News 3 Investigators Special Report: El Rancho Auction
Before the El Rancho comes crashing down, you'll have a
chance to buy a piece of Las Vegas history from the property that was recently a
mystery.
Our News 3 investigators gave you the first ever look inside El Rancho since its
doors closed 8 years ago. Darcy Spears joins us from the El Rancho to show you
the latest link in the chain of events set in motion by our investigation.
If you take a look around this place, a lot has changed since we first exposed
the decay consuming El Rancho last year.
After 8 years being boarded up, the public will have its first chance Thursday
to step through the front doors... But even that is mired in controversy.
The sale of el rancho's contents set to start tomorrow has already hit a snag.
Mike Kabealo says, �We got what permits we thought were necessary... The same
permits we've gotten for all the other liquidations we've done in town.�
But el rancho isn't like any other property in town.
As News 3 exposed 6 months ago, the place was filled with health and safety
hazards. Hazards the county says may not be completely gone. That means the
planned sale will have to start slowly.
Kabealo says, �nobody's allowed in yet.�
Thursday the public will have to keep to the main floor and the one just above
until the county is convinced the place is structurally sound, fire hazards are
eliminated and anything needing to be fixed is found safe.
Then, the public will be allowed in to take their pick of el rancho remnants.
Kabealo says, �they'll be able to go into all of the restaurants, Joe�s,
House of Eggs, the old bingo parlor, the sports book, the lobby area, the
commercial kitchens and we intend on having the top 4 floors open for people to
go through and pick out furniture.�
Lilton Montgomery, 8-year Las Vegas resident says, �we're interested in some
color TVs you know, because the price is very, very reasonable.�
Some locals like Montgomery were so curious they tried to sneak in a day early.
Montgomery says, �I didn't expect it to look this nice. I'm surprised,
pleasantly surprised.�
He'll be back Thursday amid other bargain hunters to snag their piece of the
mystery turned history.
You'll notice the marquee no longer claims Countryland USA will be coming soon.
Instead, it shows the sale is on.
But before that can happen the companies contracted to implode el rancho and
sell its contents will have to pay each of the 5 county inspectors for their
time at 55-dollars-an-hour.
They'll get a bill before they get their permit.
Although no permits have been pulled yet for demolition, Turnberry plans to
implode El Rancho in August or September, after they remove the remaining
asbestos.
Turnberry says recent reports that a Radisson will go up in El Rancho's place
are nothing more than rumor. They're still deciding between a non-gaming hotel,
a timeshare, or another hotel-casino.
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