The last of the Mint: Binion’s hotel tower closes

Somewhere out there, Hunter S. Thompson is grumbling in his grave. The Mint, one of the Vegas icons he observed in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” is going dark, perhaps for good.

Although it flies under the banner of the Binion’s Hotel, locals know the 26-story tower with the penthouse restaurant as the Mint, a
casino that opened in the mid-1950s, was bought by Del Webb in 1961, and briefly became the home of the valley’s tallest building in 1965.

With its glass elevator and ritzy “Top o’ the Mint” restaurant, it was a happening place.

In its heyday, the hotel smartly sponsored the Mint 400 offroad race, which attracted journalists from all over the country to the party on Fremont Street and the chaos in the desert outside Las Vegas.

Thompson drew an assignment to write about the Mint 400 when he crossed the desert on his long, strange trip. A legend was born.

The Mint was bought up by the Binion family, but I never heard anyone but newcomers and casino PR types call it Binion’s Hotel.

I wonder what old Hunter would think of the new Las Vegas and today's opening of the high-rise tower opening at CityCenter.

Not so much, I'm guessing.