Vegas Bids Farewell to One of Its Two LGBTQ+ Boutique Hotels

As originally reported by Sam Novak of Vegas411 via social media, the adults-only gay/locally owned and operated boutique hotel and gastropub in resurgent downtown Las Vegas, the Bent Inn, has shut down after less than a year of operations.

Grand Opening Delayed Two Years 

Located at 207 N. 11th St., near the iconic entertainment and gaming destination in the heart of Sin City, the Fremont Street Experience, the Bent Inn officially opened in October 2023. 

The hotel, which offered 33 guest rooms and was founded by Mark Hunter and Greg Kafka, who previously operated popular Palm Springs resorts Escape and Desert Paradise, had to delay the grand opening for over two years because of pandemic-related challenges. 

This, in turn, gave a head start to a competing LGBTQ+ establishment, Queen Las Vegas.

The latter, which is a boutique hotel and restaurant located downtown in 28 rooms of the Thunderbird Hotel at 1215 S. Las Vegas Blvd, opened a month before Bent Inn. 

Advertising itself as “the gayest destination on the Strip,” the hotel boutique that is operated by Q Group Hospitality has the great advantage of also hosting a gaming lounge.  

“Ongoing Battles” with General Contractor, Reason for Shutdown

In a heartfelt statement posted on Instagram, the owners expressed their deep regret over the closure: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the closing of Bent Inn & Pub.”

The direct competition was not cited by Hunter and Kafka as the culprit for Bent Inn’s closure. 

Instead, the duo mentioned legal and financial issues as the primary cause. 

“As many of you are aware, we have had ongoing battles with our general contractor, ADJ Contracting & Development, which are now the subject of two pending lawsuits,” their statement explained while also mentioning the identification numbers for the lawsuits under 8th Judicial Court Case A-24-896066-C and A-24-895811-C, respectively.

“These battles have taken their toll financially, forcing Bent Inn to close,” further read the statement. 

$1.9M Property with an Interesting History 

Before the Bent Inn and Queen Las Vegas, the local LGBTQ+ community had no dedicated hotels since the Blue Moon Hotel shut down in 2014. 

Hunter and Kafka had hoped to fill that void but were ultimately unable to overcome the financial strains caused by their legal disputes.

The Bent Inn’s property, purchased by Hunter and Kafka in 2020 for $1.9 million according to Redfin, has a colorful history. 

The venue originally opened in 1963 under the name Moonlight Motel, and later on inspired the Gun Club’s 1984 song “Moonlight Motel,” which was allegedly written from the perspective of a downtown Las Vegas prostitute. 

In the early 2000s, the rundown motel changed ownership multiple times, eventually becoming the Cheyenne and later the low-rent Cerrito Apartments.

In their farewell note, Hunter and Kafka expressed gratitude to the community: “We appreciate all of you and your support and truly wish we could continue on.”

In other news, the demolition of legendary hotel-casino Tropicana Las Vegas has been set for October 9 and will feature a fireworks display preceded by 500 drones illuminating the sky.