The Oasis on Highway 91: A Comprehensive Historical and Economic Analysis of Pop's Oasis and the Simon Legacy in Jean, Nevada

1.1 The Immigrant Industrialist

Born approximately in 1882 in the Syrian Arab Republic, Peter A. Simon represents a demographic often overlooked in the anglo-centric narratives of Western expansion: the Levantine entrepreneur.¹ Unlike the labor-class immigrants who filled the mine shafts, Simon arrived with, or quickly acquired, the capital acumen to own the shafts.

By June 1906, Simon was established enough in the American Southwest to marry Maud Matthews in Prescott, Arizona.¹ However, his ambitions were tethered to the mineral wealth of Nevada. By 1920, the Simon household--now including sons Ralph and Albert, and daughters Jane and Joy--was entrenched in Mina, Mineral County, Nevada.¹ It was here, in the harsh high desert, that the capital base for the future Jean empire was forged.

1.2 The Simon Silver-Lead Mine: A Case Study in Vertical Integration

The "Simon Mine" was not a modest claim. It was a significant industrial complex that required heavy capitalization and sophisticated logistical planning. Located east of Mina, the operation was the economic engine of the district in the early 1920s.

Infrastructure and Technology

Simon's approach to mining was characterized by a willingness to invest in cutting-edge technology to maximize extraction efficiency.

• Milling Capacity: In 1921, Simon commissioned a 100-ton flotation mill. Unwilling to settle for this output, he expanded the facility to a 250-ton capacity by 1923.²
• Power Generation: The operation was energy-intensive. Snippets indicate the installation of a massive 200-horsepower semi-diesel engine to drive the mill's machinery.¹ This engine becomes a crucial artifact later in the narrative, as evidence suggests it was eventually relocated to Pop's Oasis in Jean as a decorative industrial relic, linking the two phases of Simon's life.³
• Logistics: The mine was significant enough to necessitate the construction of a dedicated power line from Hawthorne and justified the establishment of a federal post office on November 11, 1919.²

The Collapse and the Pivot

The volatility of the commodities market and the technical challenges of deep-shaft mining eventually took their toll. Board minutes from the Simon Silver-Lead Mines, Inc. reveal that by November 1927, the decision was made to suspend pumping operations.¹ In the context of mining, "pulling the pumps" is a definitive action; it allows groundwater to flood the lower levels, effectively sacrificing the asset.

While this marked the end of Simon's dominance in Mineral County, it demonstrated a crucial trait: the ability to liquidate and pivot. Rather than clinging to a dying asset, Simon extracted his capital and looked south.

1.3 The Aviation Interlude: Western Air Express Field

A frequently omitted chapter in the Simon saga is his brief but pivotal role in the development of American aviation infrastructure. In 1929, leveraging capital likely preserved from the mine closure, Simon purchased a tract of land northeast of Las Vegas. This site, known as Western Air Express Field (and later the Las Vegas Airport), was the embryonic form of what is today Nellis Air Force Base.¹

Simon was not merely a landlord; he was an active participant in the nascence of commercial flight. He was instrumental in the operations of Nevada Airlines, an ambitious carrier that attempted to establish a regular service route between Reno and Las Vegas.¹ At the time, this 400-mile corridor was a logistical nightmare of unpaved roads and searing heat. Simon's recognition that the future of the West lay in connectivity--whether by air or by asphalt--foreshadowed his investment in Jean.

Historical Timeline of Peter "Pop" Simon's Ventures

• 1906: Establish presence in Arizona (Marriage to Maud Matthews).
• 1919: Establishment of the Simon Post Office in Mineral County.
• 1921-1923: Peak Industrial Phase (Expansion of Simon Mine Mill).
• 1927: Cessation of Mining Operations (Pulling the pumps).
• 1929: Aviation Infrastructure Investment (Purchase of Las Vegas Airport site).
• 1940s: Acquisition of Jean Property (Transition to Hospitality).
• 1955-1960: Utility Provider (Powering the NHP Station).
• 1963: Death of Pop Simon (Succession to Peter Simon II).
• 1972: Gaming License (Formal conversion to Casino).
• 1988: Liquidation (Sale and Demolition).

2.1 The Acquisition of Jean

The town of Jean has a lineage of ownership as distinct as any royal title. Originally renamed in 1905 by postmaster George Fayle in honor of his wife, the commercial assets of the town passed through several hands before reaching the Simons.⁴

Historical records suggest a chain of title involving local figures such as Sam Frye, who owned the "Jean Garage and Motel" before selling to Pop Simon.⁶ Other accounts mention a "Shorty Smith" who operated a Standard gas station with a "seven-stool lunch counter" before selling to Pop.⁷

It is likely that Simon consolidated these various parcels--the garage, the motel, and the lunch counter--into a single unified entity in the early 1940s (cited as 1942 or 1947).⁸ This consolidation created "Pop's Oasis."

2.2 The Architecture of Necessity

The initial iteration of Pop's Oasis was not a "casino" in the modern corporate sense. It was a functional response to the limitations of mid-century automotive technology. In the 1940s and 50s, the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas was a grueling endurance test. Vehicles were prone to overheating, and the two-lane highway (U.S. 91) was unforgiving.

Pop's Oasis provided the "trinity of the road": fuel, food, and sleep.

• The Motel: A modest linear structure offering respite for those who couldn't make the final 20 miles to Vegas.⁸
• The Cafe: This became the cultural heart of the establishment. It was famous for its "Cold Spot ice box," a stark necessity in the pre-AC era, and a counter with three stools.¹⁰ Over time, the culinary reputation of the Oasis grew, with its chili described by legal professionals and truckers alike as "the best chili outside of the old Horseshoe".¹¹
• The Garage: Essential for the radiator-blown sedans of the era.

2.3 Pop's Oasis as Public Utility

Perhaps the most telling evidence of the Oasis's importance to the state infrastructure is found in the Nevada legislative archives. From 1955 to 1960, the state of Nevada did not have adequate utility infrastructure in Jean to support its own law enforcement.

Consequently, P.A. Simon, doing business as Pop's Oasis Motel, furnished power and water to the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) checking station located nearby. The state, however, failed to pay for these utilities for five years.

In 1963, the Nevada Legislature passed a specific statute (Chapter 403) to reimburse Simon the sum of $2,244.60 for these services.¹² This seemingly bureaucratic detail reveals a profound truth: in the remote desert, the private business was the infrastructure. The state relied on Pop Simon to keep its police officers hydrated and their lights on.

2.4 Diversification: The Simon Building

Pop and Peggy Simon were not content to remain solely in Jean. In the early 1950s, they executed a significant real estate development in downtown Las Vegas: the Simon Building at the corner of Third and Fremont Streets.

This mixed-use development housed:

• The Melody Lane Restaurant.
• The Photo Mart.
• The local offices of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on the second floor.¹

This venture demonstrates that the Simons were sophisticated diversified investors, balancing the cash-heavy, low-margin roadside business in Jean with prime commercial real estate in the city center.

3.1 The 1972 Casino License: Institutionalizing the Gamble

While gambling had doubtless occurred at the Oasis in the form of "slot machines in the grocery store" or informal games, it was under Peter Simon II that the property officially transitioned into a gaming hall. In 1972, Pop's Oasis received its non-restricted gaming license, becoming the first official casino in Jean.⁵

This move predated the corporate mega-resorts (Gold Strike, Nevada Landing) by nearly two decades. Peter Simon II frequently referred to his establishment as "the first casino on the Strip," a geographically inaccurate but psychologically potent marketing slogan implying that the Vegas experience began the moment one crossed the state line.⁹

The interior of the casino reflected the family's roots. It was decorated with "unusual neon mine signs," likely salvaged or inspired by the Simon Mine days in Mina.⁹ Furthermore, archival reports suggest that the massive engine from the Simon Mine was relocated to the Oasis, standing as a silent, iron sentinel to the family's industrial past.³

3.2 The Bonnie and Clyde Acquisition: A Masterstroke of Marketing

In 1973, Peter Simon II executed the transaction that would define the Oasis for the rest of its existence. Recognizing the need for a "hook" to stop traffic on the increasingly fast-paced Interstate 15, Simon looked to American folklore.

At an auction in Princeton, Massachusetts, Simon engaged in a bidding war for the 1934 Ford V8 "Death Car"--the actual bullet-riddled vehicle in which outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed.

• The Price: Simon won the auction with a bid of $175,000.¹³
• Context: This was a world-record price for an antique car at the time. To put this in perspective, $175,000 in 1973 had the purchasing power of approximately $1.2 million in 2024.
• The Provenance: The car had a long history of exploitation, having been leased to carnivals and fairgrounds by its previous owners (including Ted Toddy) before reaching the auction block.¹⁴

The "Mini Museum"

Simon constructed a dedicated display area within the casino to house the car. He surrounded it with related "murderabilia," including Clyde Barrow's bloodstained shirt (acquired later) and clippings detailing the ambush.¹⁵

The economics of this investment were sound. The car acted as a gravitational well for tourists. Drivers who might have sped past a generic gas station were compelled to stop and see the "Death Car." Once out of their vehicles, they purchased food, fuel, and--crucially--dropped coins into the slots.

3.3 The "Sawdust Joint" Atmosphere

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Pop's Oasis cultivated a specific clientele. It was not trying to be Caesar's Palace. It was a "sawdust joint"--a term of art in the gaming industry referring to establishments that cater to low-rollers and value-seekers.

• The Chips: The casino issued its own gaming currency. Collectors today prize the $1, $5, and $25 chips from Pop's Oasis, which featured the simple branding of the era.¹⁶
• The Merchandise: Matchbooks from the era advertise "The Best Place on the Desert to Eat, Drink and Sleep".¹⁸
• The Clientele: It was a primary stop for truckers, who valued the expansive parking and the hearty food. It also served the residents of nearby Goodsprings and Sandy Valley.

4.1 The Prison Controversy and the "Bad Taste"

In 1975, the State of Nevada began construction on the Jean Conservation Camp, a minimum-security correctional facility for female offenders, located on the edge of town.

Peter Simon II publicly expressed discomfort with this development. In a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he noted that he felt it would be "in bad taste" to keep the bullet-riddled, blood-stained Death Car on display while a prison was being built next door.¹⁹ This quote reveals a surprising sensitivity to the optics of glorifying crime in the shadow of a rehabilitation center, although he retained the car for another decade.

4.2 Financial Strain and Bankruptcy

The early 1980s appear to have been a period of financial turbulence. Records show "Pop's Oasis Garage" and related entities involved in bankruptcy proceedings or hearings regarding transfer of control.²⁰

These filings suggest that the operational costs of maintaining aging infrastructure (the garage, the water systems, the power lines) in a remote location were rising. The garage, seeking "contract carrier" status to tow wrecked vehicles between Baker, California, and Las Vegas, was trying to monetize the frequent accidents on the dangerous I-15 corridor.²⁰

4.3 The Great Peace March Incident (1986)

A minor but illuminating event occurred in April 1986, involving the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament.

The organizers of the march, which involved hundreds of protesters walking across the continent, had arranged to camp at Pop's Oasis. However, reports indicate that the arrangement "fell through" at the last minute, leaving the marchers stranded and forcing organizers to frantically negotiate with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a patch of federal dirt to sleep on.²²

This incident highlights the power dynamic in Jean: Pop's Oasis was the only improved land for miles. When the private owner (Simon) withdrew support, the "public" had nowhere to go but the open desert.

5.1 The Arrival of Gold Strike and Nevada Landing

In 1987, the landscape of Jean changed forever with the opening of the Gold Strike Hotel and Gambling Hall.⁸ This was a corporate venture involving Michael Ensign and William Richardson--titans of the industry.

Unlike Pop's, the Gold Strike was a destination resort with hotel towers and modern amenities. Following closely was the Nevada Landing, a massive riverboat-themed casino. The writing was on the wall. The capital requirements to compete with these entities were beyond the scope of a family-run roadside stop.

5.2 The 1988 Closure and Sale

In 1988, Pop's Oasis closed its doors permanently.⁵ The property was sold, and the buildings were slated for demolition.

The closure necessitated the final disposition of the Death Car. In 1988, Gary Primm (son of Ernest Primm and developer of Primadonna Resorts) purchased the car at auction for $250,000.¹⁵ He moved it south to the state line (Primm, NV), where it resides today at Whiskey Pete's, continuing the legacy of roadside attraction marketing that Simon had pioneered.

5.3 The Chips in the Foundation: An Archaeological Anomaly

The most haunting detail of the Pop's Oasis story--and one that requires "digging hard" to uncover--is the fate of its gaming chips.

When a casino closes, the gaming tokens must be destroyed to prevent fraud. Usually, they are crushed or melted. However, in a unique pragmatic twist, the chips from Pop's Oasis were disposed of by being poured directly into the wet concrete of the foundation for the Nevada Landing Hotel Casino.⁸

This fact remained a rumor until 2007-2008, when the Nevada Landing itself was demolished to make way for a (never-built) residential project. Urban explorers and demolition crews walking the shattered slab of the Nevada Landing found them: thousands of Pop's Oasis chips, embedded like fossils in the concrete matrix.²⁴

This creates a fascinating archaeological stratigraphy:

1. Layer 1: The desert floor.
2. Layer 2: The foundation of the Nevada Landing (1988).
3. Inclusion: The gaming chips of Pop's Oasis (1972-1988).
4. Layer 3: The rubble of the Nevada Landing (2008).

6.1 Repurposing the Site: From Gambling to Policing

The specific parcel of land that housed Pop's Oasis (approx. 1337 S. Las Vegas Boulevard) did not lie fallow. In a pivot that mirrors the site's history of utility provision, the land was repurposed for public safety.

Today, the site is home to the Jean Substation of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.⁵ The location that once hosted outlaws (in the form of the Death Car) now hosts the officers who patrol the interstate. This completes the cycle of the site's utility: from mine support -> roadside refuge -> gaming hall -> law enforcement hub.

6.2 The Continuing Influence of Peter Simon II

Peter Simon II did not fade into obscurity after the sale. He remained a shrewd player in the Nevada development game.

• Jean Development Company: Public records list Peter Simon II as a key figure in the "Jean Development Company," which held interests in the Gold Strike properties. This indicates that Simon did not just sell out; he likely retained equity in the successors to his empire.²⁵
• Political Activity: As recently as 2021, records show Peter Simon, residing in Jean (P.O. Box 19088), making contributions to political campaigns and unions.²⁷ This suggests that the Simon family maintained a presence and influence in the town they essentially founded for decades after their name came off the marquee.
• Obituary: When Peggy Simon (Pop's second wife) passed, she was survived by Peter Simon II and granddaughter Joy Marie Simon.²⁹ The family lineage remains deeply tied to the history of Southern Nevada.