City crews have begun demolishing the remnants of the Moulin Rouge Casino in Las Vegas after an abrupt and rapid fire that started in vacant two-story wing of the property reduced the hotel to ashes last Wednesday afternoon. The vacant building caught fire around 11:00 a.m, investigators said the cause of the fire still unclear and the property is loss in 100%.

The Moulin Rouge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the first integrated Las Vegas hotel. The hotel opened its doors in 1955 with an exclusive gala hosted by Joe Louis and featuring performances by The Platters. The hotel usually hosted famous performers including Louis Armstrong, George Burns, Nat King Cole, Jack Benny, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Unfortunately, the hotel didn’t stay open for too long and was shut down less than a year after its debut. The property located in

900 W. Bonanza Rd

was then sold and transformed into a residential project; however, due the lack of budget and maintenance, the property was simply abandoned until a fire consumed most of the building in 2003. In 2004, the property was purchased by the Moulin Rouge Development Corp., a group of investors who announced plans to build a $200 million hotel casino on the historic site.

The only piece of the hotel that remains intact is the building's distinctive neon sign, which was moved for safekeeping only a few days ago. The city of Las Vegas had recently been working with the property owners to rescue and restore the Moulin Rouge sign after the developers announced their plans to renovate the property. The Las Vegas Centennial Commission last week approved the budget needed to move the sign to the Neon Boneyard until it can be put back on the Moulin Rouge. The sign was designed by former Western Neon Sign Company employee Betty Willis, creator of the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, which is considered by many as one of the most iconic Las Vegas attractions for more than five decades.