The South Coast: Baptism by Fire

Friday, December 23, 2005

South Coast: Grand Opening
- – - – -
Update: The South Coast Casino
was purchased in October, 2006 by
long-time casino operator Michael
Gaughan and is now officially called
“Michael Gaughan’s South Point
Hotel, Casino & Spa.” For short, it’s
now the “South Point.”

In Rome, it’s the Spanish Steps or the Pantheon. In San Francisco, it’s the Ferry Building or Coit Tower. But in Las Vegas, it’s always casinos that give you your bearings. The Stratosphere tower and the beam from the Luxor Pyramid anchor the two ends of the Strip, and everybody in the valley identifies neighborhoods by means of the nearest gaming destination.

Everybody, that is, except me. Until last night, I almost felt as though I didn’t really live in Las Vegas because I couldn’t say, “A couple of blocks from Texas Station,” or “a mile west of the Orleans.”

I’d been watching the South Coast casino hotel rise from the sands next to south Las Vegas Boulevard for a year or so. It’s a grand golden Italianate edifice with a big clock face next to the main entrance, an enormous porte cochere, and a twenty-five-story hotel tower. When the switch was flipped a few weeks ago to turn on the exterior lights, my night sky was forever changed. I can’t see the South Coast from my house, but its aura means I won’t be watching meteor showers from my backyard any more.

It was only a matter of time. Since I took up residence in this neighborhood, three new shopping centers have opened, along with an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, and a half million taverns, convenience stores, and Mormon churches. When that kind of development is exploding around you, a big new locals casino seems altogether appropriate. “We need a casino in our area,” I heard one of my neighbors say. Whether we do or not, we’ve got one.

Bombs bursting in air

The South Coast’s grand opening to the public was last night. I headed over there around 6:30, in time, I hoped, to find a place to park before the fireworks show scheduled for seven. The parking area in front of the casino was packed full, and people, kids, and even dogs were bundled in blankets on the roofs of cars. The dirt lot across the street was packed, too. Security dudes armed with Luke Skywalker-style light sabers were directing traffic to the multi-level parking garage, where there were plenty of available spaces. The only disappointing thing was that more guards were preventing access to the roof.

I parked on the fourth level, estimated that the wait for the elevator would cause me to miss the fireworks, and clanked down the freshly painted steel staircase to the ground. Just in time! The explosions began as I exited the garage. The launching pad was the roof of the hotel, and it was immediately obvious why the roof of the parking garage was off limits. The fireworks were more than bright lights and big sounds. They were a visceral experience I would compare to a bombing if I had firsthand knowledge. They were also quite entertaining until a cinder flew into my eye and ash began piling up in my hair. And even then, I was impressed. It was a real baptism by fire, and the grand finale left me both shaken and stirred.

Morning after: The South Coast
looks ready for the long haul

After the last detonation disappeared in a cloud of smoke, I joined the throngs pouring into the casino. Every slot machine was already occupied by the time I got in there, making me wonder if there’s special luck attached to being the first user.

I had planned to have dinner at the South Coast, but before I could identify the various dining possibilities, a fire alarm went off, along with a canned announcement advising everybody to leave the premises. Pretty much nobody did, and I even went up to the second floor to check out the movie theater before thoughts of the MGM Grand made me decide to sidestep the incoming firemen in full regalia and head for my car.

According to the late news and the morning paper, the fire was caused by the fireworks and didn’t cause any injury or damage. While I don’t always believe those sources, the South Coast was still standing this morning, looking none the worse for wear. The parking lot was full when I went over there around nine to test the coffee at the Seattle’s Best concession inside the front door.

With 64 bowling lanes, 16 movie screens, 650 hotel rooms, 6,000 parking spaces, a 600-seat bingo room, eight restaurants, countless gambling opportunities, a 150,000 square-foot conference center, and an equestrian events center with 1,200 climate-controlled horse stalls, the South Coast really does have something for everybody. For me, it’s proof I really do live in Las Vegas, “a mile or so from the South Coast.”

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