The story of the Alystra is a sad one indeed. Built in 1995 as the Grand Victorian, it was of a scale and class that may have been a bit too high for the area it was placed. Expensive fixtures and grand architecture inside complimented the Victorian architecture of the outside.
Upon opening, the Grand Victoria was renamed the Alystra, and opened in 1995 with two bars, a restaurant, slots, and 4 blackjack tables. An expansion was planned for the property to include a larger casino floor and hotel, but it was never realized. After only two years of operation, the Alystra closed its doors on September 29, 1998. Bad management, bad debt, and bad city planning were blamed.
The property sat at the corner of Sunset and Boulder Highway for 10 years. You couldn't miss it, and many often wondered what it was. In 2005 it was completely boarded up as it had become a refuge for vagrants. The entire interior was stripped of its fittings and furnishings. In the end, all that was left inside were graffitied walls.
Since gaming/property regulations in Henderson changed, big plans were in the works for Alystra. Nothing was officially announced, but the property did finally have a bright future once again.
But sadly, on the evening of May 13, 2008, a fire broke out in the attic. The sprinkler system did not kick in and the entire building was a complete loss. A sad end to a sad and forgotten property.
May 14, 2008
While we were on property, we noticed that another building at the very edge of the porperty and WELL away from the main building had smoke and fire damage as well. We have yet to hear an explanation for this or if it's even related. Strange indeed.
