The New Frontier Takes a Bow
It’s all about the ponies. That’s all I’m saying! Last night Bravo, Nick the Cabbie, and myself went out to do a little gambling at the New Frontier on it’s last night as an operating casino. It was fun! You know it’s funny how when you live in this town you can forget how much fun it can be to just go to an old casino with a couple of friends and roam around laughing while you pump “silver dollars” into a machine like they have no value. Okay, well they are made of aluminum and aren’t legal tender making them literally worthless in of themselves, but you can cash them in for the real thing! And besides, it’s really easy to forget how much fun that is when so few casinos actually have a “hard count” (coins) anymore.
There’s something just a little too sterile about the whole paper-in/paper-out method of gambling. I mean, I like those big clanky silver dollars – their grit from a million hands having used them, their sheer weight, the sound it makes when they hit the bottom of the machine as they come out. I mean
, I realize that since most major economies of the world have left the gold standard or some other practice of tying metals with intrinsic value to paper, the only reason money has any value at all is simply because we agree that it has value and use it as though it was precious in of itself. It’s not. And even though those two inch wide aluminum coins have the same lack of real precious value as paper does, the experience is enhanced by its tangible qualities. Yeah, I’m going to miss all that. The New Frontier was one of the last places on the Strip to have those machines. You can find small amounts of them here and there around town, but it’s all gone paper, now.
I hadn’t been in there too long and I’d already fed these beasts 100 of those wonderful metal discs. Unlike my friends, I wasn’t even drinking last night. The whole vibe in the place was just fun. It was the most pleasant time I’ve had doing that sort of thing in quite some time. Bravo and 
I decided we’d better play some 21 so we put a bill each in and said we’d either double through or bust, just playing with one hand between the two of us for fun. You can probably guess how that went 
We just laughed as “The Dry Martinis” did Rat Pack era covers – the lead singer could be Sinatra’s twin.. it was uncanny! He was even small in stature like Sinatra was. It was the best cover band I’ve heard in quite some time. Everyone was singing and laughing – one couple nearly danced right over me on my way towards the blackjack pit. It was a great scene..
For the longest time I’ve loved the old school, car-sized gambling machine in the Frontier that’s a big racetrack
complete with horses that bob up and down to simulated hoof noises. You just don’t ever see games like that in casinos anymore. There’s room for like ten or twelve people to play at once, too, so it can be a lot of fun when there is a crowd. I played a few rounds with the crowd there as Nick looked on. I won a few times. Once I won 230 quarters! I guess it’s kind of true: they don’t make ‘em like they used to. It’s all about the ponies!
Side-note: the former owner of the New Frontier owns a casino in Kansas, which
was kind of surprising to me because I didn’t even know they had gaming in Kansas, but some workers have said that they think the horse racing game might be taken to his casino out there. That’s going to be one helluva drive just to bet on some wooden horses, but, I gotta say.. it might just be worth it!
Just as we did for the Stardust implosion, we’ll be producing a video of the New Frontier implosion when it happens either later this year or early next year and posting it here on “While Las Vegas Sleeps…”
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7 Comments
O on August 8, 2007 :
I just came back home from Vegas and noticed that the New Frontier was closed
Although, I’ve never had the luxury of visiting the New Frontier…I was very disappointed about never having the opportunity of partying at Gilley’s, having some kickass fajitas, or experiencing the gambling scene. Why are they taking away the old school casinos?? Is that what is going to happen along Fremont too? I hope not…because most of my best memories were at the older casinos like Golden Gate, Vegas Club, Plaza, Golden Nugget and Casino Royale. Plus, you could stay there at reasonable prices….I know it’s way cool/posh to stay at Bellagio or Caesars…but think realistically….how much do you really spend in your hotel room?? Not much!!!
O on August 8, 2007 :
P.S. I love that horse race game!! There is also one located at MGM which was the absolute best gambling time I’ve ever had in Vegas. It’s not only a huge social atmosphere but a lot of fun too!!
Debbie Nickerson on September 18, 2007 :
Just wanted to say we enjoyed our stay at the Frontier back in April 2006. It was our first trip to Vegas and we had a blast. The hotel was great and the people there were the BEST.
THANK YOU FRONTIER We will miss you
Debbie & Rick Nickerson
Sarah from Connecticut on September 29, 2007 :
I’ve had to pleasure of staying at the Frontier a few times. And each time I checked in, the workers remembered me and always made me feel welcomed. Vegas is becoming more of a billion dollar themed icon and now I would have to find a better dive to stay at. The Frontier always had loose slots more than the new casinos. When I go back to Vegas, I think I’m going to stay downtown. Goodbye Frontier. It’s been nice giving you my business!
whilevegassleeps on October 7, 2007 :
Downtown is fun… If you want upscale /and/ downtown check out the Golden Nugget.. since they remodeled it’s really nice..