In 1991, Silver City removed it's target of being the first casino to allow smoking by making the casino smoke free. It's signs went from a sky-blueish color to red, and a reader board and ticker was added. Two years later, Silver City began an expansion and changed it's exterior to fit to a more western-themed casino. In 1979, Circus Circus Entertainment bought the casino for $30 million. When it opened, it was the first ever casino on the Las Vegas Strip to allow smoking. Major Riddle bought the Riata and reopened it in 1974 as Silver City, which was named after one of Las Vegas's nicknames. Silver City was created off of Riata Casino, which opened in 1973 and only lasted one year until closure. Multiple small stores and a Ross currently occupies the casino. The old western-themed casino closed in 1999 to make way for the new Silver City Plaza. The casino was owned by Circus Circus Entertainment, and originally, Major Riddle and opened in 1974. Silver City was a casino located near the Las Vegas Convention Center on the right side of the Strip in Winchester, Nevada.