A place for dining, shopping, gambling, entertainment, and rest

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Las Vegas, built on a reputation of gambling, glitz and superstars, matured into a one-stop, multi-dimensional resort destination in the last decade of the century.

Prehistoric southern Nevada was a virtual marsh of abundant water and lush vegetation. As eons passed, the marsh receded, the once teeming with wetlands evolved into a parched, arid landscape that supported only the hardies of plants and animals.

The abundant artesian spring water discovered at Las Vegas Springs shortened the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles, eased rigors for Spanish traders, and hastened the rush west for California gold. Between 1830 and 1848, the name "Vegas," was changed to Las Vegas which means "The Meadows" in Spanish.

The advent of the railroad led to the founding of Las Vegas on May 15, 1905. The Union Pacific auctioned off 1,200 lots in a single day in an area which today is the "Fremont Street Experience," a mall-like setting lined with casinos.

Nevada was the first to legalize casino-style gambling, but not reluctantly, was the last western state to outlaw gaming in the first decade of the 20th century. Illegal, but accepted, gambling flourished until 1913 when the Nevada legislature approved a legalized gambling bill authored by Phil Tobin, a Northern Nevada rancher.

Today, more than 43 percent of the state’s general find is fed by gambling tax revenue and more than 34 percent of the state’s general fund support’s public education.

Nevada gambling styles, games and machines evolved to keep pace with more sophisticated. Baccarat, known in France as "Cheminb de fer," appeared in big roller Strip casinos. High roller-players today can find machines that accept $1,000 tokens. Blackjack dealers switched to "shoes" that held multiple decks and silver-dollar-size tokens are now used.

When Atlantic City, New Jersey legalized casino-style gaming in 1976, it became apparent that Nevada no longer was the country’s exclusive gambling playground. It opened the door on another era for the Strip as Las Vegas hotel-casinos began the race to develop fullblown destination, resorts for travelers, vacationers, gamblers and conventioners.

Las Vegas has at least 20 of the largest hotels in the United States. Although Las Vegas is noted for its high-towered hotels, communications in its various hotels is not a problem as Pacific Bell has a roaming partner in the Philippines, the Smart Communications Inc. One can call direct to the Philippines at once. The hotels and casinos launched major campaigns to attain an international profile as a destination with exemplary service and fine dining. Rest and recreation is also emphasized at the New Mt. Charleston Hotel.

It took us almost nine hours by land from San Francisco to Las Vegas to reach the New Mt. Charleston Hotel located at 2 Kyle Canyon Road, 30 minutes from downtown Las Vegas. We were met by Harold Johnson, the general manager of the hotel and were led to the new full suites.

Constructed in old timber and local stones, the hotel is situated high in the crisp clean air of the Toiyabe National Forest, an ideal location to spend some time away from the Valley to relax and unwind. If you want to just rest and enjoy the beauty of the mountain (it is the start of the winter as snow can be seen on top of it), the new Charleston Hotel is the place to go.

Isaac Zaidman, owner of the hotel said the hotel is at present undergoing renovation. "We have spent at least $2 million since we started the renovation and we are targeting this year as the completion."

The log-type New Charleston Hotel was constructed in 1982 with more than 40 rooms and it was only in November last year that it was purchased by the new management.

"The 40 rooms are undergoing renovation and upgrading and another 20 rooms are constructed. A small pond especially built for ice-skating will be opened soon," Zaidman said.

He said the hotel also plays host to hundreds of destination wedding a year, expertly planned by the on-site wedding and event coordinators. On our second day, they were busy preparing for another special wedding event.

"We are experiencing a 40 to 45 percent accommodations. Sometimes it reached 75 percent, even if it is winter time," he said.

All rooms include fireplace and view of the Spring mountains. The ordinary room rates are as follows: Two-double beds, $109 per night (first floor); one-king bed, $109 (second floor); one-king bed with balcony, $115 (third floor). From Sunday to Thursday, the prices vary.

For mini suite (an oversized room with a king bed, VCR, separate dressing area and a balcony overlooking the mountain range, $135; full suites (with living room, dining room combination with adjoining bedroom with a king size bed, fireplace, refrigerator, VCR and full balcony with a spectacular view of the canyon, $229.

On the other hand, for winter the rates changed two-double beds (first floor) $149; one-king bed, $149 (second floor); one-king bed with balcony, $159. For mini suite, $189 and full suites, $289 per night.

The New Charleston Hotel also offers winter ski package. The Ski Extreme for two people (six days and five nights, Sunday to Friday), Ski Retreat (four days and three nights, Monday to Thursday), Ski Galore (five days and four nights, Monday to Friday) and the Ski Escape (three days and two nights, Monday to Wednesday).

The package includes room, round-trip hotel to ski-resort, breakfast, box lunches, bar coupons, store coupon, and a free snow sled.

The hotels’ amenities are as follows: Renovated public areas, including lobby and lounge, new outdoor patio, lake, souvenir shop (managed by Paula, the mother of the owner), spa services, Internet access, a fitness room an a Jacuzzi and sauna relaxation area.

The Alpine restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner created by executive chef Hans Seifert, a veteran chef. Food they served varies like roaster beef and garden vegetable (soup); Mt. Charleston house salad with garden greens and tarragon dressing or classic caesar salad with crisp romaine’s and grilled chicken (salad); and their entrees is grilled pork with soft mozzarella and sweet basil stuffing topped with a mushroom pesto cream, served with mashed potatoes and sautéed garden vegetables; and pumpkin pie with nutmeg whipped cream (dessert).