Imperial Palace, 3535 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Began as the Flamingo Capri (1959-1979). On November 1, 1979, the
beautiful resort dropped the name Flamingo Capri, the Imperial Palace
came into its own and the number of employees grew to 1,100. Owner Ralph
Englestad chose an Asian theme. Influenced by Japanese temple architect
Merlin Barth, the Imperial Palace utilized blue imported Japanese roof
tiles. The Asian theme is also realized in the interior, from the decor
to the cuisine to the employees' uniforms.
On December 1, 1981, the
Imperial Palace opened its Auto Collection with just 200 automobiles.
This collection has since grown to include more than 800 antique,
classic and special-interest vehicles spanning 100 years of automotive
history. The collection is located on the 5th floor of the parking
facility and is continually rotating in and out of the Auto Collection
from storage and nationwide tours to give it a fresh appeal for repeat
visitors. Many celebrity automobiles have been displayed over the years,
from the Cadillac El Dorado of Elvis Presley to Benito Mussolini's 1939
Alfa Romeo.
In 1988 an additional 19 stories were constructed, boosting
the capacity of the Imperial Palace to 2700 rooms including 225 suites.
November
1, 1979 -
The Imperial Palace has 2,700 rooms in one of the best central locations
on the Strip. There is a nice 70,000 square foot casino and unique Race
& Sports Book. Banquet facilities can accommodate 20 t o 900 people.
There are state-of-the-art Men's and Women's Health Clubs as well as
swimming pool complete with waterfall. In 1993, the Imperial Palace set
up the Strip's first medical clinic which is open 7 days a week with a
physician on call 24 hours a day.
During the warmer months from April
through October, the Imperial Palace has an authentic poolside
Polynesian Luau. There is also a display of the world's rarest and most
exotic automobiles with more than 200 antique and historically
significant vehicles. Located on the fifth floor of the Imperial Palace
parking garage, this exhibit is part of an even larger collection of 700
that is rotated periodically to keep the exhibit fresh.
The Imperial
Palace is located on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd. midway between
Sands Avenue and Flamingo Road just south of Harrahs. In the heart of
the Strip. Open seasonally, a large, rectangular pool and spa provide water fun for sunbathers occupying lounges on the surrounding deck. For vacation pampering, a quiet, softly lit health spa offers men's and women's saunas, steam rooms, and spas, and includes a small fitness center.
Pale wallpaper and cream-colored furniture serve as a backdrop for brightly colored bedspreads and matching fabric headboards in the guestrooms, which provide a table and two chairs for in-room dining.
Ralph Louis Engelstad, a Las Vegas and Mississippi casino entrepreneur,
died on Tuesday night at his home here. He was 72.
The cause was lung cancer, his family said.
Mr. Engelstad was best known as the owner of the Imperial Palace on the
Strip, which he built and opened on the site of the Flamingo Capri Motel
in 1979. He developed another Imperial Palace in Biloxi, Miss. He also
built the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which he later sold.
Forbes magazine listed him in the 1990's as among the nation's richest
people.
Mr. Engelstad, who graduated from the University of North Dakota in
1954, was a goaltender on the university's hockey team from 1948 to
1950. He financed the $100 million hockey arena that bears his name on
the campus.
Mr. Engelstad was also known for giving parties for employees of the Las
Vegas Imperial Palace to celebrate Hitler's birthday. Bartenders at the
parties wore shirts bearing the Nazi dictator's picture and the slogan,
''Adolf Hitler -- European Tour 1939-45.'' Mr. Engelstad apologized for
the parties, calling them ''not only stupid, but insensitive.''
