Palms Casino prepares to reopen under new ownership and the direction of Cynthia Kiser Murphey. By David McKee

In its 21 years, Palms Casino Resort has seen its share of ups and downs. Its star-studded opening on Nov. 15, 2001, was a shot in the arm for a Las Vegas that was reeling from the effects on tourism of the Sept. 11 attacks. Owner and creator George Maloof developed the innovative and canny stratagem of marketing to locals weekdays (especially with good slot and video poker values) and to party-hearty California tourists on weekends. It was a formula that succeeded spectacularly, even though the Palms was a healthy jaunt off the Las Vegas Strip. So popular was it that a second tower was opened in 2005 and the Pearl Concert Theater two years later. (There was even a short-lived Playboy Club.)