Vegas Road Trip & Laughlin Tour 2024 - Getting in the River, Best Casinos, Primm, Circus Town & More
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- Опубликовано: 31 июл 2024
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We recently took a road trip to Laughlin to check out Southern Nevada's Riviera! Along the way we stopped in Jean and took a look at the closed Terrible's casino & the largest Chevron gas station in the world. We also stopped at Buffalo Bill's in Primm, Spiegelworld's Nipton town and a small town where you can fly right to your house.
Once in Laughlin we take a journey along the boardwalk to show you why this desert town is beautiful in its own way. We also show you the casinos including: Riverside, Golden Nugget, Laughlin River Lodge, Regency, Aquarius and Harrah's. Is Laughlin worth a visit from the Las Vegas Strip and should you make the journey out there?
Episode Guide:
0:00 Laughlin Road Trip - Should you do it?
0:50 Visiting Jean, the world’s largest Chevron & Terrible’s closed casino
2:10 Buffalo Bill’s & Primm - Theming overload!
3:22 Nipton, CA - The “Spiegelworld” Absinthe town
4:28 Cal-Nev-Ari - The airport town that was just sold
5:45 First impressions of Laughlin & Don Laughlin’s Riverside
6:52 Falling in love with the closed Colorado Belle
7:39 The Aquarius - Nicest casino in Laughlin?
8:22 The Golden Nugget Laughlin and its “epic” atrium
9:39 The Pioneer Resort & River Ric are big surprises
10:51 The Laughlin River Walk, river taxis & river tours
11:41 Laughlin River Lodge - Quirkiest casino in Laughlin?
13:30 Regency Laughlin - Locals dive casino
14:01 Harrah’s Laughlin - The Cancun of Nevada?
15:14 Harrah’s Casino is renovated and very nice
16:27 Takeaways on Laughlin, Boulder City & what you want to see along the way
Produced, Filmed & Edited by: Shawn Coomer
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Host - Shawn Coomer - @MtM_Vegas
Host - Mark Ostermann - @DetroitMark
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Laughlin was a GORGEOUS place in the mid 90's. Tropicana now owned by Harrah's. Mark enjoys theme places, look up that Tropicana was a railroad themed casino with a working train outside. Colorado Belle had great restaurants back then . Just sad how these corporations let these properties deteriorate over years and exchange owners so many times. I had two wins at Regency in 2022 for $ 1000 each. They have a restaurant downstairs also. Still love Laughlin. I'm glad you two visited it. It's still a diamond in the desert.
No resort fees.
cheap rooms!
Tropicana Express replaced the previous place the Ramada Expreess which was incredible for Veterans
I've been to Laughlin several times and always loved every day trip. It's a visit back in time when less was more. I loved the scenery enjoyed on the bus trip...would love to visit again. 😊
Is it just me or did the entire world seem so much more wholesome and vibrant in the 90s? I feel like people had a lot more personality back then as well. It’s harder to joke around and play with people now, everyone seems so serious and like they aren’t fully present.
That's what the Leftists and their "woke" agenda as well as the Society of Professional Victims with their safe spaces and safety pins have done. Go Red in 2024.
I might just be getting old but I also miss the 1990s.
Stayed at Harrah’s in 2019. Doing the Route 66 thing so it wasn’t planed. Huge room $15. And no resort fee.
No resort fee is a big help!
I moved to Laughlin last year I love it here I go on the river and lake all the time and anyone visiting that has time definitely go to Oatman Az it’s about a 40’minute drive from laughlin and there’s wild burrows that walk the town and you can buy food to feed them and they also have a mock western gun fight in the town worth checking out and it’s on old Route 66
Sounds awesome
I love Laughlin. It’s been 30 years since my parents first took me (Vegas was a day trip) to see all these big, lit up casinos. I hung out in the arcades since I was just a minor. Colorado Belle was the first casino I stayed at. Years later as an adult, I went to Vegas for the first time as an adult. It had been years since staying in Vegas. Walking the Strip, I remembered why Laughlin was a better environment: river of water vs river of asphalt and cars. For a while I would stay in Laughlin or do both Vegas and Laughlin. In 2018 I took my friend AtoZ Retail on a Vegas trip so he could see all the lit up casinos as well as malls. We stayed overnight in Laughlin at the Colorado Belle on the way home because I wanted him to see Laughlin and it’s neon. He had no idea any of that was there but he liked it a lot.
We love going to Laughlin. Usually stay at the Riverside. You have to take a day trip out to Oatman when staying more than a day or two
Like the jet boat to london bridge had lunch it was fun.
Been to Laughlin twice, once in February and once n June. The boat day trip to Lake Havasu/London Bridge is fun. Good Mexican restaurant by the bridge.
Don't forget that the Laughlin River Run in April . . . . Its a MAD HOUSE! if your not a motorcycle rider or enthusiast I would stay away. Also cant forget the big Hell's Angels and Mongols fight that happened during the River Run in 2002.
we go to Laughlin alot (Vegas is pricing regular people out of there) and boy i so agree about the ceilings in the Nugget. almost claustrophobic. Tropicana is that way too in places. Also, there is a mall across from Aquarius, and there's only 3 or 4 open stores and their food court sucks. But there is an In N out on that side of the street as well. also, go to Bullhead for gas. WAY cheaper
The Colorado Belle was home base for me for years. I miss it. I've always liked Laughlin so much better than Vegas. Great workers, decent prices, good buffets - and, of course, the River. Thanks to everyone who took such good care of us players.
I love going to Laughlin, been going for about 15 years 3 times a year. It is a much cheaper vacation than Vegas and you feel much safer there. Table minimums of $5 can be found during the week and $10 tables are readably available and you can usually find a place to play. A laid-back atmosphere without all of the drunk partiers, I still go to Vegas once a year, but Vegas is no longer something I enjoy, maybe I've grown up and am too old for Vegas, but Laughlin is a lot closer to what Vegas used to be. It also helps we can catch a junket from Omaha with a direct flight to Laughlin, I haven't had to pay for a trip to Laughlin in over 10 years, 5 days and 4 nights, get in a little golf and the Jet Boat tour to Lake Havasu are enjoyable past times.
Good times, thanks!
I’m watching this video from my hotel room in Laughlin. Love this place.
Awesome - have a great trip
Going to Las Vegas early February for my 60th Birthday!! Planning a day trip to Laughlin. I love the beach, going to dip my toes in the water for sure!!
Happy 60th! Have a great trip
I stayed at flamingo decades ago when i was in Laughlin... Wow.. time flies 😮
We were on a junket to Laughlin in November 2021. Heard the Colorado Belle was closed because it was sinking. Stayed at Harrah's and we agree that it was the best property in the area. Nice memories. Thanks for the report.
For those that want to know what Vegas was like in the 1970's Laughlin is probably as close as you can get but instead of a boulevard you have a river.
I'll take a water view any day :) - it gives old school vibes for sure.
Went there 30 years ago, saw Merle Haggard outdoors on the Harrahs property. Great times!
I remember driving down Laughlin strip there in the 90s and there was a light rain so the blacktop was glowing with the lights from all of the casinos and the paddle wheel on the Belle was rolling (lighting effect) etc etc. wow I loved it.
😊😊I loved your video. I used to run bus tours from Southern California to Laughlin in the 1990s. We stayed at all the hotels including the Colorado Belle. Back then each hotel had a buffet and I sampled them all. Havent been back since the 90s Laughlin's hay days. Its lots its appeal in the new century.
I love Laughlin, Riverside Casino is fun, the river taxi is unique in the desert. Gambling, boating,bowling,movies,,campgrounds. Everything is there!
I love going to Laughlin as a 1 day respite from the HIGH ENERGY of LV. Upon returning, as we approach LV, I can feel the Pulse building as we approach.
LOVE the BIG Horn Sheep at the end of this Laughlin Revue, Thanks Guy and Thank You for Keeping " The DIRTY Castle " Alive!
I've done a lot of Laughlin trips. We hang at either Riverside or Harrahs. Yeah, Riverside is somewhat of a dump, but it's Donnie's original place, and has a certain charm for me and my crew. We attended Don's memorial service at the hotel and it was spectacular. Learned a lot about Don & his family. His grandson has been working under him for some time and is now in charge. The place is in good hands.
In the 90’s my friends would go to Laughlin and have BBQs there while hanging out by the water. It would be large groups of them. That was the trend back then!
Laughlin is a great place to visit. The casinos were nice with the river views. The river taxis are a blast and make travelling between resorts fun.
Thanks for showing us alternatives to Las Vegas. On one of my trips to Las Vegas I rented a car and did drive to Prim to see Buffalo Bills when it was in full operation. I am a roller coaster fan and that was one of the reasons I went to ride the coaster that was relatively new and claimed to be the biggest metal coaster in the world at the time. It was exciting but relatively rough compared to other metal coasters I road. I also got to enjoy the river ride where we got to shoot at targets as part of the ride. The casino was well themed and the slots had good action. I guess what caused it to eventually close was its location and lack of other casinos and attractions in the area. I never visited the other sites you visited but feel they would provide a good alternative to more expensive Las Vegas.
Would have loved to see Bills in the glory days
I did a weekend mini putt competition at the pioneer in 1999. 18 holes out front/back and even inside the casino, under tables, with players still playing ! Blew my mind being a young fella from Glasgow.
We took a day trip to Laughlin in October. My favorite casino was Acquarius.
Great video. Now I'm prepared if I ever get to Laughlin. --Surprised at no mention or info. about the parachutists coming down at 1:46.
been there before covid and enjoyed the whole dumpy town...lol...fun place for sure!
I love the Aquarius and always win money there. We like to eat at the Saltgrass at the Nugget. Always good. We did visit once for July 4th and it was very fun. They put on a great fireworks show.
My favorite episode to date - hope you all enjoy it
I have stayed the last two years coming home from Arizona visiting my daughter. I won money both times. I am a Laughlin fan.
Hahah what a throwback to a road trip my friend and I took from Vegas to Phoenix and back several years ago. Laughlin was wild. I remember the casinos we checked out were soooooo smoky. And I remember being shocked there was advertising for some massive concerts in the little town. I think Luke Bryan was playing the next day. The theming is so fun and I wish Vegas would bring back more of it. It would be fun to go back for an overnight stay when the weather is nice and ride the little river taxi from spot to spot. Good video guys! 🥳
I'm ecstatic you guys love our little Laughlin, said hi and talked to Don Laughlin many times over the last 30 yrs the Towers/ Casino have aged but always feel homey to me ❤❤❤😂
It would be awesome to go to a good concert there. Totally unexpected for sure.
No resort fees!
cheap rooms
We stopped in Laughlin once about 15 years ago on our way from a summer trip coming off I40. We were only there for about 2 hours, i always said i was going back but just never got to it. I'm so sad abt Colorado Belle, wait until i tell my dad. He always loved Laughlin, he's 81, him and his group of friends used to go all the time until the pandemic and they never started back.
My boyfriend and I went to Edgewater they have plenty of good places to eat and we love the casino we stayed there for a week we would love to go back but we're both blind and it's so hard we have to take the bus to Laughlin well actually Arizona and take a bus back we have to spend two nights in Las Vegas and we can spend the rest of the time in Laughlin❤🎉
I love Laughlin. I take my Boat from Havasu to Laughlin & stop at Topock 66, Pirate Cove, Avi Casino & all the stopz along the way. The Beachez are amazing. Gotta go through Topock Gorge. It is Beautiful! Next time rent or bring your Boat & stop at all those placez between Parker Dam & Davis Dam. It’z a BLAST!!! 💥
Love your Show! You guyz ROCK!!!
🤘😎🤘
Oh… make sure you go in The Channel under the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City. Really awesome English Village. Make sure you walk under both sidez of the Bridge. Great Restaurantz & Beachez & Shopping. Go when it’z crazy from March through September 😎
Wife and I use to get comped chartered flights out of Chicago Midway for Harrahs for 4 nites. We than rented a car and head to Vegas to our comped rooms at the Palazzo.
I like Laughlin. I haven’t been in years but I keep up with it through you guys channel. Thanks for the memories.
Bill's was the hot spot for yrs....😊😊
The last 6 years I drive to S.F. to Cosmo once a month and my number 1 place to fill up when I leave LV is that Chevron. The staff is really nice and there's a lot off coffee dispensers so never have to wait. Place is a trip if you wonder around. I think it's fun lots of cheapy gifts you can get there also. Thanks for the road trip it reminds me I need to go!
Have not been to Laughlin in years. It is fun, though. The water was down to ankle high all the way across to boulder city in some spots a few years ago.
When I was at Golden Nugget there I saw a man win over a million dollars slot jackpot. I do like the restaurant at the front entrance. They have a nice breakfast. Hope you took the water taxi to the casinos!
Whaaatttt!?!? $11 Insanity.
I was at the Belle and surrounding areas once a long ago....that was more than enough. Was a decent day trip.. like you said the river boats were cool. Thanks for the bonus content.
I also did day trip to Laughlin did river cruise with kids then drove to oatman. Fun time
Laughlin always reminds me of North Miami Beach with Las Vegas as South Beach. This was before they tore down all the old hotels and put in gigantic new ones as well as condos.
laughlin was alwayes my halfway stop to California, used to be able to get cheap rooms during the week, dip into the river and then onto the back roads through the mojave, just marvelous.
Oh ! My god Laughlin! We went there Probably 20 years ago..when vegas was full for a...concrete convention 120,000 members!!! We got there with old people playing the machines with gas masks on and a fug of smoke above the entry to the buffet!! We stayed 1 night and learnt to play craps cheaply and then managed to rebook the Hilton with a winter package (because not everyone turned up!) That included $100 meal voucher, free star trek experience and cocktails in the bar! There Warp Core breach cocktail with I think it was 5 straws was epic!! Oh I forgot to say we flew over from England just after 9/11 which made the whole deal cheaper!! We loved it!
Sounds like a lot of fun! I may need to check Laughlin out on my next trip.
Awesome video of the old casino. Thanks y’all
Love the Laughlin tour!!! Was there years ago and walked the trail behind the casinos and yes, it was 112 the day we went!!!
Great episode. I'm glad you liked Laughlin!
Loved the show wish you guys would do more of this
My Mom and I went to Laughlin about 10 years ago during the 4th of July and had so much fun we extended our stay. Back then, Tropicana was nicer and more fun.
Cool video. Its been years since I 've been to Laughlin. Need to go check it out again. 🍻🍺
Last time we were at Harrah's Laughlin, after gambling and searching for good food, I grabbed a cold one and sat under a grass umbrella with my feet in the sand and pretended I was in Fiji.
The Fiji of Nevada
Loved your walk around Laughlin. It makes me want to explore and really old Las Vegas feel.
Loved this video. Makes me want to come back to Nevada all over again.
Love Laughlin! Such an old school vibe.
Great video! I get offers to Laughlin, will definitely check it out!
Fantastic review of Laughlin! Never been there, really enjoyed the footage, well done gents!
I think you guys nailed Laughlin. Great take on it.
Glad you enjoyed
Looking forward to visiting Laughlin again
This was one of your best shows. Really enjoyed following your travels to Laughlin. Maybe break it down to two shows and show some of the restaurants and bars you went to. Great job guys!
Looks cool
Nevada was one of my assigned States when working and traveling. It is more than The Strip: Boulder City, Elko, Winnemucca, Sparks, etc
We really enjoyed Laughlin. Being a Vegas junkie I was skeptical, but we had a blast. We live close to Mark, so I was stunned to hear him say ANYTHING was cold out there, compared to the Detroit area…
Had a great time at Harrah's in Laughlin...Plan to go back this year..Great video
I really appreciate the favorable and balanced review. There is a tendency to dump on it there, but it is so much fun with the right set of expectations!
Great video. Return inJune!
All the places you guys stopped at were beautiful and interesting looking.
Laughlin looks like it would be a nice place to stay overnight, or even a few days. But, I think visiting there once would be enough for me. It would have been fun to see it back in its heyday. I enjoyed this video. Thanks Shawn and Mark!
First time in Laughlin was the month of May years ago. We didn’t know it got so hot! 🙄 🤦🏻♀️ 😂
For some reason it feels much hotter out there than Vegas even if it is only a few degrees.
Laughlin is in a valley. In the Mohave Desert. Same as Vegas only more concentrated. That is why it is more hotter in the summer.The Colorado river is coming out of Lake Meade and a few other dams at hundreds of feet below sea level. Nice and chilly. Even when it reaches Laughlin.
Once on a road trip years ago we had 120F there...
@@oliverseitz9215 😮
Nice review ‼️👍🏼
OK you've convinced me. I definitely have to make at least a day trip to Laughlin this spring. If for no other reason than the river and the surrounding scenery which is beautiful!
Who knew? I certainly didn't until I watched this video. Thanks for filming it guys! 👍
I love Laughlin. My SIL lived in Bullhead City and we always spent time in Laughlin. We also stayed at the Belle. Loved that place back in the day. Rooms were great, had balconies attached to rooms. Also loved Boulder City. We almost bought a place there. Such a beautiful city. Thanx for sharing. Haven't been back in a few years. Thanx so much.
Wow! I get offers for Harrahs in Laughlin all the time, including free flight. I've never had much interest in going, but your video has kind of changed my mind. Nice side trek from the normal content!
I stayed at the Aquarius. Loved it. Had a lot of old machines. A lot of those casino's had hardly any machines like the Tropicana.
I feel like Laughlin is more my vibe than the strip and Fremont! I want to go there now!
I love Laughlin! My husband and I got married there for the first time ( actually across the river at Davis Camp Park) in 1993. We stayed at the Belle and the Edgewater before taking off on our road trip honeymoon to Sedona. We went back at least 4 times a year for many years! We divorced after 10 years and remarried 12 years later and have been married again for 10 years next month 🎉 we've gone back to Laughlin a few times bringing my stepdaughter for 4th of July holidays and river fun but last time it was 120° for a couple of days and our girl asked if we could go somewhere less hot next time 😂. We always stay at Edgewater and Harrahs, the former for the memories and awesome location and the latter because it's just plain nicer. The last time we went, the Colorado Belle was still open, except they had closed everything on the top part where restaurants and the buffet were... we snuck up and wandered around, so spooky.. I miss Laughlin. I need a road trip ASAP! Thanks for the video!
i love laughlin.. i,m from australia. have stayed there 6 times.stayed at the edgewater, colorado belle. and the tropicana when it was called the ramada. it had a great little train that circled the property.. and the rates were much cheaper than vegas. hope to get back there soon.. another great video.
I really liked this. My wife and I have talked about going down to Laughlin for a weekend and this really showed that there was enough to do for a weekend. I know the bulk of this channel is Vegas, but maybe a couple times a year, pop on a special video like this one for something close that might be of interest (boulder city, one of the natural sites, etc)
I have been to every single place that you mentioned in video and I still learned new stuff I have been going to Laughlin for years now I live about 30 minutes from there towards Kingman
Loved this episode. Great work, as always, gentlemen.
Laughlin and Pahrump are always fun, get-away-for-a-day road trips. In 2019, rental car company gave us a pickup so we took Christmas Tree Pass route on our way to Laughlin. Highly recommended if you have such a vehicle. And Nipton route either to or from Laughlin always a solid option.
This video perfectly fits the name of the channel “miles to memories”
Shows the surreal and strangeness that makes Nevada unique.
You can take a free boat ride from riverside casino to go across the river to have lunch at Sam’s club. River Lodge restaurants, including Asian and Mexican ones very reasonably priced.
Does that run year round?
Awesome
I think it does. Sometimes when the boat takes a break, they would use bus service to run people across the river. I stayed in Laughlin for 3 weeks back in October and took the boat ride almost every day.
Need to visit for a few days. 🎉 Maybe a road trip from Boise. My parents used to go there when living in Casa Grande AZ during the winter.
heading to Laughlin in March on a charter from Columbus Ohio. Four nights at Harrahs. special low prices for Caesars Rewards members.
#HaterMark bringing the Detroit vibes to the Atrium!🤣
My mom and I used to go on Laughlin day bus trips to the Edgewater and Aquarius Casinos. My grandparents used to do roadtrips to Bakersfield, Bullhead City and Missouri to visit friends and family!
I like to go to Hemenway Park in Boulder City to watch the Bighorn Sheep and get away from the hustle and bustle of Vegas sometimes! The Sheep were butting horns for mating season last time I was there. The park has a RUclips cam too to see if there are any Sheep in the park. They have tennis courts, horseshoe pits and paths to Lake Mead too.
Heminway Park is a favorite of mine. I bring my daughter there often!
We were hoping to hit it but was dark by the time we could have.
Love this video even though I've never been to Laughlin. Now I'm thinking of visiting just to check it out. I've always wanted to visit that park in Boulder City that has the bighorn sheep. This would be a good way to combine the two. I really like visiting out-of-the-way casinos as they all seem to have their own unique personalities.
Laughlin was a weekend trip for many SoCal aerospace executives back in the day (30 years ago). Now that I’m as old as them back then, I still haven’t been there. Maybe a weekend trip someday, but the enticing Brightline West means no more driving to Vegas in 2028 when I’m almost ready to retire.
You should check out The Avi a few miles south of there! My favorite place down there. I lived there for 3 years.
Looks awesome - hopefully next time
I would totally check this place out. The Harrah’s looks nice.
Back in the early days of Laughlin, Tropicana was the Ramada Express. Went frequently on road trips. Went back last year under Tropicana; very data but still the railroad theme. It is probably the best pool in Laughlin. Don't knock it based on other reviews; check it out yourselves :)
Did you get to ride the train back then?
@@Milestomemories I don't remember an actual train at that time. I was just 18 driving from New Mexico to college in California a bunch in 1991. It was a cheap place to stay for a broke college boy who loved nickel slots. Lol. When we visited last year, it was certainly a 'miles to memories' nostalgic moment. We had free access to the Harrah's river beach. The pool however was the best I've seen in Laughlin.
My foundest memories of Laughlin is visiting in 1986 and going to Sam's Town.Laughlin River Resort now. I sent time there and Harrah's with my Grandparents.
Vaya con dios written on the Harrah's sign as you left the property
I love that Carpet Talk travels!
Yay, a segment on Laughlin...I love Laughlin as much as Vegas...Learned from my airline work family about Laughlin and even after my layoff since 2014 I still run into my Family there...Sad about Colorado Belle they should do food trucks on that land tohelp fill it in and some small business trucks as well.
Laughlin is a great spot. Mark, gotta try a weekend in Laughlin when they have a concert at the events center! They have some pretty good artists over the course of the season.