The Strip runs from the Stratosphere at the northern end to Mandalay Bay on the southern end. Of the 4 miles, nearly 3.5 miles of it is located in the township of Paradise, Clark County. Depending on the definition, very little to none of it is within the Las Vegas city limits. McCarran Airport (LAS) is located at the southern end of The Strip, along with the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, which also appears in the median of Las Vegas Boulevard at the north end near the intersection of E. St. Louis and S. Main Street. The "South Strip" is used to describe the section of Las Vegas Boulevard between Sunset Road or Blue Diamond Road and St. Rose Parkway.

Vegas Strip History

The first casino to be built on Highway 91 was the Pair-o-Dice Club in 1931; the first on what is today's Strip was the El Rancho Vegas, opening on April 3, 1941 with 63 rooms and standing for almost 20 years before being destroyed by fire in 1960. Its success spawned a second hotel on what would become The Strip, the Hotel Last Frontier, in 1942. The Flamingo opened a few years later, on December 26, 1946.

In 1968, Kirk Kerkorian purchased the Flamingo and hired Sahara Hotels Vice President Alex Shoofey as President. Alex Shoofey brought along 33 of Sahara's top executives. The Flamingo was used to train future employees of the International Hotel, which was under construction. Opening in 1969, the International Hotel with 1,512 rooms, would become the largest hotel in the world, and begin the era of mega-resorts. The International is known as the Las Vegas Hilton today.

The first MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, also a Kerkorian property, opened in 1973 with 2,084 rooms. At the time, this was the largest hotel in the world by number of rooms. On November 21, 1980, the MGM Grand suffered the worst resort fire in the history of Las Vegas, killing 87 people as a result of electrical problems. It reopened eight months later. In 1986, Kerkorian sold the MGM Grand to Bally Manufacturing and it was renamed Bally's.

The opening of The Mirage in 1989 set a new level to the Las Vegas experience, as smaller hotels and casinos made way for the larger mega-resorts. These huge facilities offer entertainment and dining options, as well as gambling and lodging. This change impacted the smaller, well-known and now historic hotels and casinos, like The Dunes, The Sands and the Stardust.

In 1995, following the death of Dean Martin, the lights along the strip were dimmed in a sign of respect to him. In 2005, Las Vegas renamed Industrial Road "Dean Martin Drive", also as a tribute to the famous Rat Pack singer, actor, and frequent Las Vegas entertainer.

In an effort to attract families, resorts offered more attractions geared toward youth, but had limited success. The (current) MGM Grand opened in 1993 with Grand Adventures amusement park, but it closed in 2000 due to lack of interest. Similarly, in 2003 Treasure Island closed its own video arcade and abandoned the previous pirate theme, adopting the new ti name.

Downtown Las Vegas hotels and casinos suffered heavily from the Strip's boom. They have funneled money into remodeling the facades of casinos, adding additional security and new attractions, like the Fremont Street Experience and Neonopolis (complete with movie theaters).

In addition to the large hotels, casinos and resorts, The Strip is home to a few smaller casinos, motels, and other attractions, such as M&M World, Adventuredome and the Fashion Show Mall. Starting in the mid 1990s, The Strip became a popular New Year's Eve celebration destination. Wet 'n Wild water park, located next to the Sahara hotel, closed permanently at the end of the 2004 season.

In 2004, MGM Mirage announced plans for Project City Center, a 66 acre (600,000 m²), $7 billion multi-use project on the site of the Boardwalk hotel and adjoining land. It will consist of hotel, casino, condo, retail and other uses on the site. When completed, City Center will be the largest such complex on Earth. Construction began in April of 2006, and the first elements of this project are expected to be available in 2009.

In December 2006, the Las Vegas Strip became the world's second largest gambling center,[1] and it was announced that a 1888 foot high-rise hotel and condominium would be built on the Las Vegas Strip on the former Wet 'n Wild site. The building is seeking FAA approval, and if built, the tower would be the tallest building in the United States.[2]

The Vegas Strip today

Strip Transportation

While not on The Strip itself, the Las Vegas Monorail runs on the east side of The Strip from Tropicana Avenue to Sahara Road.

CAT Bus provides service on the strip with double decker buses known as The Deuce. The Deuce stops at most major resorts and continues north to downtown and the Fremont Street Experience. A current list of fares is available.

A tourist trolley service travels up and down The Strip and stops at various, but not all, Strip hotels, along with a stop at the Fashion Show Mall. The fare is $2.00 for a one way ride, regardless how far you travel down the strip or spend 5 dollars and get a 24hr pass, exact change required. Trolleys are scheduled to arrive every 15 minutes.

Two small, free cable-pulled trams operate on the Strip. One runs between Treasure Island and The Mirage. The other provides service to Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur.

Free shuttles

• Between Harrah's Las Vegas and the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino. Approximately every 30 minutes.
• Between Sam's Town and Bill's Gamblin' Hall and Saloon, Harrah's Las Vegas, Riviera Hotel, and Tropicana Resort & Casino. Approximately every hour and a half.
• Between Caesars Palace and the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino. Approximately every 30 minutes.
• Between Paris/Bally's and the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino. Approximately every 30 minutes.
• Between Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the MGM Grand and the Harley-Davidson Cafe (next to the Aladdin). Leaves the Hard Rock on the hour.
• Between Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Fashion Show Mall and the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. Leaves the Hard Rock on the hour.
• Between Wynn Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention Center Monorail Stop

Many free shuttles have a policy requiring a room key from an affiliated casino, but it is not typically enforced.

Walking around

Several Strip hotels have undertaken efforts to make the street more pedestrian-friendly. New casinos design their façades to attract walk-up customers and many of these entrances have become attractions themselves - the Fountains at Bellagio, the volcano at The Mirage, and the Treasure Island (TI) Sirens of TI are the most well-known. People gather on the sidewalks in front of the casinos to watch these shows.

To alleviate traffic issues at popular intersections, footbridges have been installed to help pedestrians more safely cross the roads. The Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard footbridges were the first to be installed, and based on the success of this project additional footbridges have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard at the Flamingo Road intersection; between The Mirage/Treasure Island and The Venetian; and the latest ones at the Las Vegas Boulevard-Spring Mountain and Sands Avenue intersection connecting the Wynn with the Fashion Show Mall.

Non Casino Entertainment

Aviation Nation - Nellis AFB

Vegas Golf courses

In recent years, all but one of the on-Strip golf courses (the Desert Inn Golf Course) have fallen prey to the mega-resorts need for land and have closed. Developer Steve Wynn, founder of previously owned Mirage Resorts, purchased the Desert Inn and golf course for his new company Wynn Resorts. In 2005, he opened Wynn Las Vegas, complete with remodeled golf course providing tee times to hotel guests only.

In 2000, Bali Hai Golf Club, opened just south of Mandalay Bay and the Strip. Catering to a high-end golf enthusiast, the Bali Hai Golf Course can easily be seen by drivers on I-15.

 

Demolished or closed strip casinos & hotels

• Stardust Resort & Casino: Closed November 1, 2006, Demolished March 13, 2007. To be replaced by Echelon Place (scheduled to open in 2010).
• Boardwalk Hotel and Casino: Demolished May 9, 2006 to make way for Project City Center.
• Desert Inn (and golf course): Demolished in 2004, now Wynn Las Vegas.
• The Dunes (and golf course): Demolished in 1993, now Bellagio.
• El Rancho Vegas: Burned down in 1960. The Hilton Grand Vacation Club timeshare now exists on the south edge of the site where the resort once stood; the remainder remains vacant.
• El Rancho (formerly Thunderbird/Silverbird): Closed in 1992 and demolished in 2000, now slated for the Fontainebleau, a proposed new 4000-room casino-hotel.
• Glass Pool Inn: Demolished in 2006. It was called Mirage Motel until 1988 when forced to change name due to The Mirage opening down The Strip in 1989.
• Hacienda: Demolished in 1996, now Mandalay Bay.
• Holy Cow Casino Cafe and Brewery First micro brewery in Las Vegas. Closed in 2002, property currently vacant.
• Marina Hotel and Casino: Westward pointing tower (known as the West Wing) of the MGM Grand.
• The Sands: Demolished in 1996, now The Venetian.
• Vegas World: Demolished in 1995 and rebuilt as the Stratosphere; parts of the old Vegas World still remain.
• The Landmark: Demolished in 1995. Now the site of a parking lot for the Las Vegas Convention Center (Demolition was filmed for the feature Mars Attacks!).
• Westward Ho Hotel and Casino: Closed in 2005, demolished in 2006.
• Vacation Village Resort & Casino; Closed in 2002, demolished in 2006. Future site of the Town Square development project.
• Klondike Hotel & Casino: Closed in 2006, awaiting demolition.
• Silver Slipper: Demolished in 1988 for a parking lot. Now the site of the Desert Inn Road Arterial.
• San Souci: Closed in 1962 for the Castaways, which itself was demolished in 1987. Now the site of The Mirage.
• Jackpot Casino: Closed in 1977, now the Sahara.
• Lucky Slots Casino: Closed in 1981, now a shopping center.
• Nob Hill Casino: Closed in 1990, now Casino Royale.
• Tally Ho Hotel: Closed in 1966. Became the Aladdin which in 2007 became Planet Hollywood.
• Paddlewheel Hotel & Casino: Closed in 1991 and reopened in 1993 as Debbie Reynolds' Hollywood Hotel & Casino, which itself closed in 1996 and is now the Greek Isles Hotel & Casino.
• Money Tree Casino: Closed in 1979.
• Silver City Hotel & Casino: Closed in 1999, now the Silver City Shopping Center.
• Lotus Inn Hotel & Casino: Closed in 1978, now a Rodeway Inn.
• Big Red's Casino: Closed in 1982. Property developed for CBS Sports World Casino (Changed name to Sports World Casino after the CBS Television Network threatened to sue)[citation needed]: Closed in 2001, now a shopping center.

 

Major hotel locations

Name	Rooms	Opened / Notes
Stratosphere 2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,444	April 30, 1996
Sahara 2535 Las Vegas Blvd. South	1,720	1952
Circus Circus 2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South	3,770	October 18, 1968
Riviera 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,100	April 20, 1955
Echelon Place 3000 Las Vegas Blvd. South		Stardust July 2, 1958- November 1, 2006. Echelon Place to open in 2010.
New Frontier 3120 Las Vegas Blvd. South	1,000	October 30, 1942
Wynn Las Vegas 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,716	April 28, 2005
Treasure Island (TI) 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,900	October 27, 1993
The Venetian 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South	4,049	May 3, 1999
The Mirage 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South	3,049	November 22, 1989
Casino Royale 3411 Las Vegas Blvd. South	152	Nob Hill 1979 Casino Royale 1992
Harrah's Las Vegas 3475 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,616	1992 Previously known as the Holiday Casino
Imperial Palace 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,700	1980 Previously known as the Flamingo Capri
Flamingo 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South	3,642	1946 - known as the Flamingo Hilton from 1974-99.
Caesars Palace 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South	3,348	August 5, 1966
Bill's Gamblin Hall and Saloon 3595 Las Vegas Blvd. South	200	1979 was Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino before March 1, 2007
Bellagio 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South	3,000	October 15, 1998
Bally's 3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,814	Bonanza Hotel July 5, 1973 as the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Sold in 1986 and renamed.[3]
Paris 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,916	September 1, 1999
Planet Hollywood 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South	2,567	1963 as the Tally-Ho. Formerly The Aladdin. Rebuilt and reopened on August 18, 2000. Renamed Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino April 16, 2007.
Project City Center		Under construction
Monte Carlo 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South	3,002	June 21, 1996
New York-New York 3790 Las Vegas Blvd South	2,024	January 3,1997
MGM Grand 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South	5,044	December 18, 1993 The MGM Grand Las Vegas is currently the largest hotel in the world.
Tropicana 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South	1,800	April 4, 1957
Excalibur 3850 Las Vegas Blvd. South	4,032	June 19, 1990
Luxor 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South	4,407	October 15, 1993
THEhotel at Mandalay Bay 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South	1,117	2004 On November 17, 2005 TheHotel changed signage to set it apart from the Mandalay Bay.
Mandalay Bay 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South	3,700	March 2, 1999
Four Seasons 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South	424	1999 Top four floors of Mandalay Bay's main building.

North towards Fremont Street
	↑
Stratosphere
Sahara Avenue		Sahara Avenue
Circus Circus		Sahara
		Riviera
Echelon Place
		Convention Center Drive
New Frontier		Wynn Las Vegas
Fashion Show Mall
Spring Mountain Road		Sands Avenue
Treasure Island		The Venetian
		Casino Royale
The Mirage		Harrah's
		Imperial Palace
Caesars Palace		Flamingo
		Bill's Gamblin Hall and Saloon
Flamingo Road		Flamingo Road
Bellagio		Bally's
		Paris
		Planet Hollywood
Harmon Avenue		Harmon Avenue
Project City Center
Monte Carlo
New York-New York		MGM Grand
Tropicana Avenue		Tropicana Avenue
Excalibur		Tropicana
Luxor
THEhotel, Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons
Russell Road
	↓
South towards Interstate 215

Shopping attractions

Name	Description
Bonanza Gift Store 2440 Las Vegas Boulevard South	World's largest gift store, Purveyors of Las Vegas Pop culture
Fashion Show Mall 3200 Las Vegas Boulevard South	Opposite Wynn Las Vegas
Grand Canal Shoppes 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South	A canal, with gondolas and singing gondoliers, winds along in front of many of the shops.
Miracle Mile 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South	Part of the Planet Hollywood hotel.
The Forum Shops at Caesars Las Vegas Boulevard South

Entertainment

Most of the attractions and shows on the Strip are located on the hotel casino properties. Some of the more popular free attractions include the water fountains and the Conservatory at Bellagio, the Sirens of TI show at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, and the White Tiger Habitat at The Mirage.

The list of shows playing in Las Vegas include five Cirque du Soleil shows, the Blue Man Group, and some imported Broadway shows like Mamma Mia! and The Phantom of the Opera.

Websites That We Visit

• Las Vegas Weather and Climate
• Virtual Tours of the Las Vegas Strip and Hotels
• Las Vegas Casino Chip Museum
• Mustangs for Sale
• Quality Website Templates

Sources

• Yahoo! Maps listing distance from Stratosphere to Mandalay Bay.

 

Las Vegas Strip
South end	Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
West side	Mandalay Bay · THEhotel at Mandalay Bay · Luxor · Excalibur · New York-New York · Monte Carlo · Project City Center (2009) · The Cosmopolitan (2009) · Bellagio · Caesars Palace · The Mirage · Treasure Island · New Frontier · Las Vegas Plaza Hotel (2010-11) · Echelon Place (2010) · Slots-A-Fun · Circus Circus · Stratosphere
East side	Tropicana · MGM Grand  · Planet Hollywood (formerly Aladdin)  · Paris · Bally's · Bill's (formerly Barbary Coast) · Flamingo · O'Sheas · Imperial Palace · Harrah's · Casino Royale · The Venetian · The Palazzo (2007) · Wynn · Riviera · Sahara
Transportation	Las Vegas Monorail · The Deuce