Question: What Dallas apartment complex was opened as a hotel that became the model for Caesars Palace in Las Vegas?
Answer: The Cabana Hotel. The opulent “motor hotel” was the brainchild of developer Jay Sarno, who later established the Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas. When it opened in January 1963, it was described as the “epitome of modern hotel living,” with a plaza featuring 30-foot fountains and 300 air-conditioned rooms decorated with vibrant colors and large mirrors. Its celebrity guests included Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and the Beatles.
The hotel changed hands several times before it was purchased in 1984 by Dallas County, which converted it into a minimum security jail. It has also been a halfway house and a privately run prison for juveniles. Recently, the property underwent a $63 million transformation to become a mixed-income apartment complex.
