Flamingo Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Flamingo Las Vegas, formerly known as The Fabulous Flamingo and Flamingo Hilton Las Vegas, was conceived by the ambitious mobster entrepreneur Bugsy Siegel. Siegel believed that a luxurious resort-style casino located along the road to Los Angeles would attract a more upscale clientele than the Western-themed hotels in downtown Vegas. In 1945, he and his partners were enticed by Las Vegas' legalized gambling and off-track betting, prompting their arrival.
Initially, Siegel acquired El Cortez on Fremont Street, but his expansion plans were hindered by unsympathetic city officials who were aware of his criminal background. Consequently, he sought a site beyond the city limits. Upon learning that Wilkerson needed additional funding, Siegel and his partners masqueraded as businessmen and acquired a two-thirds stake in the project directly.
Siegel took charge of construction, persuading more underworld associates to invest. Despite spending a lot of mob money, he grew impatient with rising costs. He allegedly claimed to have eliminated 16 people but assured his builder it was only within their own ranks. Siegel had an escape plan with a hidden ladder in the "Presidential Suite." It led to an underground garage with a waiting limousine. Sadly, his creation couldn't save him from a fatal gunshot to the head. Mob bosses suspected his embezzlement and ordered his assassination.
The architectural design of the Flamingo pays homage to the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles of Miami and South Beach. Remaining true to its theme and name, the hotel features a garden courtyard that serves as a habitat for flamingos. The establishment initially opened in 1946 but experienced setbacks before ultimately reopening and achieving success. It stands as the oldest resort on the Strip that is still in operation and the sole local casino from the pre-1950s era that remains in business.
A memorial dedicated to Bugsy Siegel can be found on the hotel grounds, adjacent to the Wedding Chapel.
Initially, Siegel acquired El Cortez on Fremont Street, but his expansion plans were hindered by unsympathetic city officials who were aware of his criminal background. Consequently, he sought a site beyond the city limits. Upon learning that Wilkerson needed additional funding, Siegel and his partners masqueraded as businessmen and acquired a two-thirds stake in the project directly.
Siegel took charge of construction, persuading more underworld associates to invest. Despite spending a lot of mob money, he grew impatient with rising costs. He allegedly claimed to have eliminated 16 people but assured his builder it was only within their own ranks. Siegel had an escape plan with a hidden ladder in the "Presidential Suite." It led to an underground garage with a waiting limousine. Sadly, his creation couldn't save him from a fatal gunshot to the head. Mob bosses suspected his embezzlement and ordered his assassination.
The architectural design of the Flamingo pays homage to the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles of Miami and South Beach. Remaining true to its theme and name, the hotel features a garden courtyard that serves as a habitat for flamingos. The establishment initially opened in 1946 but experienced setbacks before ultimately reopening and achieving success. It stands as the oldest resort on the Strip that is still in operation and the sole local casino from the pre-1950s era that remains in business.
A memorial dedicated to Bugsy Siegel can be found on the hotel grounds, adjacent to the Wedding Chapel.
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Flamingo Las Vegas on Map
Sight Name: Flamingo Las Vegas
Sight Location: Las Vegas, USA (See walking tours in Las Vegas)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Las Vegas, USA (See walking tours in Las Vegas)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Las Vegas, Nevada
Create Your Own Walk in Las Vegas
Creating your own self-guided walk in Las Vegas is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Las Vegas Boulevard Walking Tour
Built amid Mojave Desert in the country's driest state of Nevada, Las Vegas, or simply Vegas, is the driest major city in the United States. An iconic destination renowned for its luxurious and extremely large, operating round-the-clock casino-hotels and numerous associated entertainment options, the city bills itself as the Entertainment Capital of the World.
The name Las Vegas 鈥� which... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
The name Las Vegas 鈥� which... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Downtown Walking Tour
The historic center of Las Vegas, located just north of the famous Strip, was first developed in the early 1900s. Having grown rapidly during the 1930s, when gambling was legalized in Nevada, "Old Vegas" is home to many of the city's earliest casinos and hotels, such as the Golden Nugget and the El Cortez. The latter, in particular, offers a somewhat nostalgic and romanticized view... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Gangster Attractions Walking Tour
The development of Las Vegas as a gambling and entertainment hub in the mid-20th century drew the attention of powerful criminal syndicates, who saw the potential for profit in the city's casinos and other enterprises. Indeed, Las Vegas with its glitz and glamour wouldn't be what it is now without the involvement of mobster 鈥渨iseguys鈥�. There are still a few places in town that evoke... view more
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 10.2 Km or 6.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 10.2 Km or 6.3 Miles
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