On 3/3/45 Tony Cornero opened the SS Rex on this property.

Tony only ran the property for a few months before he was removed from Nevada gaming. The casino, however, continued to operate under the SS Rex name until 2/7/47.

Tony Cornero named the casino after his gambling ship, the SS Rex, which had been closed down by the feds.

We were told by a casino historian friend, and it was confirmed by someone at the casino, that the big light fixture that hangs over the bar in the older part of the Horseshoe casino actually came from Tony Cornero's ship the SS Rex.