Showboat Atlantic City facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Showboat Atlantic City |
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View of Showboat from the boardwalk
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| General information | |
| Location | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| Address | 801 Boardwalk |
| Opening | March 30, 1987 (as casino/hotel) July 8, 2016 (as hotel only) |
| Renovated | 2003, 2007, 2016 |
| Closed | August 31, 2014 (as casino/hotel) |
| Owner | Bart Blatstein |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 1,331 |
| Theme | New Orleans, Mardi Gras |
| Total gaming space | 127,978 sq ft (11,889.5 m2) |
| Casino type | Land-based |
The Showboat Atlantic City is a large hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It used to be a hotel with a casino, opening in 1987 and closing in 2014. The hotel later reopened in 2016 without a casino. Today, it is owned by a developer named Bart Blatstein.
Contents
History of the Showboat Hotel
The Showboat Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center first opened its doors on March 30, 1987. It had a very large casino and a 60-lane bowling alley. Famous entertainer Bob Hope and musician Al Hirt were at the grand opening party.
In 1993, the Showboat became the first place in Atlantic City to open a "racebook." This was a special area where people could bet on horse races shown live on TV.
Changes and New Themes
In 1995, the hotel got a big makeover. It was designed to look like a New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration, with bright colors and fun decorations.
The company that owned Showboat was bought by Harrah's Entertainment in 1998. This company later became known as Caesars Entertainment.
By 2001, bowling was not as popular, so the bowling alley closed. That space was then used to create a new buffet and a coffee shop for guests.
In May 2003, the Showboat added a new hotel tower called the Orleans Tower. This tower had 544 rooms and cost $90 million to build. In 2007, the hotel also updated its first tower, which was called the Bourbon Tower.
Closing and Reopening
In June 2014, Caesars Entertainment announced that the Showboat would close. Even though the hotel was making money, they decided to close it to help their other casinos in Atlantic City.
The Showboat closed on August 31, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. About 2,100 people worked there, but many were able to find jobs at other casinos. This closing was part of a time when several casinos in Atlantic City shut down.
On December 13, 2014, Stockton University bought the Showboat for $18 million. They planned to turn it into a campus for college students.
However, in June 2016, Bart Blatstein announced that the Showboat would reopen as a hotel only, without a casino. The "new" Showboat Atlantic City Hotel welcomed guests on July 8, 2016. It had one restaurant, a bar, and a coffee shop. The old casino area and the House of Blues space were closed off.
Future Plans
In 2018, Blatstein started to explore getting a casino license for the property again. He noted that other casinos nearby were reopening, bringing more visitors to the area.
He also announced plans to turn some of the hotel rooms into apartments. In 2019, Blatstein was approved to apply for a casino license. He thought about building a new casino next to the Showboat. This was because the Showboat building itself had a rule against being used as a casino.
However, in December 2020, plans changed. Instead of a new casino, Blatstein got approval to build a $100 million indoor water park in that space. This water park is expected to bring even more fun to the area.
Dining Options
The Showboat Hotel offers several places to eat and drink.
Current Restaurants
- Worship Surf Bar
- Canal Street Coffee Shop
- 12 Bar
- Bricker's Burgers & More
- Atlantic City Eatery
Former Restaurants
- Atlantic City Eatery
- Casa di Napoli
- Crossroads
- Earl of Sandwich
- Foundation Room Dining
- French Quarter Buffet
- House of Blues
- Johnny Rockets
- Royal Noodle House
- Scarduzio's Steak - Sushi - Lounge
- Sundeck Coffee Shop
- Starbucks Coffee
- Worship Surf Bar
Hotel Features and Fun
The Showboat has a large spa, a fitness center, a swimming pool, and two gift shops.
Before the House of Blues was added, shows were held in two places: the Mardi Gras Showroom or the Mississippi Pavilion. Bob Hope was the very first famous performer there. Other stars included Phyllis Diller, Charo, Ray Charles, and Willie Nelson. Smaller shows, like those seen in Las Vegas, were also performed.
When The House of Blues opened in 2005, it hosted many different music acts. These included Cyndi Lauper, Elvis Costello, and Erykah Badu. Boxing matches were also held at the casino.
After the Showboat reopened as a hotel, the former House of Blues area became the Bourbon Room. This space now hosts concerts and other events. The hotel also added a video arcade called Starcade and a glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course. However, both the Starcade and Glow Golf have since closed.
See also
In Spanish: Showboat Atlantic City para niños
