Monte Carlo rings in 10th anniversary

Upgrades in cards as facility moves forward

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The Monte Carlo celebrated its 10th anniversary on June 21 with giveaways, a gala, discounted services and a revamped Lance Burton show.

"It's been a very impressive ride. The Monte Carlo is one of the most successful resorts on Las Vegas Boulevard," said Randy Morton, president and chief operating officer of the Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino.

The Monte Carlo, an MGM Mirage property located at 3770 Las Vegas Blvd., opened on June 21, 1996, at an original cost of $334 million.

Since that time, it has undergone a $19 million remodeling project, including renovations for its more than 3,000 guest rooms.

"Fortunately, we're only 10 years old. After 10 years, we're still very young and hip," Morton said.

In the next year, the Monte Carlo will be undergoing several changes, he said. The resort will be installing a players' club system to coordinate with the other MGM Mirage properties. Morton said plans also include redoing the front of the casino, facing the Las Vegas Strip.

"With the current price of land, we have this incredible opportunity to do something really spectacular," he said.

The plans include a Mexican cantina restaurant and a Kansas City barbecue-style restaurant with an outdoor patio overlooking the Strip.

The Monte Carlo also is adding a parking garage, new carpet, chairs, tables, artwork, and new signage by the end of the year, he said.

Magician Lance Burton celebrated 10 years of his show by unveiling a new magic trick the Solid Gold Lady and introducing several changes to his show, which he said took about two years to plan.

"I'm going to attempt to make $10 million in gold bricks and coins disappear," Burton said. "The main thing to remember is this is not my gold. It belongs to the Monte Carlo Hotel."

Burton said it "took a while to talk the hotel" into the new trick.

"They made me promise I would give it back," he said. "After 10 years, they have to trust me."

The gold will not be stored in the theater, Burton said, but in the casino cage.

Burton said the show also will feature a new, high-tech $1 million lighting system, new sound components and half a dozen smaller new tricks. Since the show's opening, Burton said he has added about 40 percent new content into the show.

"I'm always envious of comedians or singers, like Clint Holmes. He's been doing a totally new show every year. It takes me about two years to do what they can do. They don't have to deal with inventing tricks and having props built," Burton said.

A new, six-minute version of the old TV show "The Twilight Zone," re-dubbed "The Magic Zone," features a series of people appearing and disappearing. Burton said it is one of his favorite numbers in his performance.

"It's like a one-act play," he said.

Broadway designer Douglas Schmidt created the scenery in the magic number.

Burton said his most memorable moment of the last 10 years was when actor Bruce Willis brought his three daughters to see the show.

"Here's Mr. Action Adventure movie star ... and he was totally in Mr. Dad mode," Burton said.

The most memorable moments tend to be when things go wrong, Burton said, and he's had his share of those, mainly when the animals he uses do unexpected things.

"They always say never work with children or animals, and I do both," Burton said.

Burton said he will put on his annual charity show in July for the Shriners Hospitals for Children, but said he does not yet have the lineup.

Burton's contract with the Monte Carlo ends in 2009, and he said he doesn't have specific plans for what he will do at that time.

"As long as people still want to see me and as long as I am physically capable, I'll keep performing," he said.

The Monte Carlo offered several other celebratory draws for customers this month. Every Saturday, the casino rewarded three Monte Carlo One Club members with $10,000. The Monte Carlo Pub & Brewery introduced a new "X" beer, and customers were able to purchase "giraffe sized" beer for $10. The brewery regularly produces six Monte Carlo-labeled beers and is one of the largest microbreweries in the United States.

Chef Andre Rochat unveiled a special menu for Andre's French Restaurant. The menu featured six courses paired with wine.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary, Spa Monte Carlo rewarded guests with $10 off any spa treatment of $100 or more.

The resort also gave away commemorative Silver Strike slot tokens and $5 gaming chips for collectors.