Archon Corporation
| Formerly | Hacienda Resorts, Inc. Santa Fe Corporation Sahara Gaming Corporation Santa Fe Gaming Corporation |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| Expert Market: ARHN | |
| Industry | Gaming |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Laughlin, Nevada, United States |
Key people | Paul W. Lowden (CEO) |
Archon Corporation is an entertainment company based in Laughlin, Nevada. The company has owned casinos and water parks. Members of board of directors include State Senator Sue Lowden who was chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Party and State Senator Bill Raggio.[1] Lowden is also executive vice president, secretary and treasurer for the company.[2]
History
Hacienda Resorts
The company began in 1983 as Hacienda Resorts, Inc., owner of the Hacienda Casino.[3]
Name Changes
The company was first renamed Santa Fe Corporation and later renamed again to the Sahara Gaming Corporation.[1] Sahara Gaming attempted to sell 40 acres (16 ha) of land to Players International in 1994. The deal fell through on February 7, 1995.[4]
Santa Fe Gaming
Santa Fe Valley was announced in 1994, and construction was expected to begin in July 1996. The start of construction was delayed several times because of poor financial quarters for Santa Fe Gaming and because of the company not yet receiving financing for the project. Site preparation started in July 1998, with an opening date scheduled for December 1999, but construction never began. In 1999, the property was sold to Station Casinos, which sold the land a year later for use as a shopping center.[5]
In 1995, the Hacienda was sold to Circus Circus Enterprises and the Sahara Hotel and Casino was sold to William Bennett. Followed by a rename to Santa Fe Gaming Corporation.[6]
In 2000, the Santa Fe Casino was sold to Station Casinos.[1]
Archon
The company changed its name to Archon Corp. in May 2001.[7]
In March 2013, Boston-based private equity firm Esplanade Capital, Archon's second-largest shareholder, offered to buy the company for $101.5 million. Lowden dismissed the proposal as "not really a serious" offer.[8]
Chris Lowden, son of Paul and Sue Lowden, is currently being sued by investors for fraud and racketeering within the Stoney's Rockin' Country organization.[9] The Stoney's trademark is currently owned by Archon Corporation [10]
Assets
- Commercial office buildings in Dorchester, Massachusetts[3]
- Commercial office buildings in Gaithersburg, Maryland[3]
- Stoney's Rockin' Country Trademark [10]
Former
- Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall[11]
- Hacienda
- Sahara Hotel and Casino
- Sahara Tahoe
- Sahara Reno
- Santa Fe Casino
- Wet 'n Wild
References
- ^ a b c Stutz, Howard (2007-09-04). "Investors group sues Archon over stock redemption price". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Stephens Media Group. p. 1D. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ Steve Tetreault (2009-02-25). "Reid swings at bonus paid to Lowden's husband during company downturn". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
- ^ a b c Cohen, M.; Thomas Wiloch (2003). International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 74.
- ^ "Players Terminates Agreement With Sahara Gaming Corporation" (Press release). Players International. 1995-02-27. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
- ^ Krane, Elliot S. (March 27, 1994). "Vegas Wire / 2 Casinos with 500 Rooms to be Built in Green Valley". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ "Fourth Supplemental Indenture". 1998-11-30. Retrieved 19 November 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Santa Fe Gaming, PDS get new names". Las Vegas Sun. May 14, 2001. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ Howard Stutz (April 15, 2013). "Investment firm makes offer for Laughlin casino operator Archon Corp". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
- ^ "Jakub P. Medrala of Donath & Medrala, PLLC, and Telia U. Williams of Telia Law File a Shareholder Derivative Lawsuit Against the Top Brass of the World Famous Stoney's Rockin' Country | Donath & Medrala Law Firm Blog". www.domelaw.com. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
- ^ a b "STONEY'S ROCKIN' COUNTRY Trademark of Archon Corporation - Registration Number 4687316 - Serial Number 86229386 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
- ^ Denevan, Jennifer. "Pioneer sold, new owner to take over May 1". Mojave Valley Daily News. Retrieved 2018-06-30.