For the most part, this tiny gem in the middle of the Mojave Desert has always been known for its brightly flashing neon signs, casinos, infamous mobsters like Bugsy Siegel, and somewhat risqué entertainment. These days the hotel casinos are more luxurious, the gangsters can now be found in the Mob Museum on East Fremont, and the shows run the gamut of Broadway musicals to Cirque du Soleil extravaganzas – but the neon lights persist.
Not only are these gargantuan displays a brilliant branding tool for big name casino moguls, but they are more high tech and show stopping than ever. They are also responsible for making sure your nights are pretty much indistinguishable from your days – at least when you’re playing slots or cards in the casinos on the Strip or downtown on Fremont Street. Another way you’re meant to lose track of time, is that they don’t have any clocks in the casinos. And, oh, be sure to take note of which slots area or eatery is next to the door you came in from – or you’ll never find your car!
The rusting signs from demolished older casinos still exist, in the neon boneyard – now a museum of its own. Interestingly, Nevada was the last western state to outlaw gambling in 1910. After Hoover Dam was built, the workers housed in Boulder City wanted a haven in which to play cards, blow off steam and be entertained. In 1931 a gambling license was issued to Clark County and betting venues sprung up within the city of Las Vegas. Local political figures tried to purge these activities and the gangster activity and dens of iniquity which resulted – and they were fairly successful in convincing the workers to steer clear. However, once the dam was finished and its tradesmen had vanished, power was supplied to what became known as Glitter Gulch (the sparkling lights of Fremont Street). The area attracted tourists by the drove, and higher class hotels became the new norm.
Yes, We Really Live Here!
Most of you don’t realize there is “life beyond the neon” in Vegas. Of course, all those hotels require round the clock local workers, but unlike the temporary workers brought in for Hoover Dam, the gambling and growing hotel industry are seemingly never-ending. And, of course employees need housing, and schools and family entertainment.
We’re all aware that in 2009 real estate took a nosedive, and just like the miners who flocked here before World War II – leaving once the mines closed – many of the disillusioned migrated elsewhere during this downslide. From 2009 through 2012, the population fell by around 34 thousand, but Metro Las Vegas again topped the 2 million mark in 2013, over 7 times its 1970 numbers of 273,288. It’s still considered to be a new city, new neighborhoods continuing to stretch out further away from the Strip every year.
Desert, Dunes, and Local Legends
Sure, there are plenty of houses, hotels and car lots – but what there is much more of is desert, and lots of it. What you probably don’t realize is that the Mojave is far from being a dried up and barren place. It’s actually a thriving environment for some of the heartiest types of plants and wildlife, and in Las Vegas that also includes generations of wild horses and meandering burros. From pond and land turtles to coyotes, and Joshua trees to creosote bushes, there’s a place and a purpose for them all in the scheme of things.
To really enjoy the beauty of our desert, an ATV excursion with Vegas Off Road Tours is just the trick. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, you’re sure to see all the best kept secrets – including petroglyphs and historic mines – while riding in comfort in a top performance ATV (solo or side by side). You’ll begin and end in front of Goodspring’s infamous Pioneer Inn (where Clark Gable awaited the news of Carole Lombard’s tragic plane crash, just minutes away), a local saloon which stands as this community’s gathering place. If you listen, you’ll hear wild west legends, local color, and even ghost stories.
Celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2013, Goodsprings Elementary School still has a student body of 5-10 on the average, with adamant local supporters refusing to let one of the final relics from their past be closed down. Shockingly, in the 1950s, the school’s students stood outside watching the mushroom clouds from nearby nuclear bomb tests float up into the skies over the Potosi mountains. The Army gave them dog tags (souvenirs) and celluloid 3D glasses to protect their eyes. Blood tests were taken as a precaution, but it would be many years before effects became known – with at least a handful of people developing medical problems – as we might well imagine would be the case after such exposure.
Water, Water Everywhere?
Surprisingly, yes – there’s more than pools and water parks in our desert. There really are natural water sources here as well – lakes, rivers, and even natural hot springs. Actually, Vegas was an important watering hole for the Old Spanish Trail explorers who gave Las Vegas its name, Spanish for “the meadows.”
Lake Mead is our fun spot to cool off for the day with the family, and you can enjoy beaches, houseboats, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, camping, picnicking and more. The lake is only 30 minutes from the Strip (in case you’re counting) and it’s a National Recreation Area encompassing nearly 1.5 million acres. Las Vegas reuses 93% of the water it obtains from this reservoir (the largest in the U.S.).
The Colorado River is, of course, the reason we built the Hoover Dam (to harness its energy and create the reservoir). Less than an hour from the Strip, there are a myriad of rafting trips and charter tours at Black Canyon. Willow Beach offers boat rentals, kayak and canoe rentals, a campground and an RV park.