You only celebrate your silver anniversary once, so you might as well go big.
Palms Casino Resort will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 15, with a weekend honoring longtime employees and offering promotions for eligible guests.
The Las Vegas resort, which opened Nov. 15, 2001, will recognize nearly 70 employees who have worked at the property since its first day. Anniversary activities also include a commemorative T-shirt giveaway and a $25 dinner offer at A.Y.C.E. Buffet.
The news comes on the heels of the casino opening a new smoke-free gaming space.
Palms Casino to Honor Nearly 70 Original Employees
The employee tribute will highlight the people who helped open Palms Casino 25 years ago. Photographs of the original “Day One” team members will appear on the property’s Tall Wall, and an employee celebration is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13.
Kevin Glass, general manager of Palms Casino Resort, said the anniversary carries personal meaning because he was at the property when it opened.
“Having been at the property as it was opening, this anniversary is especially meaningful,” Glass said. “Palms has always been a special place, but it's the people who have made it what it is. To celebrate 25 years alongside so many team members who were here from the beginning is truly something special. We're proud of our history, grateful to our loyal guests and excited about what's ahead.”
This is about as exciting as when a woman won a massive jackpot playing baccarat at The Palms Casino Resort in June.
Anniversary Buffet Offer Available to Eligible Club Serrano Members
Guests and local residents who meet the promotion’s requirements can take part in a $25 dinner at A.Y.C.E. Buffet on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 5 to 9 p.m.
The offer is available to invited Club Serrano members and qualifying new members who enroll that day. Eligible guests must obtain a promotional voucher at a casino marketing kiosk.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, eligible Club Serrano members can also receive a limited-edition 25th anniversary T-shirt while supplies last.
Both promotions have eligibility requirements; the buffet price is not advertised as an offer available to all visitors.
What Palms Casino Resort Was Like When It Opened
When Palms Casino Resort opened on Nov. 15, 2001, it paired everyday attractions for Las Vegas residents with restaurants and nightlife designed to draw tourists and celebrities. Developer George Maloof and his family were the majority owners of the off-Strip property on West Flamingo Road.
The resort originally had 455 hotel rooms, making it relatively small compared with major Strip properties. Its amenities served two distinct audiences: a movie theater, food court and 2,200 slot machines appealed to local customers, while fine dining and nightclubs Rain and Ghostbar helped establish its reputation as a celebrity gathering place.
The timing also made the opening notable. Palms Casino debuted just two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when reduced travel had hurt Las Vegas tourism. Despite those conditions, the resort hired about 2,500 workers, including experienced employees who had lost jobs at upscale Strip properties.
In the early days, the property also became known for its sign.
From a New Casino to an MTV Backdrop
Television soon helped introduce Palms Casino Resort to a wider audience.
For MTV’s “The Real World,” the property converted six rooms on its 28th floor into living space for the cast, investing roughly $1 million in the project, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal retrospective. The show helped connect the young resort with the entertainment-driven image it was building.
According to the resort’s anniversary announcement, Palms also entered a new chapter in 2022 when it became the first Las Vegas casino resort fully owned and operated by a Native American tribe. And it continues to evolve with its non-smoking gaming space.
The anniversary weekend will bring that history into focus while recognizing the employees and guests who have been part of the property’s first 25 years.
