Post #818033 by mike and marie on Sun, Mar 1, 2026 5:37 PM

Notice the white trim on the front of the building in that photo. That was put in during a wreckovation circa 2004. At the time, we were heavily involved in Treasure Island historic preservation. We pleaded with the then-owner to please not wreckovate this hotel. Before that, the Thunderbird had a distinct Vegas feel to the entire outside. Well, the owner didn't listen, didn't care, and the Headhunter Lounge was removed, the cool original street sign replaced with something more generic, and that awful white trim was put up on the outside of the building.

it wasn't always turquoise. That was a later change, and we think a good one. Newer ownership seemed more receptive to architecturally and historically appropriate design to the place. That's when "Ikky Woo Woo" came about, and it's a nod to the hotel's past. For many years the building was an off white, and it was hard to keep it looking clean, it seemed the bricks always had a "dingy" kind of look, just from dirt or weathering.

While the "Ikky Woo Woo" was more or less an outdoor hut, it was indeed inviting, and it was great the the owners embraced the history and feeling of this place. The back lanai and patios of the Thunderbird were really cool in recent years, before the Helene / Milton onslaught.