Six years after a fire destroyed the main casino building, a four alarm blaze raced through vacant rooms at Moulin Rouge on Wednesday, May 6th.The fire was still smoldering four hours after it was first reported, when demolition of the burned structure began.Crews of firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings.There were no injuries.The fire is under investigation.
A renovation project to the property had begun just the week before the fire.The distinctive script marquee had been moved to a nearby location for safekeeping just days before.The property was purchased five years ago by the Moulin Rouge Development Corp., who planned to restore it.They spent $12.1 million for the 15 acre property and planned to build a $200 million hotel-casino with historical visions of the original casino.
The Moulin Rouge was the first casino in Vegas to welcome both blacks and whites when it opened in 1955.It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.