Laughlin, Nevada is known as UnVegas

Do you remember the story of the Native Americans who sold Manhattan for some trinkets? The former owners of a tiny eight-room motel on the banks of the Colorado River must feel the same sense of despondency.

It’s not that visionary Don Laughlin has ripped off these motel owners, it’s just that now, four decades later, Laughlin has cashed in on that $235,000 investment in a huge resort empire that has so far attracted eight other casino/hotels to his small stretch. of the colorado Meanwhile, Laughlin has pumped millions of casino profits into community projects like a bridge to Arizona and an airport capable of landing 737s.

Who could blame the people if they also named the city after him?

Laughlin had made a few bucks selling a gambling club in Las Vegas, and as he flew over what is now Laughlin, Nevada, the future resort mogul looked down and saw a stretch of river nestled between two sets of rugged mountains. The river is also the dividing line between Nevada and Arizona, and California is just a few miles down the road.

“If we build it, they will come.” Not Don Laughlin’s words, but certainly his feelings as he gazed into his unusually reliable crystal ball and envisioned the development of another Las Vegas about an hour’s drive south of the real one. In 1966 he opened the Riverside Casino with 12 slot machines and two gaming tables. There were only four rooms to be used for living quarters because the Laughlin family lived in the other four rooms.

Fast-forward to a Riverside Casino that, over the years, has grown to more than 1,400 rooms, including two towers, multiple casinos, and plenty of extras to make the property a favorite for Laughlin visitors. Many other household names have now made claims throughout the Colorado, including Flamingo, Golden Nugget, and Harrahs. There are now 10,000 rooms and 60 restaurants catering to the more than 5 million visitors who come to Laughlin each year.

Why people come to Laughlin is best explained when you look at the city’s visitor demographics. For starters, they’re a bit older: About two-thirds of them are 50 or older, and about a third are 65 or older. They spend an average of $33 a night to stay in Laughlin, but will budget more than $400 to play while they’re in town for their two- or three-day stay.

In short, people who come to Laughlin would rather spend their money gambling than fancy hotel rooms, and they’re also likely to have a bit of a phobia about the traffic and parking hassles they think they might encounter in Las Vegas. As one hotel marketing person told us, many visitors actually think of Laughlin as Old Las Vegas, the one that was more focused on providing cheap beds and cheap meals, but plenty of gambling opportunities. Another phrase we heard was “un-Vegas” which takes visitors to a simpler time and place that is easier on the pocketbook.

Judging by our recent visit to Laughlin, the niche still seems to be working, despite the current heightened competition from Indian casinos which has diverted some of the California visitors who may now be content to stay and gamble at a casino more close to home But Laughlin still draws them nicely from various parts of California and many other places around the country, including destinations in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Three different airlines now provide charter services to Laughlin from dozens of destinations.

The weather was great during our November visit – mid 70’s, sunny clear skies. In fact, winter is the best time to visit Laughlin because locals will tell you that summer can be 10 degrees hotter than already toasty Las Vegas.

With consistently warm weather, another factor comes into play at Laughlin: The River. We read somewhere that this is the only part of Nevada that really has that much water to play with, and judging by the many ski-doos and speedboats on the Colorado, we wouldn’t be surprised. The hotels showcase the river much as they would a big-name artist: Almost all have boat docks and shuttle boats for guests to cross the river, and there are also replica sternwheeler cruisers and even high-speed riverboats.

In fact, the riverwalk in Laughlin is not unlike the riverwalk in New Orleans: the Colorado at this crossing is a bit narrower than the Mississippi, but the festive promenade with restaurants and shops along the way can be just as entertaining. And of course, Laughlin has a number of casinos, while New Orleans only has one on the waterfront.

Laughlin doesn’t really have Vegas-quality entertainment. The city hosts current, high-quality acts, including many of the top country music artists on the charts today. But it is also likely that he sees someone who has already peaked, possibly a few years ago. While we were there, current and future attractions included names like Vicki Lawrence, Charo, Mel Tillis, Roy Clark and a special “Where Are They Now?” in Edgewater with several former child stars like Paul Peterson (Donna Reed Show) and Ken Osmond (Eddie Haskell on Leave it to Beaver).

On the plus side, entertainment in Laughlin is comparatively inexpensive. If you’ve been to Vegas and passed up the entertainment just because it was too expensive, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at Laughlin. Instead of $100 or $150 per ticket, name acts can be as little as $25 per seat.

Most of the big name entertainment comes to Riverside, which was our home base while we were in Laughlin. With little plastic signs in our room that read “Customer is Always King,” we couldn’t help but feel that Don Laughlin has trained his staff to focus on customer service. Throughout the Riverside complex there are special indications that Riverside has been a work in progress. There’s a 34-lane bowling alley and an adjacent Kids Castle that lets you drop off your kids for $6.50 an hour. A “Lounge of Losers” has pictures of famous losers on the walls. There is a magnificent vintage car museum. Oh, and of course, don’t miss Watch Man, a place where you’ll find thousands of watches with thousands of designs, including several with Jesus Christ on the face. There is something for everyone in Riverside.

There doesn’t seem to be much sin in this version of Sin City, either: no one hands out fliers advertising escorts, no billboards or over-the-top signs, no real attention to girl shows with the exception of a “Showgirls” magazine. in one of the hotels. You get the feeling that a lot of the visitors here might be some of those voters concerned with moral values, and one assumes that whatever happens in Laughlin it most certainly won’t stay in Laughlin.

Reinforcing this was our chance encounter with some favorite relatives from Hemet, California, who were visiting Laughlin at the same time as us, and also staying in Riverside. We know them as God-fearing people who go to church and have been in town for four days of what they consider to be good, clean fun.

Somehow, we think that’s exactly what Don Laughlin had in mind when he first saw that little eight-room motel on the banks of the Colorado River.

TAKE A LOOK

WHERE: Laughlin is in the southern tip of Nevada and about a five to six hour drive from many points in Southern California.

WHAT: Laughlin is a time travel to Las Vegas 40 years ago. The strip of nine casinos can be walked, for the most part, using a walkway along the Colorado River.

WHEN: Any time of the year, although the summers can be very hot. The best option is to visit in winter when temperatures hover in the 70s and the sun shines frequently.

WHY: Laughlin is a good place to visit if you’ve gotten tired or worried about Las Vegas crowds, lines, traffic, and prices. However, if you compare Laughlin to Las Vegas, the experience is definitely more subdued.

HOW: Accommodations at Riverside and other Laughlin hotels are quite reasonable. For more information on Riverside or flight packages, call 1-800-227-3849 or visit riversideresort.com. For more information about Laughlin, call 1-800-4-laughlin. Or visit the Laughlin Visitors Bureau website at visitlaughlin.com.