360 Vegas

E-518: Random Sign Museum

Random Vegas 
Before he designed Bellagio, Wynn had fully developed, different plans for the land formerly home to the Dunes.    
Plans were to build a boutique hotel with intimate spaces, 2 hotel towers, one with 230 suites and two 7-story towers housing 461 rooms each  
He even planned to leave room for two future towers to be built  
Wynn believe if he pulled this off, it would be the death of the mega resort  
Wynn’s creative side was unsatisfied and after some guidance, scrapped them and started over with plans to reinvent the game again 
TwitPic of the week 
There was time when north strip was the center of the action in Las Vegas. Desert Inn, Frontier, Silver Slipper, Stardust, Silver City, Riviera, El Rancho, Slots A Fun, Circus Circus and the Sahara lorded over the area for decades. Today it's trying to resurrect its glory days with new additions Resorts World and Fontainebleau, but the location is currently a liability. This week we get a snapshot of the area as it existed in 1985 thanks to @_GrandPaD and comparing the density with today’s landscape is almost an unfair comparison. Today large chunks of land exist in between properties making it unappealing to pedestrian traffic. Specifically, the area is challenged by the still vacant lots that are the Frontier and Riviera. The former a casualty of the real estate explosion the strip underwent in the early 2000s and the later another victim of the ever-growing reach of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Crystal ball time, will north strip ever be where the center of the action is again? It isn’t likely even once people build on these parcels but that doesn’t mean it can’t become another hub of activity for the city that continues to evolve at all costs.
News
360 Vegas Vacation 15 Details

E-517: Blue Canister

Random Vegas
Despite using the motto “Est. 1952”, Atomic Liquors didn’t open until April 17th, 1954 (@summacorp)
TwitPic of the week
It’s one of the last super pylons in operation in Vegas and one of the best uses of neon ever.  The Rio marquee is a gem that should be celebrated by all. Thankfully new ownership restored it and incorporated LED into the sign instead of replacing it with a large square TV screen as has become the norm in the Vegas skyline.  This week’s winner by @Summacorp is not of the recently refurbed sign but of the classic sign with a readerboard. Regardless its a spectacular sign of animated neon that should be appreciated while we have it.
News
Book Update
War Machine Returns
7 Shows to see in 2025
MGM Renovations

E-516: Experimental Holes

Random Vegas 
While down compared to the record-shattering levels tied to last year's inaugural F1 race, monthly ADR this year saw the 2nd highest record for the month of November. (@MeltzVegas) 
TwitPic of the week 
It’s an iconic look at Caesars Palace, with the Sarno blocks lit up in teal shared by @LasVegasLocally.  It’s at least 1989 because the Mirage is open. This aesthetic would be replaced with the more authentic Greco roman architecture the property has today, inspired by the design used on the Palace tower, which opened in 1998.  But this one has a charm to it. I mean how many properties go through an enhanced retheming. Caesars is an iconic brand around the world and both of her iterations are deserving of the designation. 
News
CyberTruck Attack
Death by Slot
Gaming Revenue
King’s Bar Temporary Closing

E-515: Hymen

Random Vegas 
Although argon gas was used as often as neon, the lighting method assumed the name “neon” to refer to the light produced by either gas. (Spectacular – A History of Las Vegas Neon) 
TwitPic of the week 
It’s the heart of the strip that simultaneously has the best view in all of Vegas available to guests of the north facing strip at Cosmopolitan, shared by @Vegas_Visual. This is a picture that often gets submitted for Twitpic of the week but often gets passed over because I see this view all the time. And while it is fabulous, it can’t win every week. But this week’s photo, taken in what looks like panorama captures the whole view as the eye gets to see it with Cosmopolitan, Bellagio and Caesars Augustus and Octavious towers in the shot. I love everything about this picture and the real-life trek that this is this area of the strip. 
News
New Years Fireworks
New in 2025

E-514: Dunes Pool

 Random Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas has 6 of the world’s largest.  (Vegasexperience.com)
World’s largest slot machine in Slotzillla (also the busiest and most successful urban zipline in the world)
World’s largest keno board at 100 feet long outside of the D,
World’s largest pint glass at Hennessey’s Tavern at 85 feet tall
World’s largest working fire hydrant at 15 foot tall on Fremont East, across from the Western
World’s largest fire-breathing praying mantis at Container Park
World’s largest mechanical neon sign is Vegas Vic at 40 feet tall, although his mechanical parts haven’t worked since 1991
TwitPic of the week
The year is 1964 and the Dunes is rocking in all her glory in the arial photo shared by@summacorp. Aside from the Diamond of the Dunes hotel tower and the turret marquee the thing that really gets my attention here are all the cars parked right up front. Something that used to be common on the strip when the properties primarily catered to automobile visitors. There are still remnants of this time in Vegas today just repurposed. I’m thinking specifically about Horseshoe and Caesars Palace. It’s a time in Vegas we are fond of because it inspired all the classic super pylon marquees we know and love.
News
360 Vegas Book Update
El Cortez’s $20 million refresh
FTC Bans “Junk Fees”

E-7 Mail Bag

E-513: #FUF1H8R

Random Vegas 
Las Vegas is the number 1 wedding destination in the US and the 2nd in the world behind Istanbul. 
TwitPic of the week 
It’s a time whose lamentation has been well documented on this show. The evolution of Fremont St into the Fremont St Experience, shown here, in development by @Summacorp. Say what you will about the results, progress is sexy. Here we see the roads tore up as they are redeveloped into pedestrian walkways. Like getting a room with a view of the AC units, I appreciate these behind the scenes glimpses of progress in motion. Evolution is what made this city the place it is today and development captures that journey. 
News
360 Book Update
F1 in Vegas
Murrenization Returns
Stratosphere Projection Mapping

E-512: Just the Tip

Random Vegas
It cost the Harris/Walz campaign $900,000 to advertise on the sphere for a week (@_GrandPaD)
TwitPic of the week
Black and white photography is simply beautiful and inspires thought. This week’s winner by @Vegas_Visual shows off the Dunes in all her glory including the turret marquee, the Diamond of the Dunes hotel tower and the Dome of the Sea restaurant in stunning black and white. While a simple google search would reveal what the place looked like in color it’s more fun to imagine it. Truth is color takes some of the romance out of it, not like the elegance of black and white.
News
360 Vegas Book Update
Senor Frogs Closing
Dirtiest Casinos
Excalibur Wrongful Death