Saturday, May 18, 2024
Fountains of Bellagio
Saturday, April 20, 2024
360 Vintage LOST Vegas E-3: Moulin Rouge
Okay. Let’s start by addressing the Elephant in the room. Las Vegas was racist. Really, really racist. Not Alabama bad but Las Vegas was known as the “Mississippi of the west” and I’m certain it wasn’t a compliment.
Saturday, March 23, 2024
360 Vintage LOST Vegas E-2: Royal Nevada
Nothing special is probably a very good way to describe the Royal Nevada. Not that it wasn’t nice or well located, it just wasn’t memorable. Think Monte Carlo Vegas and its luxury on a budget theme. Mix that with the opening of 4 new Vegas properties in 1955 and the answer to the question is yes, Vegas was over built.
Saturday, February 24, 2024
360 Vintage LOST Vegas E-1: Moon Hotel & Casino
This is one of those projects that I would have loved to see make it to the strip; and who knows, we may still get it one day. Yes a space theme has failed before in Las Vegas but come on, it was Bob Stupak behind it. Just like Luxor before it, I wonder how long those themed attractions will last. Another problem with a space themed resort is how quickly things can look dated. $5 billion dollars is a crazy price tag for a concept that is clearly targeting the middle class. Only time will tell if this concept comes to market but considering its Vegas, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Jay Sarno
Many regard Jay Sarno as the father of the themed casino as well as the mind behind family friendly Las Vegas. His contributions to the strip, Caesars Palace and Circus Circus, are complete opposites on the theme and customer base scale. While he was many things, a womanizer and a gambling addict, no one can dispute that he was also a visionary. Jay Sarno was exactly what Vegas wanted during a time when all its current owners were being scrutinized by attorney general Bobby Kennedy; a legit guy with no previous connection to organized crime.
Saturday, December 23, 2023
Aladdin
At times the Aladdin has been called “The Vegas Jinx”. History has documented a long line of potential suitors who, when they took their shot, missed. In a town where the house always wins, it’s not only an anomaly when one doesn’t, it’s also a cautionary tale. It isn’t as simple as build it and they will come. Theme, location, timing and in some cases luck is needed to be a successful Las Vegas resort.
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Del Webb & the Sahara
The Sahara used to be referred to as the start of the strip, when the strip began to develop. During that time, people talked about the strip like they do off strip properties today, too far from the action. Turns out what people really wanted was more options and the development of the strip over the years has been nothing short of remarkable. The question is, does the strip have a limit to the number of properties it can support, or do the struggles facing places like Sahara fall directly on the shoulders of the properties experiencing them. Give the people what they want and they will come. If you follow that sentiment then the question has to be asked, do people not want what Sahara has to offer? Is that why they are struggling?