Weird Vegas Staycation: What Happened to the Rio Hotel?
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- Welcome to Wonderhussy Adventure #760
Date of adventure: 11/13-11/15/23
While waiting on car repairs, I ended up having to spend 2 nights in Vegas...and the cheapest room I found near my mechanic's shop was at the Rio. But the sign is busted and the front looks abandoned -- is it even open? Join me as I investigate this once trendy property...which appears to have fallen on hard times.
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I think this video actually worked out to the Rio's advantage. She was able to communicate that it is not abandoned, but undergoing a renovation. And "John's" fast thinking allowed everyone to see what the upgraded room will look like, which really did look like a nice room. I am curious why they continue to operate on a shoestring during the renovation, or why they don't put up signage about undergoing renovations.
Gotta have customers to keep you going towards a profit. So many people go to Vegas just to “do things” and not gamble much anymore. We went for the food, the atmosphere, the sights, and won’t be going back. Too many people in a tight space and too much weed smell all over constantly. We’ve gone the last two years, this was our final trip….
I would stay there , love the room
@@SaltySouthTexan
I went there on business a few years ago to support contract work at Nellis AFB. My coworker booked us all $50 rooms at the Luxor (it was in July, so it was the low-season). That place sucks. As soon as I walked it, the entire place smelled like an ashtray and I had to wait in line for 90 minutes to check in, it was worse than the goddamn airport. Not only did the entire place stink of cigarettes, everything about the place was cheap plastic crap. The next time I saw that co-worker I chewed his ass. A coworker told me later, "Yeah, don't ever stay on the strip. Book the Marriott on the edge of town." I wish he had booked our rooms. I was thoroughly unimpressed with everything about Vegas and haven't been back.
@@Skank_and_Gutterboyyour co- worker booked the Luxor rooms and you chewed his ass because it didn't meet your expectations. Hmmm, ok..
@@ralphalvarez5465
Yep. A few people said to him, "I don't we really want to be on the strip," and he's one of those, "Don't worry, I've been there a ton of times, I got this!" He didn't have shit, everybody's bad expectations came true and he got bitched at by everybody. When I got home, the first thing my wife said was, "What did you do, stop by the bar first?" because my clothes, including what I was wearing, smelled like smoke. Damn I hate that.
This is probabbly the best advertising the Rio could ever have. Thanks.
The RAILROAD is what turned Vegas into a town. Back in the steam locomotive days the engines needed large amounts of water, and Vegas had water, so the town was born. Las Vegas means The Meadows, which is the result of spring...a watery Oasis in the barren desert to feed the railroad engines.
Good one Sara!
Thanks (from a native)
Busgy Segal turned this sand lot into fun.❤
The current Las Vegas would just be incomprehensible to the residents from the turn of the century.💛
@@harryyarrow4110My parents would leave my sister(6) and I(4) in the car while they went in the casinos to gamble. It was the 1960s and I can still remember cupping our hands against the glass and our foreheads to try and look inside. Talk about a mellow society.
"this place is run by clowns" had me in stiches.
I stayed there when it first opened in the early 1990s. Besides being all suites, they offered free food & drink discounts. The rooftop bar/club was KILLER!
Great video, WH. I am rooting for Rio to make a big come back!
Enjoyed this one, a lot!
Another great video Wonderhussy . I really enjoy that you treat everyone like you want to be treated something everyone should be doing in life . Have a most wonderful day Wonderhussy .
Very glad to hear they're renovating the Rio. Such a beautiful property. Hate to see it all run down.
I've been going to Vegas since the early 80's and flew down from Canada every year to go to the WSOP.
I always stayed at the RIO when the WSOP was moved there because as you said, the rooms are suites.
The pool was awesome and I stayed out there most of the day and gambled at night.
My last stay was June 2022 and at that time they only had one pool open and the WSOP moved to Bally's.
Only the All American bar n grill was open and the other food joint in there was closed. No poker room (closed).
The place was really dead. Sad compared to what it was.
I liked the overhead floats back in the day and they would throw beads at those of us watching from the upper deck.
I almost cried when I saw your video about the pool but glad to hear they are not destroying it. It had a really nice sand beach area for kids or those who liked to put their feet in sand. It was one of the best parts of that casino.
I hope it makes a come back but I think it will be tough. Right from day one they never had more than 3 people working check in and you had to wait forever to get checked in so I hope they fix that.
If they just dumped the rip off "resort" fee this place will have a chance.
The mob knew what gamblers wanted -- cheap rooms, cheap food and a comp. If they follow the mob model then they got a winner. Gamblers want value for their money which means we don't want to get mugged right at the front desk. We want to gamble not get mugged.
Great job on this video.
Facts bro! Where i stand right now with mgm properties everything is comped, 0 resort fees, free parking , 160.00 in free play and 250.00 credit on anything charged to my bank room. If any of this went away, so would I!
The Rio had the best cocktail waitress outfits in 93. It had cool laser show at night. Times they are a changing great video
I am impressed with the room. Stayed there a couple times and I wish the new owners well.
Really impressed. Do you work for Rio?? Which room the first one or the real one you or I would get??
Hey Wonderhussy, love all your videos! Anyways, I work as an art director with an ad agency in Vegas and we are currently rebranding the Rio. It's definately a grind dealing with them, and the property has been resold.
👍👍👍👍👍😄, Don't know how you always do it, but keeping things interesting seems to never be a problem for you!!
John is a terrific ambassador for Rio!
Right on, John!
Do you work for Rio. No follower would care that much about John. She was shunted to a bad room and forced to move half way through her stay
@marthaobrien3742 I lived in Las Vegas for 23 years and I did work at the Wynn, in VIP.
She bought her room on a 3rd party website🤣🤣!
She could have purchased a room at the rate Rio gets for those rooms now, but she didn't.
John did her a big favor
A new sort of ghost town, inhabited by vampire accountants carefully sucking every last cent out of the building before calling in the demolition crews. Your videos exploring abandoned properties and your creativity ground us in history, a context to how we got here. In the future, if all the buildings are destroyed every ten or twenty years, is the history carted off to landfill along with the rubble? No past, only a transient present, an indeterminate future, carried along in a Groundhog Day present. Stay safe, live and thrive.👍❤
Great video Sarah!
The new room looked nice!
I hope your 4Runner works good for you!
I have a 2wd 2019 4Runner that I love!
I take it off road all over the Desert in Az all the time.
I'm glad that when it comes time to upgrade, you are going with another 4Runner.
Don't be swayed by a cheaper price on some inferior vehicle. 4Runners rule!
Safe Travels!
The Rio is pretty lit now, literally and figuratively. Those signs looks way better now with the LED screens and fresh coats of paint. Plus, the rooms aren't too shabby.
Wow that was a trip ! Time is flying and everything is changing, Thank little lady you are the bomb !!!
I'm sure you figured this out by now, but you can actually just call the front desk and ask for a 1 day extension at the same rate you paid for the prior night.
Saw the best lightning storm there in a suite with wall to wall windows back in '05. Grabed a couple beers, turned off the lights, it was cool.
I remember they used to have a big Mardi Gras style parade in the casino, and the performers in the parade were all suspended, hanging from a moving track on the ceiling. It was quite entertaining.
One of my major concerns in travelling is bed bugs... I stay at good hotels and I always check the bed and the blankets for bugs.... Staying in hotels does have its risks...
This hotel is too low class for any respectable bed bug.
Why doesn't the city pick up the the trash, you think they said he would do better about the trash in street.....
Glad your not by yourself ❤
There is no shortage of people who brought bedbugs home from 4 and 5 star hotels. The only difference is that in big cities like NYC, 5-star hotels do pay for regular inspections by bedbug-sniffing dogs, to show which rooms are infested and need another treatment.
I have a cousin who is a professional dog trainer/handler. She used to specialize in search, rescue, and recovery, including at the WTC after 9/11. Now she trains beagles to find bedbugs, it is less strenuous and better money than search and rescue.
@@EfficientRVerdid your cousin ever work w Raymond out of upstate NY search and rescue w dogs?
Gold Coast was my hangout during my Air Force days in 1989. Rio was being built. Remember this wave type structure on the outside of the main building. Seemed like it was pretty close to being done. When I left Vegas in Dec 89. The Mirage had been open for about a month.
I remember visiting the Rio in the mid 90s. They boasted the best buffet in Vegas, and it was good!!! They also had the show in the sky, where they did a Mardi gras show on an overhead trolley system. You can see it in the shots of the casino floor. What a shame it is so rundown. Hopefully they can bring some life into it with the renovations!!!
I was going to say I watched another Vegas channel and he covered the Rio a while back and explained what’s going on. I’m glad you got to stay in a new and an old room. The old room wasn’t all that bad though!
I’ve stayed at the big hotels and some mom and pop places when I have needed to stay in Las Vegas. One small local motel I stayed at was great- except for the working girl who had the room next door to me. She obviously was very talented- her customer was loudly shouting her praises while he was having a “business meeting” with her. LOL! My traveling companion- my long time girlfriend wasn’t happy about the noise, and I really couldn’t fault her. I’m the type of person who can sleep through most any noises and she is a light sleeper. My first trip to Vegas was in the early 80’s and I hit town at the same time there was a big championship boxing event. The place was off the hook. I saw two guys jumping out of their cars at a stoplight and getting into a fight in the middle of the intersection! I kept driving and got a room at the last motel on the southbound highway heading to Phoenix. Good times as a young traveling boilermaker- adventures working all over the western United States!
But, Wonderhussy…..you gotta admit $2500.00 in repairs isn’t bad at all after what you’ve put the old girl through….if people have been telling you she’s mechanically sound then you should be super good to go….RIGHT? your old friend in Sparks.
TOYOTAS ARE ACTUALLY WAY OVERRATED PIECES OF CRAP THEY CANNOT BE FLAT TOWED THE FRAMES ARE NOT THAT GOOD THEY'RE REALLY JUST MEANT TO BE GOOD BAD WEATHER PAVED STREET HIGHWAY VEHICLE S THEY DON'T BEGIN TO COMPARE WITH WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A JEEP OR A DODGE POWER WAGON PICKUP
How many times does the mechanic have to fix the issues she has brought in time and time again..
Your idea of replacing your Taco might have been a good idea. My daughter helped out a fellow utuber Jake and Nicole with a new Toyota. Canadian dollar
So they have you convinced 2500 isn't bad ...yer a dupe
You better watch Scotty Kilmer before you buy any car
Love your storytelling ms Wonder Hussy ✨🙂🎉🌲🌅🌈🐎🌌
Actually WH, all the casinos stayed closed for three months. They didn't open until last part of June fully.
The Rio though, you're right. It was right at a year it stayed closed.
I think they took that time to plan out how they were going to get their renovations and revamping done.
It will be spectacular again once they've finished 👍
I worked at Rosemary's at the REO back in 2003.
Shocking that it looks like this today.
The Rio used to have a fantastic buffet. 0f course, that was 25 years ago.
Great to know the Rio is making a comeback. Thanks for the review!
Another good, informative video. Thanks. $2,500 for suspension work to the end and back end is not bad, depending on what was replaced. You rave a good 4Runner.
I saw a news article about Las Vegas removing people from the tunnels long after you got the news out. Thanks for keeping us informed. Love your channel. I am a long time follower. Ty -m
did they provide them with accommodation or did they make the homeless people even more homeless?
Great video. Born and raised in Vegas. After 50 years I left to travel Latin America and have no desire to be there other than to see friends and family. After a few days anxiety sets in and I have to leave.
I'll stay in tecopa or cottonwood cove, but not in the city.
It is depressing for me to see what it has become.
I just ate supper and I get Wonderhussy for desert!
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
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I have said it before and I will say it again. I have never had any desire to visit Las Vegas, never. However once again Wonderhussy has shown how great a local can be in selling their city, town or village than any fifth avenue, mad man type, advertising propogandist. This was a top class video which was able to be both entertaining, and which informed potential visitors to LV, why the hotel was looking less than its best. I thought that for $69 both rooms were satisfactory but that upgrade room is just about the best value hotel room I have seen in any major US city. Lots of room, terrific view of the strip and when all the amenities are up and running this should once again be a hot ticket place to stay. Hope the Starship Hussy is fixed and ready for more adventures, as we are!
Trust……don’t waste your money. Vegas is a dump. Unless you can afford the Wynn or the Venetian/Palazzo……pretty much a dump everywhere else. Food is 100X the price it should be and not always the quality you’d think. Best two meals we had were at Ellis Island for under $40 for two. Paid $300 for steaks and they sucked. We always stayed center strip…..I’d never stay there again. The north end is where it’s at but I can’t afford those hotels
Vegas is straight-up creepy and gross. Only redeeming thing about it is that you can get to Red Rock State Park, which is quite beautiful, from the strip in a half an hour.
In Vegas in Aug for a few nights and Treasure Island was dark facing strip. Apparently it was still open though. On way back to CA stopped in Primm at Wild Bills to eat. Looked about same as Rio.
Loved the all you can eat sea food buffet and the world carnival buffet with the island salad bar. Also enjoyed the floats which ran on the tracks in the ceiling with the dancers throwing beads
We used to stay here all the time when my husband would participate in the Baker to Vegas. Loved this place...especially their parade on top. We also loved the Voodoo Place at top of casino. But the best place was their food court...best in Vegas! Wishing them luck to finish so we can go back and enjoy our time there this time!!!
So sad! We used to love the Rio. The Carnival World Buffet was one of the best at one time.
Those bevertainers were awesome. Be serving drinks, all of a sudden hop on stage and sing, then get off and go right back to serving.
I stayed at the Rio when it was “happening “. At the time they had some of the best food in Vegas. Wild beach parties….thanks for the update
Nice video Sarah, glad to see that their renovating.
LOL They didn’t even leave the light on for you! ……That tells you how much I know about motels or hotels.
I hope your stay was WONDERFUL,WONDERHUSSY! 🤩🥰🤗 Thanks for a WONDERFUL video! 😊 I really enjoyed it! 😅😅😊
I remember visiting the Rio when it had an overhead track they used for a Mardi Gras float suspended from the ceiling where the performers would throw beads down to the guests.
I remember when your 4Runner was shiny and new. I like this one, an old veteran.
Thank you for the Rio adventure! Whatever you do, it’s always interesting.
No WH I was always bored beyond tears when I was in Vegas...but since I fund your channel I will now know how to escape to a hot spring!!!
Wow! Thats sad to see bc the RIO was such a fun place! But hearing they are renovating it brings us all hope!
Ya should have stayed at the Jockey Club again!! Your favorite cheap-oh place on the Strip!! 🤠🌵💰
Clink 🥂
Somebody has be living there, has it all layed out and smooth for a nice night sleep, Thumbs Up My Lady...
That was cool that Sarah mentioned Steve Wallis. I've been thinking it would be really cool if they went on a camping adventure together.
I stayed at the Rio Monday Oct 23 - Thursday Oct 27 2023 for a conference. Room was worn with stained carpet, no coffee maker or microwave. Most of machines were out of service, pool closed, most of the restaurants were closed until Thursday evening. Bar did not comp drinks. It was horrible, I had to hike across the bridge to Caesars to find food (no room service). Breakfast was only starbucks or $15 breakfast burritos sold out of a window at the back of Guy Fierris (closed) restaurant.
I feel the dystopian weirdness, downtown LA also has malls that take up the real estate, yet amount to nuthin'~
OMG...the Rio used to be pretty darned nice.
Ohhhh...the remodeled room looks verrrry nice.
I think that was the beginning of the renovation process. I stayed there in 2021 and the pool was still open. It was the winter, so it was closed but not drained.
So crazy to see the pool deck all torn up. I remember going and hanging out at the Voodoo pool with some of my mom friends back in 2012 (?) There was some deal going on where Vegas residents could swim for free and someone rented a cabana. So we all got together and hung out. The kids all had a blast hanging out in the beach pool. That was the coolest pool I had ever been too. Good times.
Wow, you scored on the room with a view. I remember staying at the Rio, I think the room had a kitchen but it looks like the bathroom was extended and there's a bigger closet. 😊❤
Rio used to be the place back in early 90's. My buddy was a valet there in late 90's and he was making $300 / night working 5-6 hours. I remember waiting 1.5 hour trying to get in Rio buffet.
I was in Vegas for 5 straight weeks in the spring of 2022. Rio is one of those less attractive casinos near the strip that you can tell seen better days. I really hope they rebound because I enjoyed playing baccarat there.
This was a trip to see. Back in 2019 on my only trip to Vegas we were driving by this place and stopped to go inside for a few minutes. It was definitely dated but there were a lot more people around than it looked there
I think we got 6 gals in one of those rooms in 2003? They had a great bar at the top too and had some great music. This was when you actually had a seat without paying table service. Those were fun times. The last of the good old Vegas.
I can tell you that the rooms you had at The Rio, made the room we had several years ago look like a dump, which it was. Our room was dark, the furniture was beat up and the carpet was dirty, the toilet when flushed drained into the vanity sink, The Rio is a dump, until it's totally renovated it's the worst Vegas hotel ever
Sarah! The redoubtable YOU! pretty, funny, cleaver, inquisitive, sarcastic, inviting and humble. THANK YOU!!
OMG... I had no clue Rio was done. It was my go to in the 90s
Wow! I stayed there back in 2000 or so attending a Jaguar meeting there. Night club on the 11th? Floor was awesome.
Glad you got a nice room.I had black beans and hotdogs.😂👍
Very interesting. Yes, that was quite the spot once upon a time. The adult pool area was the scene of much debauchery. Loved Buzio's seafood and the Hash House. The bevertainers were excellent. Giant rooms for $53. Those were the days...
"Hey, whatta you want? Circus Circus"?
No one's been in there since the days of Ponce de Leon! Ha ha, Wonderhussy tells stories like nobody else!
Club Rio, The Voodoo lounge and the World Buffet were the most awesome part of the Rio back in the mid 90's...Kind of heartbreaking to see it like this, I hope it makes some kind of a comeback.
Interesting that they still have you pay a "resort fee" while the resort is under reconstruction and is effectively unusable...
Great video as always. Me and my wife took the walk over to the movies across the street from the Rio once after being dropped by the fashion mall and then ate at the Rio buffet 10 or so yeas ago. Great seeing it today. It was looking a bit shabby even then. Keep the great content coming!
Love watching your Vagas videos always interesting, hope you're 4 runner is back to just like new
Hope your Adventure Chariot is now completely recovered and healthy, ready to carry you onto many more adventures! Safe travels!❤️
Your on a roll gurl. Keep them rollin😅❤
Great video, Sarah. I didn't know the Rio was going through renovations. It (like many other casinos) while once grand, is definitely in need of some uplifting. I've stayed there many times - most recently during last year's National Finals Rodeo in December. I've seen it run down as the years have gone by. It used to have an aerial Mardis Gras acrobat show in the casino that was really cool in the early 2000's. Anyway, thanks for the update. I hope the Rio becomes cool again!
You need to follow Jacobs life in Vegas as he has been there many times and updates you on the management and ownership changes, as you see things are getting better and better. Hard to fix pools without draining them.
We've never stayed at the Rio, but we drove there for the Penn and Teller show last time we were in Vegas. I'm all about the cheap and free stuff to see and do in town, so I was sad that they've stopped doing "The Show in the Sky" where you could ride a fake Mardi Gras float around a track in the ceiling and throw beads to the people on the casino floor.
Great video Sarah! You always make things fun and interesting. You are quite amazing!
Absolute ghost town. How on earth it is still open is a miracle.
Stayed here in the mid 90's when it was hot! The Buffet was the best in Vegas at the time!
I stayed at the Rio for my wifes 21 birthday in 2007 and it was an amazing time. Sucks it fell 😔
Solid friend standing up for wonderhussy!
I used to love the Rio's World Buffett. Pretty much the only time that I went into any of the casinos. lived about 2 blocks east of the MGM and worked at the Airport since 1980 and from work I could see all of the casino hotels, saw all of the old ones being imploded, watched all of the new ones being built, haven't been to any of them, I lived in Las Vegas most of my life and last time I was on Fremont Street, I could still drive on it and haven't been down the strip since the late 80's even though I live really close to it. once or twice per year I would go to the Tropicana to play some Blackjack and drink some "free" beer. I sure miss the Las Vegas of the late 60's / 70's / 80's before the great Californication took place. I used to LOVE living in Las Vegas, no so much anymore,
I also wanted to say you have a good mechanic my Mom was just quoted $5,000.00 for suspension on a 2002 toyota highlander. PS Thanks for throwing up the sign I have family that live in Nevada I will recommend his shop and I am from california so I might drive her car up there to get it fixed.
Thank you so much sis Wonder Hussey for sharing this awesome video about this hotel it was cool and it was built in the 90s that is so cool and still looking good in most parts someday it will look all good when they do all the remodel of the rims everything thanks for sharing this have a great night be safe❤❤❤❤❤❤
We used to catch rain water off our roof, and the wife and daughter would wash their hair with it. They claimed it left their hair super clean and soft/manageable. You should do that at your compound. Get Mike to set it up for you.
bird poop water. nice.
Great suggestion and in some parts of the world filtered rain water is a safe clean source of drinking water.
@@13699111 Like in Texas. The state has guidelines on how to do it. Five stage filtration with a UV bombardment at the end. Softest water you can find.
Wow! I stayed there 6 years ago for a con. It wasn’t the fanciest Vegas hotel but was nice!
I heard that the Casino was now a place for Ferile Stray Cats to crash out,,, I might just fit right in...
Last time I stayed in Vegas, was after midnight at the Thunderbird, which turned out to be a Freebie since we checked out before 1pm....LOL
WOW, I been in the Rio a few times.
Never stayed there,but I would for the $70 price. And like you I thought it was out of business. Thanks for the info and video. And 51,000 views. So you are helping out with the new customers, heading to the Rio.
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If I was still there I would have picked you up and you could stay the guest room. Good to hear the about the Rio.
Hi Sarah Jane, As usual a excellent presentation!!
The Hyatt hotel chain bought the Rio from Caesars a few years ago but Caesars was still going to run it. I thought Hyatt was taking over in Dec 23, but I'm not quite sure on the year. But that explains how the hotel became such a shamble. Caesars wasn't putting any money into remodeling it at all.
I swear I learn something knew from you. A dang train???? OMG. I had no idea. I swear I am back in Vegas in December. I am going to walk over there. LOL!
"I've been kicked out of this casino before" Coming soon to a t shirt near you
Wonderhussy Adventures--😍 you are a National Treasure ! Much Love from Colorado.
Wonder hussy women Rocks
The RIO was packed with people 20 years ago when they had the FREE Mardi Gras in the sky show.
Vegas management doesn't like FREE, so the Mardi Gras in the sky died along with the great Pirate show at the TI and the Volcano show.