Las Vegas’ “The Strip”
The Las Vegas Strip is the stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada, known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. Also known as “The Strip,” it extends along Las Vegas Boulevard roughly between Russell Road (near the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign) and Sahara Avenue, and is approximately 4.2 miles in length. It is located south of the Las Vegas city limits in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester; however, it is generally referred to simply as “Las Vegas.”
Home to distinctive architecture and many of the world’s largest and most well-known hotels, casinos, resorts, restaurants, and entertainment attractions, the Las Vegas Strip is one of the most popular and iconic tourist destinations in the world and a major driving force of the regional economy.
Named by Los Angeles police officer and businessman Guy McAfee after his hometown’s Sunset Strip, the first casino-resort on what would later be known as the Las Vegas Strip was the El Rancho Vegas, which opened with 63 rooms on April 3, 1941.
Its success led to the opening of a second hotel on the future Strip – the Hotel Last Frontier, which opened in 1942 – and additional notable resorts followed, including the Flamingo (1946), the Desert Inn (1950), and Caesars Palace (1966).
Over time, the hotels and resorts on the Strip grew larger and more elaborate. Opening in 1969, the International Hotel, with 1,512 rooms, helped usher in the era of large-scale resort development; it was followed by the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (1973), one of the largest hotels in the world at the time with 2,084 rooms.
The opening of The Mirage in 1989 marked a turning point in the modern Las Vegas experience, featuring tropical landscaping, an erupting volcano attraction, fine dining, and entertainment such as performances by Siegfried & Roy. During the 1990s, numerous new resorts opened, including themed properties such as the Luxor, Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, and Bellagio.
With the opening of resorts such as Bellagio, Venetian, Palazzo, Wynn, and Encore, the Strip increasingly shifted toward the luxury segment through the 2000s. High-end dining, retail, spas, and nightlife became major attractions alongside gaming. Around this time, residential condominium developments also began appearing along the Strip. However, gaming remains a central draw, with Strip casinos generating over $6 billion in gaming revenue in 2019, during a year when more than 42 million visitors came to the Las Vegas area.
With the opening of resorts such as Bellagio, Venetian, Palazzo, Wynn and Encore, The Strip trended towards the luxurious high end segment through most of the 2000s; high end dining, specialty retail, spas and nightclubs became as prominent of tourist attractions as the street’s many gambling casinos and resorts. Around this time, expensive residential condo units also began appearing on The Strip. However, gambling remains the main draw of the Las Vegas Strip, and the biggest casinos located there reported more than $6 billion in annual gaming revenues in 2019 alone, a year when over 42 million people visited the city of Las Vegas.
In addition to its major resorts, the Las Vegas Strip is home to numerous attractions, including M&M’s World, Adventuredome, and Fashion Show Mall. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the Strip became a major destination for New Year’s Eve celebrations. It is also well known for its lounges, theaters, showrooms, and nightclubs, as well as the many notable performers who have appeared there over the years.
If you are considering relocating in or around the Henderson area, our company would be delighted to help you find your way or pick the best place to settle in or find your dream home. Please give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.