The rich history of Las Vegas has a lot to do with the fascinating people and the over-the-top unusual Las Vegas hotels. Take a look at these little known fascinating facts about some of the most well-known hotel properties in Sin City.
Built in 1941, the El Rancho was the first major resort to grace the Las Vegas Strip. Celebrity couple Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were married there. Their marriage turned out to be one of the longest-lasting marriages in Hollywood History. Their 50-year marriage even outlasted the El Rancho itself, which was destroyed in a fire in 1960. Who says Vegas weddings don’t last?
2. Unlucky Number Four
The Wynn Casino and Rio Casino have no tower elevator floors that begin with the number four. The logic behind this design is rumored to be based on the fact that the number four is unlucky in Chinese culture. Chinese beliefs actually associate the number with death (or rather, the two words are synonyms) which could be a whole lot worse than a losing streak in Vegas casinos. Just another of the unusual Las Vegas hotels.
3. Overstaying His Welcome
Howard Hughes, American billionaire businessman, aviator, and filmmaker, bought Desert Inn in 1966 from Moe Dolitz for 13 million dollars. Hughes didn’t want to leave the unusual Las Vegas hotel he had holed up in since Thanksgiving Day in 1966, so he purchased the property.
4. A Piece of Berlin in Vegas
The Main Street Station Hotel and Casino houses many authentic turn-of-the-century antiques available for public view. One of the most unusual relics from history is actually found in the men’s restroom on the main casino floor. A portion of the Berlin Wall that fell in 1989 is integrated into the urinal space in the gentlemen’s room of this unusual Las Vegas hotel.
5. Fountains of Bellagio
The Bellagio Las Vegas opened in 1998 with a development price tag of more than $1.5 billion. The hotel’s lake with the signature dancing Fountains of Bellagio holds twenty-two million gallons of water. Fodor’s Travel claims the Bellagio is one of the most photographed Vegas hotels on the strip.
6. Demolition by Pirate Ship
Steve Wynn, Las Vegas mogul, coordinated the opening of Treasure Island Hotel and Casino with the implosion of the Dunes Hotel with a grand show in 1993. More than 200,000 spectators watched as cannon shots from the HMS Britannia of Treasure Island Hotel and Casino were coordinated with the fall of the Dunes.
The Vegas Strip greets visitors from all parts of the globe on a daily basis. With 15 of the world’s 20 largest casinos located in Vegas, there are bound to be a few quirks and legends.
Read about other interesting attractions in Las Vegas and the USA.
Author Bio: Guest writer
Great post. Las Vegas is really one of the best destinations in the states… Vegas has a lot to offer when it comes to entertainment. I think most people associate Vegas to casinos too much now. Vegas has some of the top nightlife nightclubs in the city and it will only get better and better!
Nice post. Las Vegas is really one of the best tourist destinations in the states… Las Vegas has a lot to offer when it comes to entertainment.