Wednesday, March 21, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.
Bauchman Gaming Ventures said it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Friday afternoon for the Wildfire Casino, a property to be built just southeast of Texas Station and the Fiesta on Rancho Road.
Construction began two weeks ago, and the casino is slated for completion in late October. Once complete, it will replace Ernie's casino, which first opened on Rancho Road in 1962. Ernie's will be demolished after the Wildfire's completion. The Wildfire will have more than 200 slots, compared to 86 at Ernie's.
The 3 p.m. groundbreaking, to be held at Ernie's, will be attended by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and City Councilman Lawrence Weekly. A public event is scheduled afterwards at Ernie's.
Bauchman Gaming, owned by brothers John and James Bauchman and Station Casinos Inc. General Counsel Scott Nielson, acquired Ernie's from Mel Wolzinger in 1999, saying at the time it was their intent to replace the older casino. Wolzinger opened Ernie's in 1962.
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