~1980s and 1990s in Las Vegas

 

AS the 1980's began, Las Vegas seemed to be booming once again.  McCarran airport had just started a twenty year, $785 million expansion plan.  Siegfried and Roy started in their own show, “Beyond Belief,” that ran for six years at the Frontier.  They played a record breaking 3,500+ shows to sellout crowds every night.

Steve Wynn opened the Mirage Hotel in 1989.  It had five story waterfalls, lagoons, and tropical type foliage.  The hotel was fronted by a fifty foot volcano that erupted nightly in a explosion of color.  He also invited Siegfried and Roy to come and headline his hotel.

The 1990's brought us the Excalibur that along with the Circus Circus was bringing the family attitude to Las Vegas.  With its pageantry and medieval background, the hotel was perfect for kids.  Also in the 1990s came the Luxor, the MGM Grand Hotel and Treasure Island.

In 1995, Fremont Street was completed and the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened.  It was billed as the first rock and roll hotel.  1996 brought the Monte Carlo and the 1,149 foot Stratosphere Hotels.  The New York New York arrived in 1997 with its Manhattan skyline and scale size replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Between the years of 1998 and 1999, the CEOs of Las Vegas took a look at the growing town and decided to change the look from family vacation place to luxury resort capital.  Hotels that were opened after this time reflect this attitude.  The Bellagio, Venetian, and Paris Las Vegas were all built to follow the trend.  Now they see other hotels are also making expansions.  The Luxor, Caesar's Palace, and Mandelay Bay have all added in another tower that has created hundreds of rooms for even more tourists to enjoy.