New Frontier Hotel and Casino

Postcard of the outside the New Frontier

On April 4th 1955 the newly renamed Hotel New Frontier opened its doors after a major refurbishment. Located opposite where the Encore now stands, it had originally opened as the Last Frontier on Highway 91 a year, where once the Pair O’Dice had sat.
Its slogan was ‘Out of this World’ with a futuristic-space styled theming. It’s reopening coincided with one of Las Vegas’ busiest casino resort opening years in history that included the Riviera, the Dunes, the Royal Nevada, and off Strip, the Moulin Rouge.
The ribbon was cut by Sonja Henie, a multi-gold medal Olympic winning ice skater and film actress, along with
One of its biggest claims to fame was that it hosted the first ever appearance of Elvis in Las Vegas in 1956, albeit the performance was not the success it was hoped it would be! And the Venus Room was also the place of choice for Judy Garland’s acclaimed world first night club performance in the same year.

Sonja Henie cutting the ribbon to open the New Frontier

It remained the New Frontier until 1967 when billionaire Howard Hughes bought it and renamed it the Frontier, although by then little of the original building existed. Renamed New Frontier again in 1999, it finally closed and was demolished in 2007.

Venus Room at the New Frontier

New Frontier promotional material with the slogan Out of This World

New Frontier Hotel ad in 1956 city directory