Vegas News January 30, 2004 - Castaways closing. The Las Vegas Boulder Highway property once known as the "Showboat" and then later unfortunately changed to the lackluster "Castaways," closed suddenly today amidst surprise and consternation. Workers were told to leave, customers were roused from their sleep and told to vacate their rooms immediately; residents of a nearby mobile home and RV park on the property were told they had one hour to be off the premises.

Soon slot machines were being removed from the property to waiting 18-wheelers parked outside, some still being played by customers who were escorted out by security guards.

The Castaways is the second major Las Vegas property to close suddenly in the past month. Binion's Horseshoe, one of the oldest downtown properties bordering the Fremont Street Experience, closed earlier this month.

Many questions are still left unanswered, and little information is forthcoming from the closed resort.

Its predecessor, the Showboat, was one of the oldest properties in Las Vegas, having opened in the late 60's.

Boulder highway is a 'locals strip' several miles East of the Las Vegas strip.

The Showboat was known for its free shows, liberal payouts, and two-hour long waits for its buffets. It was most famous for years for its all-you-can-eat "Baby Lobster Buffet," for $12.95 which came with two frozen drinks, and all the trimmings, including all you can eat prime rib. The buffet was discontinued several years earlier. The demise of the buffet is held by many locals to be the beginning of the end of the property.