1000 lb bomb
If Harveys Lake Tahoe sounds familiar, it may be because of a time in its history where the property became the center of international attention. In 1980, a man named John Birges Sr. tried to extort $3 million after losing at least $1 million at casinos in Stateline by placing a homemade bomb at Harvey’s Hotel Resort.
After attempts to defuse the 1000 lb bomb failed, the bomb ended up exploding, leaving a 3-story crater in the eastern side of the casino. Luckily, no one was injured as the area had already been cleared when the bomb detonated. John Birges Sr. was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, and he died from liver cancer in 1996.
Since that incident, security has been vastly improved at all casinos throughout Nevada. Harveys Lake Tahoe underwent a massive rebuild and expansion and is now one of the largest resort hotel casinos at Lake Tahoe.
Artist/Author: nevadafilm December 9, 2018 |
