Philadelphia, PA - On May 26, 1978, crowds of people lined the Atlantic City boardwalk to be the first to enter Resorts Casino Hotel when it opened its doors for business. Resorts made history as the first casino-hotel outside Nevada with 84 table games and 893 slot machines on a 33,735-square-foot casino floor.
Over past four decades, Resorts' show-stopping performance venue has welcomed some of the world's hottest musicians and celebrity appearances, including Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton, Cher, The Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow and Aretha Franklin, to name a few. Today, Resorts boasts more than 1,500 slot machines and over 70 exhilarating table games sprawling across 83,000 square-feet of casino space, plus two hotel towers, the 462-room Rendezvous Tower and the newly renovated 480-room Ocean Tower, housing the main casino along with a pool, spa, retail shopping, dining options, and the famous 1,350 seat Superstar Theater.
Resorts' momentous birthday bash will take off at 5:00 p.m. on Friday evening during the annual Beach Ball Drop when thousands of beach balls are released along the Atlantic City boardwalk. Following, the celebration will move inside to Bar One for a nostalgic cocktail hour inspired by Resorts' 40-year history, where guests are invited to throw back popular cocktails from the late-1970's while enjoying music from the decade of disco.
Kicking off Memorial Day weekend, Resorts Casino Hotel will mark the unofficial start of summer with a full day of excitement starting Friday, May 25, including a live radio broadcast, fun games and giveaways, strolling boardwalk entertainment such as the Philadelphia Mummers, an appearance by the famous Resorts' Showgirls, a 40th anniversary birthday cake for guests to enjoy and much more. Guests will also have a chance to witness the reenactment of Atlantic City's legendary first roll of the dice at 2:00 p.m. on the casino floor, helping to transport them back to the time when gaming first became popular on the East Coast. Additionally, in true "AC" celebratory fashion, Resorts Casino Hotel will debut its special edition 40th anniversary gaming chips and Star Cards for rewards members over Memorial Day weekend.
On Saturday, May 26, guests will be invited to test their luck and take a pull on Atlantic City's very first slot machine between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. in the lobby of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville for a chance to win up to $2,500 in slot cash. On Saturday evening, Resorts Casino Hotel will welcome the Village People to its Superstar Theater stage at 8:00 p.m. Also celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, the group's '70s pop hits like "Macho Man" and "Y.M.C.A" offer the perfect throwback vibes for guests to party through the milestone weekend. Capping off the weekend on Sunday evening, Resorts will showcase an unforgettable beachfront firework display by Grucci at 9:00 p.m.
Continuing the 40th anniversary momentum all summer, Resorts Casino Hotel will host "Throwback Thursdays" at Bar One starting Thursday, May 31 and continuing through Thursday, August 30, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. weekly. During the special event, guests will have the opportunity to experience the iconic history and nostalgia of Atlantic City with a throwback-themed cocktail menu, featuring $4 drinks including the Brandy Alexander, Grasshopper, Tom Collins and Harvey Wallbanger. As part of "Throwback Thursdays" at Resorts, guests can also listen to hit music from the late-1970's, check out historical photos and play trivia contests for the chance to win cool giveaways. Additionally, guests who present an old ticket stub from a past concert at Resorts Promotions Booth will be eligible to win a special anniversary prize.
