Las Vegas Dancehalls?

[terim2959]

I heard they closed Gilleys. Can someone let me know where a good place to go in Vegas for two-step? I'd like to find a place near the strip, if possible. Thanks!

[Steve Pastor]

Well, I was there going on two months ago, and there were signs in the casino telling people to cash in theri chips. Later, I heard that the offical closing date had been announced. Here's a very short item about the final night.
http://royvegas.blogspot.com/2007/07/las-vegas-new-frontier-closed-gilleys.html
I only go to Vegas about once a year, but I'm looking, too.
Toby Kieth's Bar and Grill had a good vibe when I visited, but it was dinner time, not live band time. The dance floor is small, too.
Vegas4x4 used to be around, and is based in Vegas.
I'm looking forward to hearing something, too.

[vegas4x4]

Still around! Not sure you'll find me in the dancing he** hole known as Vegas much longer though.

Since Gilleys closed, Dylans Dance Hall at 4660 S Boulder Hwy is the country dance spot. It's probably 10-15 minutes off the strip. It has been packed on the weekends lately. Dylans has always been the country college age folks drinking place with a couple dancers, but since Gilleys closed, some of the dancers have come over to Dylans. Dylans is only open Friday and Saturday nights.

A better choice would probably be Stoneys. The general manager from Gilleys decided to open up his own place after Gilleys went under. It's supposed to open Friday August 17th with the largest dance floor in the state (2500sf IIRC). I don't know the exact location, but it is off the south end of the strip past Mandalay Bay towards South Pointe casino. Check out: http://www.stoneysrockincountry.com/ It will be packed for awhile, but I am sure the better dancers will end up there. Thursday night (Ladies Night) was usually the best night for dancing over at Gilleys and hopefully that will be the case over at Stoneys as well.

-Jeff

[McArtor]

ok, can't exactly remember the hotel hang on, there is a small country club owned by Toby Keith i believe it is, they have a medium sized floor and it's more bar vs club but the night i went there was a live band that played a lot of country and a lot of Blues which was perfect for WCS. Ok, i just looked it up, it's called "I love this bar" and it is in Harrah's hotel on the strip, good luck

[CwdTexas]

My wife and I will be in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and was wondering if anyone has any updates for good places to dance there. With the rodeo finals in town it should be hopping.

[Steve Pastor]

One word - Stoney's http://www.stoneysrockincountry.com/
I was in Vegas about a month ago, and went there on both a Thursday and a Saturday.
That week there were drag races in town, and, I think, a bull riding event.
One gal I danced with was there for the drag races.

Since it's a mile or two south of Mandalay Bay (where I saw Martina McBride a few years ago) it's in a new commercial development, but there's lot of parking.

Be prepared for a $10 cover (locals get in for $5) and pretty high prices for drinks (can't remember...must be the Cuervo). It's Vegas, baby. And it ain't cheap.
Bar tenders and servers - women I should add - in skimpy outfits, just like they had at Gilley's. It's Vegas....

The dance floor was pretty busy, and there was quite a bit of energy in the room around the floor. (It's backed by a big screen where they show videos, and scenes from rodeos, etc. Gilley's had one, too.)

They played LOTS of two steps, some line dances, west coast swings, a few waltzes, and one or two cowboy cha chas in the several hours I was there on both evenings.

Lots of security around - big people with red shirts - and they kept walking around to be visible and let people know they were there, etc. Saw them pretty much carry one guy out. He was pretty pie eyed and I think he was just too wasted, and it was time for him to leave.

Saturday night I got shot down three times asking women to two step. That sucked. But I'm a line dancer, too, and amused mysef with that.
Lots of people from out of town go just to check it out and aren't really dancers.
There were also guys who were probably bull riders. Real cowboys.

Thursday was good for partner dances for me.

They're going to open another place - Stoney's North Forty - on the north end of town, but far from the strip. So I'd say they must be doing something right.

Yeah, I'll be going there when I go to Vegas again.

[CwdTexas]

Thanks for the info Steve. Did you get to Toby Keith's bar at Harrah's? We will be staying at Harrah's and were hoping that would be a good place to go also.

[Steve Pastor]

Here's another story.
Last June I met my mother and brother in Vegas. One of the places we shecked out was Toby Kieth's place.
They had videos going non stop. It was aorund dinner time, I think. Some of them were Toby vids, but they also had stuff like "The Heart of Rock n Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News. I remember that from the 80s. But I saw lot of clips from 50s rock n roll movies that I reviewed looking at the way people did swing back then.
My mom was 81, toyed with the idea of having a beer, but didn't get one.
Anyhow, I looked over and she's sitting there witha big grin on her face, bouncing up and down in her seat, and bouncing her fingers on the table.
"Mom," I said, "it's a good thing you didn't have that beer or you'd be dancing on the table."

She passed away in May of this year, and that moment at Toby Kieth's I Love This Bar and Grill will be one of my favorite memories.

Service was good. My blackened catfish and mashed sweet potatos were good. My mom and brother also enjoyed their meals.

This year I stayed with a friend in the Northern part of the city, well away from the Strip. I could not talk the guy into going in with me, even though I offered to buy dinner, tickets to a show, etc. (He did go to Stoney's with me one night.) After seeing a the Cirque de Soleil show at the Mirage (I thought the dancing in this show was quite remarkable.) I walked over to Harrah's.

I had to ask someone where Toby's was, because even though they had a big sign in the fornt of the casino, there was nothing to tell you go go up the escalator to the short hallway where it's located.

The band was either on break or hadn't started playing yet. For dancing I'd go with Stoney's, unless I was looking for something low key.

[CwdTexas]

Steve,

Thank you for the review and touching story. Wonderful memories of the ones we love are part of the legacy they leave with us.

We will be celebrating our wedding anniversary during this trip so low key or high key I am sure we will enjoy the dancing and the memories we will create.

[kayak]

Steve, I'm sorry to here about your mother. Those times are always tough. Still, I really liked your story. It sure is hard to beat going out dancing with family and those times out doing stuff together are always the best.

[Steve Pastor]

Saw a guy in a Stoney's t shirt here in Portland this last Saturday.

[jimm1909]

Here's another story.
Last June I met my mother and brother in Vegas (http://www.vegas.cc/). One of the places we shecked out was Toby Kieth's place.
They had videos going non stop. It was aorund dinner time, I think. Some of them were Toby vids, but they also had stuff like "The Heart of Rock n Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News. I remember that from the 80s. But I saw lot of clips from 50s rock n roll movies that I reviewed looking at the way people did swing back then.
My mom was 81, toyed with the idea of having a beer, but didn't get one.
Anyhow, I looked over and she's sitting there witha big grin on her face, bouncing up and down in her seat, and bouncing her fingers on the table.
"Mom," I said, "it's a good thing you didn't have that beer or you'd be dancing on the table."

She passed away in May of this year, and that moment at Toby Kieth's I Love This Bar and Grill will be one of my favorite memories.

Service was good. My blackened catfish and mashed sweet potatos were good. My mom and brother also enjoyed their meals.

This year I stayed with a friend in the Northern part of the city, well away from the Strip. I could not talk the guy into going in with me, even though I offered to buy dinner, tickets to a show, etc. (He did go to Stoney's with me one night.) After seeing a the Cirque de Soleil show at the Mirage (I thought the dancing in this show was quite remarkable.) I walked over to Harrah's.

I had to ask someone where Toby's was, because even though they had a big sign in the fornt of the casino, there was nothing to tell you go go up the escalator to the short hallway where it's located.

The band was either on break or hadn't started playing yet. For dancing I'd go with Stoney's, unless I was looking for something low key.

I know this is an old thread but I happened upon it whilst googling Toby Kieth's place and wanted to say I enjoyed your story.

[Steve Pastor]

Made another stop at Stoney's this last week, and they are rockin' it hard with lots of thumping bass. (Thank goodness I shelled out for custom ear plugs years ago.) It turns out the African dance can come in handy when the line dancing gets FAST. Get Down!) Hey, it's Vegas, ya know.

[Ron AKA]

We stopped in at Gilley's (near Treasure Island as I recall) in April this year. It was midweek, and dead. A couple of young kids playing on the dance floor. The table service was terrible, and we left without getting served. Not recommended.

[Steve Pastor]

Ran into another Portlander the other night at Stoney's. Did a bunch of two steppin' and some "pretty good" WCS. I'll be back there when I visit Vegas again.
I didn't even make the effort to go to Gilley's at "TI", and Ron kind of confirms that I made a wise choice.