History of Las Vegas Strip in Timeline

The Las Vegas Strip is a 4.2-mile section of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada, famous for its high concentration of resort hotels and casinos. Located south of Las Vegas city limits in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester, it's commonly called "Las Vegas." The Strip is a major tourist destination, offering a wide array of entertainment options, including gambling, shows, fine dining, and luxury accommodations.

1931: Pair-o-Dice Club opens

In 1931, the Pair-o-Dice Club became the first casino built on Highway 91, which would later become part of the Las Vegas Strip.

April 3, 1941: El Rancho Vegas opens

On April 3, 1941, the El Rancho Vegas opened with 63 bungalow hotel rooms, becoming the first full-service casino-resort on what is now called the Strip.

1942: Hotel Last Frontier opens

In 1942, the Hotel Last Frontier opened, becoming the second hotel near El Rancho Vegas and marking the growth of the Las Vegas Strip.

December 1946: Flamingo casino opens

In December 1946, the Flamingo casino opened, financed with mob money, marking a significant moment in the growth of Las Vegas gaming.

March 1947: Flamingo hotel opens

In March 1947, the Flamingo hotel opened, completing the resort that had its casino open since December 1946.

1950: Las Vegas annexation attempt and creation of Paradise and Winchester

In 1950, Mayor Ernie Cragin attempted to annex the Las Vegas Strip to expand the city's tax base. Instead, casino executives lobbied for town status, leading to the creation of Paradise and Winchester.

1950: Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn resort opens

In 1950, Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn resort opened, further contributing to the development of the Las Vegas Strip.

1959: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign built

In 1959, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was built exactly 4.5 miles (7.2 km) outside the city limits on Las Vegas Boulevard.

1966: Caesars Palace established

In 1966, Caesars Palace was established, contributing to the growing fame of the Las Vegas Strip.

1969: International Hotel opens

In 1969, the International Hotel opened with 1,512 rooms, marking the beginning of the era of mega-resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. The International is known as Westgate Las Vegas today.

1973: MGM Grand Hotel and Casino opens

In 1973, the first MGM Grand Hotel and Casino opened with 2,084 rooms, marking a significant addition to the Las Vegas Strip.

1975: Nevada state law struck down by Supreme Court

In 1975, the Supreme Court of Nevada struck down a Nevada state law that would have folded the Strip and the rest of the urban areas of Clark County into the City of Las Vegas.

November 21, 1980: MGM Grand fire

On November 21, 1980, the MGM Grand suffered the worst resort fire in Las Vegas history due to electrical problems, resulting in 87 fatalities.

1985: Changes in table games mix

From 1985 to 2019, changes occurred in the types of table games available in casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

1986: Kerkorian sells MGM Grand to Bally Manufacturing

In 1986, Kerkorian sold the MGM Grand to Bally Manufacturing, and the hotel was renamed Bally's.

1989: The Mirage opens

In 1989, the opening of The Mirage set a new standard for the Las Vegas experience, leading to the development of larger mega-resorts.

1990: Tropicana Country Club closes

In 1990, the Tropicana Country Club closed due to increasing land values on the Las Vegas Strip.

1993: Current MGM Grand opens

In 1993, the current MGM Grand opened as part of an effort to attract families to the Las Vegas Strip, though with limited success.

1993: Cirque du Soleil's Mystère show launches

In 1993, the launch of the Mystère show by Cirque du Soleil at the Treasure Island hotel transformed Las Vegas Strip entertainment.

1995: Monorail begins operating

In 1995, the monorail began operating with two trains from Walt Disney World, providing a new transportation option on the Strip.

2000: Bali Hai Golf Club opened

In 2000, Bali Hai Golf Club opened just south of Mandalay Bay and the Las Vegas Strip.

2004: CityCenter announced

In 2004, the CityCenter project was announced, a $8.5 billion multi-use development on the site of the former Boardwalk hotel.

2006: CityCenter construction begins

In 2006, construction began on CityCenter, a large-scale multi-use project on the former site of the Boardwalk hotel.

2009: Most elements of CityCenter opened

In late 2009, most elements of the CityCenter project opened, marking a significant addition to the Las Vegas Strip.

2012: High Roller Ferris wheel and The Linq Promenade broke ground

In 2012, the High Roller Ferris wheel and The Linq Promenade broke ground in an effort to diversify attractions beyond casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

2014: MGM initiated solar power

In 2014, MGM initiated solar power with a solar array on top of the Mandalay Bay, marking a step towards renewable energy on the Las Vegas Strip.

2014: Renovations and rebrandings transform the Strip

In 2014, renovations and rebrandings such as The Cromwell Las Vegas and the SLS Las Vegas continued to transform the Las Vegas Strip.

2015: Show attendance higher than in 2019

In 2015, show attendance on the Las Vegas Strip was higher than it was in 2019, with only 51% of visitors attending shows in 2019.

2015: Las Vegas Festival Grounds opened

In 2015, the Las Vegas Festival Grounds opened, adding another venue for events and attractions on the Strip.

2016: T-Mobile Arena, The Park, and the Park Theater opened

In 2016, T-Mobile Arena, The Park, and the Park Theater (now known as Dolby Live) opened, enhancing the entertainment options on the Las Vegas Strip.

2016: TopGolf opened near the Strip

In 2016, a TopGolf facility opened near the Las Vegas Strip, providing a new entertainment option.

2016: Solar array expanded

In 2016, the solar array at the Mandalay Bay was expanded, capable of powering 25% of the Mandalay Bay campus.

October 1, 2017: Mandalay Bay shooting

On October 1, 2017, a mass shooting occurred at a concert near the Mandalay Bay hotel, resulting in 60 fatalities, including the gunman. It remains the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

2017: Show attendance higher than in 2019

In 2017, show attendance on the Las Vegas Strip was higher than it was in 2019, with only 51% of visitors attending shows in 2019.

2017: Wynn Golf Club closed

In 2017, the Wynn Golf Club initially closed, but the development plan was cancelled, and it was renovated and re-opened in late 2019.

2018: Show attendance higher than in 2019

In 2018, show attendance on the Las Vegas Strip was higher than it was in 2019, with only 51% of visitors attending shows in 2019.

2018: Increased gambling budget

In 2019, the average gambling budget of $591.06 increased from 2018.

2019: Pedestrian traffic on the Strip

As of 2019, about 50,000 pedestrians walked the Las Vegas Strip on an average day, showing its continued popularity.

2019: Show attendance statistics

During 2019, 51% of visitors on the Las Vegas Strip attended shows. More visitors went to Broadway/production shows, while fewer saw lounge acts, comedy shows, or celebrity DJs.

2019: Changes in table games mix

From 1985 to 2019, changes occurred in the types of table games available in casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

2019: Gambling Statistics

In 2019, 81% of Las Vegas visitors gambled, spending an average of 2.7 hours with a budget of $591.06. 89% of those gambled on the Strip Corridor, with large casinos reporting over $6 billion in annual gaming revenue.

2019: Wynn Golf Club re-opened

In late 2019, the Wynn Golf Club re-opened after renovations, following a cancelled development plan.

2020: LVCVA acquires monorail

In 2020, the monorail was acquired by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

2021: Pinball Hall of Fame moves and Resorts World opens

In 2021, the Pinball Hall of Fame relocated near the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, and Resorts World Las Vegas opened on the former Stardust Resort and Casino site.

2021: Increase in taxi passengers

In 2021, there was an increase in taxi passengers due to declines in rideshare drivers and rideshare surge pricing.

2023: The Sphere and Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened

In 2023, the Sphere opened. Also, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened on the site of the former El Rancho Hotel and Casino and Algiers Hotel.

2023: Las Vegas Grand Prix part of Formula One World Championship

The Las Vegas Grand Prix became part of the Formula One World Championship in 2023, hosted on the Las Vegas Strip.

July 2024: The Mirage closed

In July 2024, The Mirage closed and will reopen as the Hard Rock Las Vegas.

October 2024: Tropicana demolished

In October 2024, the Tropicana was demolished to make way for a new Bally's Las Vegas resort and New Las Vegas Stadium.

March 2025: CityCenter cost in 2025

As of March 2025, CityCenter cost the equivalent of $16.1 billion.

2025: BLVD opening

In early 2025, BLVD is opening.

2028: New Las Vegas Stadium to house the Athletics

In 2028, the New Las Vegas Stadium will become the home of the Oakland Athletics after they relocate to the Las Vegas Valley, with the stadium located on the Las Vegas Strip.