Historic Las Vegas motel could be demolished

By Liz Benston

Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 | 11:37 a.m.

The owner of a historic motel across from Mandalay Bay has shut down the property and has told tenants that he intends to tear it down.

The Glass Pool Inn, known for its distinctive, above-ground pool facing the Strip, has guest-starred in several movies and hosted celebrities over its more than 50-year history. The pool features giant glass portholes that allow passerby to watch swimmers from below.

The motel site is part of about 77 acres east of Mandalay Bay purchased by a partnership of Las Vegas developers in 2000. Clark County sold about 48 acres of that land adjacent to the airport to the developers.

A few months ago, one of those developers bought about 47 acres of the land across the street and south from the Four Seasons Hotel, including the Glass Pool Inn site, from the partnership.

The developer, Tom Gonzales, closed the motel about two weeks ago and told tenant Las Vegas Billboards to "vacate immediately" because he had demolition permits to tear down the building, Las Vegas Billboards owner David Harris said.

Las Vegas Billboards has rented the front lounge of the motel for about a year.

No demolition plans have yet been filed with the county.

The other developers, including Howard Bulloch and David Gaffin, retained about 30 acres of the original 77 acres across the street and north of the Four Seasons Hotel.

In 2001, developers announced plans to build resorts, a convention center and a fine arts center on the 77 acres. No plans have ever been filed with the county.

Gonzales could not be reached for comment by press time today.

Bulloch and Gaffin said they weren't aware of Gonzales' plans for the parcel. Gaffin said he and his partner are reworking future plans for their land following the sale to Gonzales.

"We're in the process of going in and exploring the different types of uses" for the site, he said.