I've been thinking lately a lot about how Las Vegas has changed over the past 20 years. I'm glad I've seen so much during that time, but I've also missed a lot, too, thinking that "I'll get around to it next time"; sometimes next time doesn't happen because it's gone.
Things I'm glad I saw before they closed (in no particular order):
- Elvis-a-rama: cool Elvis museum, complete with a purple Cadillac and a few jumpsuits. Closed in 2006.
- Folies Bergere: great show at the Trop. Showgirls, feathers, energetic routine... couldn't ask for more - classic Vegas show. Closed in 2009.
- Desert Inn: easily the classiest casino ever to grace the Strip. I stepped foot in it a few times before it closed, although I never stayed or played there, so it's not like I got a chance to sink my teeth into it. Closed in 2000.
- Stardust: my favorite casino for gambling. It just had an old-school atmosphere and good, inexpensive blackjack ($2!) with great rules. The dealers were friendly and it was really easy to get around the floor. Great restaurants, too. Closed in 2007
- Liberace Museum: had so much stuff it was housed in two buildings. I'm not a fan of his music, but boy the museum was fun and full of information. It's closing today, and I'll miss it.
- Free picture with Elvis in front of Imperial Palace: my wife and I had ours taken about seven years ago. It was a great snapshot right in the heart of the Strip. Then we walked down to the casino cage to get the picture. They stopped doing this a few years ago, right around the time Harrah's purchased the casino.
- The old pirate show at Treasure Island: before it was Sirens at TI, there was a cool battle between pirates and the British navy. The pirates won, of course (only in Vegas to the bad guys come out on top to the cheers of the crowd), and it was a great show for adults and kids. As Vegas returned to a more Sin City atmosphere, the Brits went away, and the pirates took their boat. The half-naked women took the pirates' old boat, and the pirates had to beg for mercy from the Sirens. It's not the same.
- Siegfried and Roy: I'm not much into magic, but I hear this show was outstanding, especially in its earliest days. Closed in 2003 after one of the white tigers attacked Roy.
- Free picture with $1 million at Binion's: used to be a cool mil display that used $10,000 bills (very rare). Now, you have to pay to have your picture with the dough (or sign up for free slot play or some other catch), and they use hundreds, twenties, and singles. Not the same.
- Vegas World: from all descriptions, this would have been my kind of place. A weird space theme, good gambling, and general goofiness invented by Bob Stupak before he built the Strat. I didn't need to miss it, either, because I was there while it was still open. Dang. Closed in 1995.
- Free Aspirin and Tender Sympathy sign: a really cool sign and a subject of the Las Vegas Advisor's Question of the Day, which I answered in November 2008. I never saw the sign "live," which was moved to the Neon Museum's Boneyard circa 1996.
- Bikini Bull Riding at the Frontier: I tried, but the bull was broken. Then they closed the Frontier for good. So, I've gotta hit Gilley's at TI because they have one, too.
What do your lists look like???
Viva,
Mike
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