Hey Rich,
Looking forward to the June convention.
These photos always remind me of the high voltage power lines that run just north of Flamingo Road. Both Caesars and the Flamingo were built on lots that bordered the utility easement. In early photos there are just telephone poles and single wires but the power lines of today are a more heavy duty affair. Anyway the point is that two narrow lots were created between the power lines and Flamingo Road. On the east side the lot became a series of motels, then the Barbary Coast and today's Cromwell Casino. The other side has a much more interesting story. It was owned by Howard Hughes and leased to Caesars for parking. Then bought by Steve Wynn and quickly flipped for a sizable profit. More than once I asked Bob Maheu (head of Hughes' Nevada Operations) about this transaction as Hughes had never sold any other property and certainly never needed money (he had huge cash reserves from the TWA sale.) Never got an answer. I'm still curious how someone was able to manipulate Hughes to cause the transaction.