LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Paradise Spa condominium complex lived up to its name in the mid-1960s. The luxury condo association complex had a pool, hot tubs, a tennis court, and even a lake.
“We know the Rat Pack ran here. We know that Elvis Presley ran here,” said Dennis Snapp, the President of the Paradise Spa Homeowners Association.
So how did the pristine area go from luxury to what it is today?
“Don’t make me cry. It’s tragic. It is absolutely tragic,” said Snapp.
Snapp says the area was bought in 2006 to be developed. But then the 2008 market crash happened. He says investors had financial issues and the once glamorous complex never recovered.
Snapp has a map on his office wall that shows all the fires at the complex, at least nine in 15 years. He says at least five have happened in the last five months. He says some were caused by homeless people, who have broken into abandoned buildings. Snapp says he talked to one homeless man who apologized for one fire. He says the man said he and his girlfriend were fighting over a meth pipe and it sparked the fire.
“How many fires had we had here in the last two months, too many. People have died in a couple of these,” said Mark Hoffman.
Mark Hoffman is thankful he didn’t die in a fire at his home about a month ago. He says firefighters told him it was caused by a window air condition unit. He says thieves swiped parts from the rooftop air conditioning unit after it was just fixed. That’s when the window unit was put in and apparently flared up.
“I woke up. It was very thick with smoke,” said Hoffman.
Clark County officials say the Clark County Fire Department has responded to fire calls at the Paradise Spa condo complex ten times since the beginning of the year. It is located off South Las Vegas Boulevard near West Silverado Ranch Boulevard.
Snapp says an elderly woman was killed in a fire over the weekend. Clark County says that the fire is under investigation.
“Who was ill and had oxygen tanks and it was reported as explosions, said Snapp.
Snapp says the property has now been sold again for development and all the people at the complex will eventually have to go. He says 110 low-income families will need help relocating. Snapp says there have been some discussions about how to help the people but there is no firm plan right now.
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