixes entertaining atmosphere with 'eclectic' menu". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 14, 2001.
  103. ^ Weatherford, Mike (October 17, 2015). "'Nunsense' returns for a resident production at Treasure Island". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  104. ^ Knapp Rinella, Heidi (February 25, 2005). "Restaurant Review: Dishes". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 20, 2005.
  105. ^ White, Ken (September 20, 2006). "Social House provides unique atmosphere, Pan-Asian cuisine". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008.
  106. ^ Radke, Brock (April 24, 2012). "Francesco's: The Las Vegas Strip's other hidden pizzeria". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  107. ^ O'Reiley, Tim (March 23, 2010). "Back In The Saddle". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  108. ^ Woodman, Xania (April 12, 2010). "Gilley's returns with a new outlook on nightlife". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  109. ^ Woodman, Xania (October 24, 2009). "Read it and weep: Mist Lounge closes at TI". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  110. ^ "For extra hop, Treasure Island will add Señor Frog's". Las Vegas Business Press. June 20, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  111. ^ Ahmed, Aida (January 28, 2012). "Senor Frog's restaurant nearing completion at Treasure Island". VegasInc. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  112. ^ Stapleton, Susan (August 29, 2012). "The Seafood Shack Promises To Be a Shore Thing". Eater. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  113. ^ Sylvester, Ron (September 19, 2012). "Treasure Island's new Seafood Shack settles in". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  114. ^ Stapleton, Susan (April 22, 2021). "Seafood and Steaks Return to Phil's Italian Steakhouse When It Reopens on the Strip". Eater. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  115. ^ King, Nina (May 21, 2021). "Classic cuts are just the beginning at Phil's Steakhouse in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Magazine. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  116. ^ Martin, Bradley (February 23, 2016). "Kahunaville Shutters at T.I. After 14 Years of Flair". Eater. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  117. ^ a b Lawrence, Christopher (June 20, 2022). "Lost Vegas: Remembering attractions inspired by the Mirage volcano". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  118. ^ Shoro, Mike (August 9, 2019). "Remembering Treasure Island's pirate show on Las Vegas Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  119. ^ Clarke, Norm (July 6, 2003). "Treasure Island show sails into history". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on July 9, 2003.
  120. ^ "Holiday weekend a busy one". Las Vegas Sun. July 7, 2003. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  121. ^ Weatherford, Mike (July 8, 2003). "Sea Change: Treasure Island's popular pirate show closes to make way for TI's 'sirens'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 29, 2004.
  122. ^ Clarke, Norm (October 26, 2003). "New show at TI delivers the goods". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 28, 2004.
  123. ^ "T.I. pirate show hopes to capture a new audience". Las Vegas Business Press. October 30, 2003. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  124. ^ Sirens of TI Press Release Archived 2008-08-08 at the Wayback Machine
  125. ^ Weatherford, Mike (May 11, 2003). "Will sexy pirates be hip?". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on September 23, 2004.
  126. ^ Clarke, Norm (November 22, 2013). "Treasure Island closes Strip-side 'Sirens of TI' show". Las Vegas Review Journal.
  127. ^ Przybys, John (November 14, 2019). "'Sirens of TI' brought seafaring sensuality to Las Vegas Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  128. ^ Clarke, Norm (June 17, 2003). "'Mystere' worker recalls uncertain times during show's birth". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on August 10, 2003.
  129. ^ Hirsch, Jerry (July 6, 2003). "Cirque's Outlook -- Some Call It a Mystere". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  130. ^ Weatherford, Mike (February 13, 2004). "'Mystere' still strong after decade of performances". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on April 13, 2004.
  131. ^ LVRJ Readers' Poll Archived 2011-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  132. ^ Katsilometes, John (August 18, 2022). "Cirque's 'Mystere' vaults to 13,000th show at Treasure Island". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  133. ^ a b "Mystere". Los Angeles Times. June 2, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  134. ^ Baird, Kirk (January 20, 2000). "Cirque Work". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  135. ^ Finnegan, Amanda (May 31, 2011). "5 things that define Ruffin's everyman strategy at Treasure Island". VegasInc. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  136. ^ "Fight Night at Treasure Island". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 1, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  137. ^ "Las Vegas: Treasure Island to host lightweight boxing match April 12". Los Angeles Times. April 1, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  138. ^ a b Mangan, Jennifer (January 17, 1994). "Family Image". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  139. ^ a b c Mendoza, N.F. (January 23, 1994). "Shows for Youngsters and Their Parents Too". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  140. ^ a b c Shales, Tom (January 28, 1994). "'Treasure Island': Prime-Time Travesty". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  141. ^ Rosenberg, Howard (November 17, 1993). "Not Your Standard Christmas Special". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  142. ^ Andersen, Kurt (January 10, 1994). "Las Vegas, U.S.A." Time. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  143. ^ a b Rosenberg, Howard (January 26, 1994). "It's No 'Simpsons,' but Toon In". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  144. ^ Robison, Jennifer (February 10, 2015). "Architect of Vegas icons Bellagio and Fremont Street Experience has died". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  145. ^ Stein, Martin (November 25, 2004). "Playing Las Vegas". Las Vegas Weekly. Archived from the original on November 30, 2004.
  146. ^ Cling, Carol (April 12, 2004). "Production on Bullock's 'Miss Congeniality 2' set to start". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 12, 2005.
  147. ^ Cling, Carol (April 19, 2004). "'Congeniality' continues work; 'Crossfire,' 'Tonight Show' on way". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 30, 2004.
  148. ^ Cling, Carol (April 26, 2004). "NBC drama 'Las Vegas' prepares to film exterior scenes". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 14, 2004.
  149. ^ Cling, Carol (May 3, 2004). "'Miss Congeniality 2' prepares to film at Treasure Island". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 22, 2004.
  150. ^ "'Knocked' prepares to film". Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 31, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  151. ^ "A Flicker of Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 11, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  152. ^ "Scene In Nevada: Knocked Up". Nevada Film Office. February 12, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
[edit]