After $12 million in improvements to rooms, restaurants, slot machines and entertainments, Columbia Sussex officially marked its takeover of the former Ramada Express in Laughlin with a celebration christening the property the Tropicana Express.

The casino is the second property in Laughlin to celebrate a name change and new ownership. The former Flamingo Laughlin was renamed the Aquarius Resort Casino earlier this year after American Casino and Entertainment Properties assumed ownership of the property.

The Tropicana Express is the third-largest hotel in the Laughlin area with 1,495 rooms. It is the only property on the west side of Casino Drive. The name change will allow the new owners to capitalize on the brand awareness of the casino’s legendary sister property, the Tropicana on the Las Vegas Strip.

“This is a great property for us,” casino General Manager Craig DeMarta said. “And we look forward to great things in the future.”

Columbia Sussex owner William J. Yung III said in addition to new slots and room upgrades, his company will bring new entertainment to the property in the form of the Folies Magnifique, a take-off on the popular adult cabaret Folies Bergere that has been playing at the Tropicana in Las Vegas since 1959.

Yung also said the property is poised to be a top player in the Laughlin market.

“With the kind of service and product quality we have in Laughlin—best steakhouse, best Italian food, best accommodations—we have a tremendous base to build on,” he said. “With the Tropicana name on the facilities and festivities, we hope to be able to accelerate the pace of our business growth.”

The Aztar Corporation opened the Ramada Express in June 1988. An expansion in 1993 brought a new tower, pool, expanded the gaming space and added more restaurants.

Columbia Sussex acquired the property along with the other Aztar properties in January for $2.7 billion.

By Casino Connection Staff

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