The Strip: Name Changes

How did The Strip get its name? The Strip was originally U.S. 91 or the "Los Angeles Highway;" and was named after Hollywood's Sunset Strip. It is the only "day and night" scenic highway in the USA. The first casino-hotel was the El Rancho, built in 1941 and it burned down in 1960. By 1942, the Last Frontier was the second casino-hotel. With the building of the Flamingo in 1946, The Strip took off! How has The Strip changed over the last twenty years?  What does The Strip look like in 2009?

Land Use Older Casinos (1970s-1980s) Newer Casinos (1990s and beyond) casino small huge hotel small motel/hotels large (25-30 stories) restaurant several (buffet) restaurants many, elaborate, upscale restaurants wedding chapels none most have them pool usually one small pool several pools, some large; spas show  smaller theater settings huge auditoriums (1,500 seats) shopping mall none themed malls size large mega parking adjacent parking lots multi-story (5-6) parking ramps, a block behind casinos strip location northern end, closer to CBD southern end of strip, near airport interior modest decorations elaborate fantasy themes outdoor sign multi-story 10-stories (new Hilton sign cost $1 million)

Created by Ingolf Vogeler on 30 September 1997; last updated 06 April 2009.