Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

Company type	Private
Industry	Hospitality, Gaming
Predecessor	Mirage Resorts
Founded	October 26, 1993 (1993-10-26) in Paradise, Nevada, United States
Founder	Steve Wynn
Headquarters	Paradise , United States
Area served	Las Vegas Strip
Key people	Phil Ruffin (owner)
Products	Hotel, Casino, Entertainment

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino—often referred to as Treasure Island Las Vegas or simply "TI"—is a pirate-themed resort and gaming establishment located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The property boasts 2,885 guest rooms alongside a casino floor. Ownership and operations are managed by entrepreneur Phil Ruffin.

Originally developed by casino magnate Steve Wynn under the banner of Mirage Resorts, the hotel was conceptualized by architects Joel Bergman and Jon Jerde. Officially announced in October 1991, construction commenced four months later, culminating in its grand opening on October 26, 1993. Positioned within the family-friendly resort trend of the 1990s, Treasure Island featured a lagoon complete with two pirate ships and hosted complimentary daily pirate battle performances. Since its debut year, it has been home to Mystère, the longest-running Cirque du Soleil production.

Following MGM Grand Inc.’s acquisition of Mirage Resorts in 2000, which led to the formation of MGM Mirage, Treasure Island underwent a thematic shift in 2003 to appeal to a more mature demographic. The property’s branding was streamlined to "TI," and its original pirate spectacle, Battle of Buccaneer Bay, was replaced by Sirens of TI.

Amid financial strains during the Great Recession, MGM sold Treasure Island to Phil Ruffin in 2009 for $755 million. Under Ruffin’s ownership, the focus shifted toward middle-income patrons with additions such as Gilley's Saloon (2010) and Señor Frog's (2012). Pirate-themed live shows concluded in 2013, although the iconic ships remain prominent fixtures.

History

In 1986, casino entrepreneur Steve Wynn acquired land along the Las Vegas Strip extending northward to Spring Mountain Road. He launched The Mirage resort on the southern section in 1989 and earmarked the adjacent parcel—then a parking area—for a future casino development.

On October 30, 1991, Wynn’s company, Mirage Resorts, unveiled plans for Treasure Island. Designed as a family-friendly destination appealing primarily to middle-class visitors, groundbreaking took place on March 2, 1992. Initial budget estimates of $300 million escalated to $430 million during construction. The resort opened its doors on October 26, 1993, showcasing a pirate-themed exterior and complimentary lagoon performances. The following evening featured the demolition of Wynn’s closed Dunes property, integrated into a ceremony highlighted by the pirate show.

In 1996, Treasure Island became the first Las Vegas resort to conduct a naturalization ceremony for 93 employees.

A notable security incident occurred in 2000 when an individual committed two robberies at the casino, stealing over $30,000; after a third attempt involving gunfire with security personnel, he was apprehended and later sentenced to 130 years imprisonment.

In May 2000, the Prairie Island Indian Community, operators of a Minnesota casino also named Treasure Island, initiated a $250 million trademark infringement lawsuit against Mirage Resorts over use of the "Treasure Island" name. Wynn asserted that he had registered the trademark in 1993.

Following Wynn’s departure coinciding with MGM Grand Inc.’s acquisition of Mirage Resorts—which rebranded as MGM Mirage—the family-oriented features at Treasure Island were gradually reduced. In April 2003, the property announced a repositioning toward adult clientele through rebranding as "TI" alongside a new marketing strategy.

During the economic downturn of the Great Recession, businessman Phil Ruffin acquired Treasure Island from MGM in late 2008 for $755 million; the transaction was completed on March 20, 2009. At that point, it stood as the sole Strip hotel-casino owned by an individual rather than a corporate entity. Following this change in ownership, Treasure Island exited MGM’s customer database and entered K Hotels’ global network. Ruffin invested $20 million focusing on attracting middle-income guests; however, hotel rooms remained largely unchanged from MGM’s recent $92 million refurbishment.

In July 2012, a rooftop swamp cooler caught fire causing approximately $20,000 in damages and minor injuries but no significant disruption to operations.

By 2019, Treasure Island became affiliated with Radisson Hotel Group, maintaining its existing name and signage while initiating renovations of guest rooms. The resort’s temporary closure during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 expedited these upgrades, including enlarging its sportsbook area.

In July 2025, French hospitality giant Accor revealed plans for a franchise agreement with Treasure Island to integrate it into its worldwide portfolio as its inaugural property within the Las Vegas Valley.

2016 Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

On June 18, 2016, Michael Steven Sandford, a 20-year-old from the United Kingdom, tried to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump by attempting to seize a Las Vegas police officer’s firearm during a rally held at Treasure Island. Sandford was detained before he could execute the attack, and Trump remained unharmed. Phil Ruffin, the owner of Treasure Island and a business associate and supporter of Trump, has hosted multiple campaign events at the venue, including the 2016 rally where this incident took place.

Features

Treasure Island offers a casino alongside 2,885 guest rooms housed in a 36-story tower. In 2003, the tower underwent repainting with 6,200 gallons of terra cotta-colored paint known as "Salmon Stream," replacing its previous pink exterior. From 1999 through 2013, the resort consistently earned the Four Diamond Award.

Over the years, the property has featured several nightlife spots: Tangerine nightclub operated from 2004 until 2007, succeeded by Christian Audigier’s namesake nightclub from 2008 to 2010. Despite its unique rhinestone-studded design and thematic approach, Audigier's nightclub failed to meet anticipated performance levels and was subsequently closed. Additionally, Ruffin invested $3 million in spa upgrades managed by his wife Oleksandra Nikolayenko, and expanded convention facilities from in 2012 to by 2016.

In 2013, Treasure Island revealed plans for a three-story retail complex that replaced part of the pirate lagoon area, which was finalized in 2015 with a CVS Pharmacy as its anchor tenant. The upper floors were leased to Victory Hill Exhibitions, which launched Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N., an interactive Marvel Cinematic Universe-themed exhibit, in 2016.

The Hard Rock-Treasure Island Tram linked Treasure Island with The Mirage until The Mirage closed. Tram operations halted in June 2024 but are planned to resume in conjunction with the opening of Hard Rock Las Vegas in 2027.

Theme and Design

The resort embraced a pirate motif after deciding on the name "Treasure Island," inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel Treasure Island from the 1880s. Designed by Joel Bergman, who also created The Mirage, the resort’s tower features a Y-shaped layout with centrally positioned elevators to reduce walking distances for guests, following the design principles used at The Mirage.

Wynn's Atlandia Design collaborated with Jon Jerde and Olio Design to develop the pirate village and lagoon area initially called Buccaneer Bay and later renamed Siren's Cove. To maintain Buccaneer Bay’s location on the east side of the Strip, the lobby entrance was moved southward. Jerde’s team incorporated authentic architectural elements sourced from Europe, India, and Nepal for an accurate historical feel. The lagoon measures 65 feet deep and originally contained two million gallons of recycled wastewater treated on-site, maintained by a specialized crew including professional divers.

Interior designer Roger Thomas observed that the heavily themed pirate village—featuring sinking ships and pyrotechnics—initially seemed inconsistent with the resort’s overall identity. Management soon recognized that this theme had limited appeal among weekend visitors. By 1998, Mirage Resorts initiated efforts to reduce emphasis on the pirate theme, using focus groups to guide renovation strategies. A $60 million refurbishment of hotel rooms was completed in 1999.

Originally, the resort showcased a large roadside sign: a fiberglass pirate skull weighing 8,000 pounds and standing 27½ feet tall. This landmark was removed during a fireworks event in July 2003 as part of a modernization effort. The skull was donated to Las Vegas’s Neon Museum while most other parts of the sign were scrapped. It was replaced by a modern LED neon "TI" sign measuring 137 feet tall and 84 feet wide.

Over a period of three years, much of the pirate-themed décor was eliminated and auctioned off in September 2003 as part of Treasure Island’s strategic move away from its original heavily themed concept.

Restaurants

At its opening, Treasure Island offered a variety of dining venues, such as the Buccaneer Bay Club, which provided views of the lagoon alongside pirate-themed performances, specializing in steak and seafood dishes. In 1998, the resort introduced Francesco's, an upscale Italian eatery adorned with artwork by celebrities.

The arcade was replaced in 2001 by Kahunaville, a tropical-inspired restaurant and bar aimed at adults, featuring space for dinner shows. In 2005, a buffet called Dishes was launched, and the following year, Social House, an Asian cuisine establishment, took over the space previously occupied by Buccaneer Bay Club.

Following Phil Ruffin's acquisition of Treasure Island, he restructured the dining lineup. By 2009, Francesco's transitioned into a pizzeria to cater to guests seeking faster and more budget-friendly options. Social House gave way to Ruffin’s own Asian restaurant, Khotan, which displayed antiques from his personal collection. The year 2010 saw the debut of Gilley's Saloon, a Western-themed restaurant and bar relocated from Ruffin's former New Frontier property, replacing the Mist Lounge.

In 2012, Ruffin expanded the culinary offerings by adding Señor Frog's restaurant and bar alongside Kahunaville and Gilley's; this new venue took over the spots formerly held by Christian Audigier and Khotan (the latter moved elsewhere within the resort). That same year marked the opening of Seafood Shack, constructed with recycled materials and featuring a prominent Atlantic Ocean anchor centerpiece. The resort also includes Phil’s Steak House, named after Ruffin himself. Kahunaville ceased operations in 2016.

Live entertainment

Initially, Treasure Island showcased the complimentary Battle of Buccaneer Bay pirate spectacle in its lagoon—a 15-minute production staged several times daily. This show involved 22 performers and incorporated impressive effects such as a full-scale British Royal Navy ship, pyrotechnics, and the dramatic sinking of the sailing vessel Brittania. After nearly a decade and 16,334 performances, it ended on July 6, 2003, as part of plans to refresh the resort’s entertainment offerings.

In October 2003, to commemorate Treasure Island’s tenth anniversary, the resort premiered Sirens of TI, an adult-oriented pirate show created by Kenny Ortega. This new production blended singing, dancing, and multimedia effects with a cast that included bare-chested pirates and female performers to appeal to a more mature audience. The original ships were retained but updated with enhanced design elements and special effects.

Sirens of TI concluded permanently on October 21, 2013; what began as a temporary pause became permanent due to construction for nearby retail developments. Despite its $5 million annual cost and notable publicity, the show attracted limited foot traffic inside the resort. The iconic pirate ships remain on display and are illuminated in the lagoon.

Treasure Island is also home to Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère, which premiered on December 25, 1993, introducing audiences to Franco Dragone’s distinctive entertainment style. This production holds the distinction as Cirque’s longest-running Las Vegas performance, surpassing 13,000 shows by 2022 and earning nine best production show awards from readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. It is staged in a theater seating 1,600 guests designed by Scéno Plus.

To optimize use of its theater on nights without Mystère, Treasure Island hosts various entertainers including Bill Cosby, LeAnn Rimes, and Sinbad. The venue has also accommodated boxing events, broadening its entertainment range.

In popular culture

In January 1994, NBC broadcasted a one-hour promotional special titled Treasure Island: The Adventure Begins. The program features Corey Carrier portraying a 12-year-old boy who partners with Long John Silver (played by Anthony Zerbe) at the resort to search for hidden treasure. Mirage Resorts invested $1.7 million to secure the airing rights on NBC. This special, directed and produced by Scott Garen and scripted by James V. Hart, includes a cameo from Wynn and culminates with footage of the Dunes' demolition. Despite these elements, the show garnered poor viewership and faced criticism for functioning as an unmarked infomercial.

Treasure Island has also been referenced or featured in various other media:

• In the 2004 movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, a line instructs a character to "Go back to Treasure Island" while on Fremont Street. An alternate ending involved winning money at Treasure Island.
• The resort is depicted in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas under the name "Pirates in Men's Pants," a humorous nod to Pirates of Penzance.
• The 2005 film Miss Congeniality 2 utilized Treasure Island as a primary filming location, including scenes showcasing the Sirens of TI production.
• Characters in the 2007 film Knocked Up are shown attending Mystère at Treasure Island during their trip to Las Vegas.

See also

• List of integrated resorts

External links

• Google Maps with Street View
• Entertainment Engineering Inc., Buccaneer Bay Construction