16 Facts About the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip is a world famous playground for adults, with glitz, glamour and nonstop entertainment. Spanning 4.2 miles along Las Vegas Boulevard, this busy center boasts some of the world’s most opulent hotels, dramatic casinos, and over-the-top attractions.
Beyond the alienating glare of neon lights and slot machines, the Strip has some pretty fascinating secrets that one wouldn’t learn from merely spectating. The following are 16 facts about the Las Vegas Strip, from surprising historical quirks to modern-day marvels.
The Strip Isn’t Actually in Las Vegas
It’s an interesting but true fact that most of the Strip isn’t actually in Las Vegas. It’s in an unincorporated area of Nevada called Paradise. Las Vegas gets all the glory, but the hotels and casinos that make up the Strip are outside city limits. This curious boundary quirk has a history. Zoning decisions allowed the area to grow outside city limits while enjoying the Vegas branding.
The Bellagio Fountain Show Costs a Fortune
The Bellagio fountains are one of the Strip’s most iconic spectacles, and they’re not just water and music: They’re an engineering masterpiece. The performances cost an astonishing $10,000 to $15,000 per show! This is no surprise considering the number of lights and nozzles used in each show. This free attraction is anything but budget-friendly for the resort.
The Stratosphere Almost Had a Rollercoaster Loop
There are plenty of thrill rides on the Stratosphere Tower, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the U.S. The original plan included a rollercoaster with a full loop around the spire. The idea was scrapped due to safety concerns, but the tower still features adrenaline-pumping attractions like the SkyJump – which lets the brave jump from 829 feet in a controlled free fall.
The Strip Holds the Record for the Most Hotel Rooms
The Las Vegas Strip has more than 150,000 hotel rooms, and is the holder of the Guinness World Record for the most hotel rooms on one street. The Venetian and the adjacent Palazzo complex have well over 7,000 suites alone, making it one of the largest hotels in the world. That’s right! If you wanted to sleep in every room on the Strip and change rooms each day it would take more than 400 years!
The MGM Grand Lion Entrance Was Bad Luck
In the 1990s, the MGM Grand’s entrance was a giant lion’s mouth, a tip of the hat to its namesake. However, Chinese gamblers were not happy with the design, many of whom thought that entering through the mouth of a beast was a bad omen. In 1998, the entrance was redesigned to a more traditional look, and the big cat now lives as a statue outside.
Las Vegas Lights Are Visible from Space
Have you ever wondered how far the glow of the Strip goes? The lights of Las Vegas are some of the brightest man made objects that can be seen from space, according to astronauts aboard the International Space station. Of greater brilliance than most cities, the collective radiance of the Strip warrants its nickname “The City of Lights,” though Paris would undoubtedly have a say in that.
Bugsy Siegel’s Flamingo Wasn’t Named After the Bird
The Flamingo Hotel, often credited as the birthplace of modern Las Vegas, wasn’t named for the pink bird but after a dancer. The mobster Bugsy Siegel, who took the lead in bringing the resort to life, is said to have dubbed his girlfriend ‘Flamingo’ for her long legs. That name stuck, and it became part of Vegas lore.
There’s a Secret Pizza Spot with No Sign
The Cosmopolitan unfortunately has a slice of heaven hidden inside it, and it literally doesn’t advertise itself. It’s known as “Secret Pizza,” an unmarked pizzeria down a hallway of album covers. For foodies, it’s a treasure hunt and one of the city’s best eateries at night. Half the fun is finding the pizza, the other half is eating it.
The High Roller Is the World’s Tallest Observation Wheel
A 550-foot tall Ferris wheel called the High Roller isn’t just a ride, it’s a skyline defining feature. It was opened in 2014, and dethroned the Singapore Flyer as the world’s tallest observation wheel. Each glass cabin can hold 40 people, and the High Roller gives passengers a completely unique view of the strip.
The Brightest Light on Earth Is Luxor’s Beam
The Sky Beam at the Luxor Hotel is not just for show, it’s a record holder. The light, which is 42.3 billion candela, can be seen from airplanes hundreds of miles away. Reportedly, 39 xenon lamps make the beam, which attracts moths in swarms large enough to draw bats, creating its own mini-ecosystem in the desert.
Caesars Palace Houses its own Private Art Collection
An impressive art collection is hidden behind the gaming tables and luxury shops of Caesars Palace. Sculptures, paintings, and installations combine with its Roman-inspired architecture to transport visitors to ancient times.
The Strip Is Full of Underground Tunnels
Beneath the Strip, there is a maze of flood control tunnels, but what gets all the attention are the bright lights. Originally constructed to handle flash floods, these tunnels have evolved into an underground world of graffiti art and a community of off-grid people. It’s the glitz’s shadowy counterpart.
New York-New York’s Replica Skyline Includes a Rollercoaster
The Big Apple comes to the desert at New York-New York, complete with replicas of the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. The twist? A rollercoaster weaves through the mini-skyline to provide thrill seekers with a wild ride that tops out at 67 mph.
Las Vegas Wasn’t Always About Gambling
When Las Vegas was still a modest railroad town, it wasn’t a gambling mecca. The transformation of the city started in 1931 when Nevada legalized gambling. In 1941, El Rancho Vegas became the Strip’s first hotel, paving the way for the mega-resorts we see today.
Viva Vision is the World’s Largest Video Screen
In the Fremont Street Experience, just north of the Strip, you’ll find the Viva Vision, a canopy screen spanning 1500 feet. The Viva Vision is not on the Las Vegas Strip, but it is worth mentioning for its dazzling light shows. This overhead display was updated in 2019 with new tech and is a digital marvel.
The Welcome Sign Is on the National Historic Register
In 1959, Betty Willis designed the iconic symbol of Las Vegas, the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. It’s also one of the few neon signs to make the National Register of Historic Places. It’s at the south end of the Strip and a must-stop for photo ops.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
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