Those who know me know that one of my fascinations is Las Vegas. Not the gambling scene, but the evolution of the hotels. This is a town that regularly reinvents itself, and discards its history faster than Los Angeles (although I should note that Los Angeles has just declared the Felix Chevrolet sign a historic-cultural monument). We’ve seen multiple eras in Vegas, from the original concept of small low-rise resorts to the growth of mega-resorts, from light theming (think the original Flamingo, Sands, or Desert Inn) to heavy theming (think Caesars or Excalibur), from adult to family back to adult again.
Here’s another point to add. Folks may remember how Treasure Island, many years ago, discarded the pirate theme for more of an island theme, rechristening itself “TI”. Other new hotels have similarly been lightly themed (look at “Wynn Las Vegas”). Heavy themes are out, and no where is this exemplified better than today’s report that the Luxor will be discarding its Egyptian theme. Yes, the pyramid will remain, but that’s about it. Gone are Egyptian-named restaurants, hieroglyphics, and the like. The hotel will become more adult, adding half a dozen nightspots, including an outpost of Hollywood’s LAX nightclub, an exclusive bar and the CatHouse, a “sexy restaurant and European ultra-lounge” where dancers will model the lounge’s own line of lingerie. In 2008, illusionist Criss Angel will join Cirque du Soleil in a new theater, and the hotel’s 3.4-acre interior atrium will be remade into “an adult entertainment zone” (ummm, get your mind out of the gutter, folk… I hope).
By the way, if you are wondering what is left of the “old” Vegas, here’s your answer: The 9-story tower at the Riviera is original, as is the circus tent at Circus-Circus. The original low-rise wings at the Tropicana are original, but are slated for destruction. Of the other original hotels, they are either gone (RIP Hacienda, Thunderbird, Sands, Desert Inn, Stardust) or have been completely replaced bit-by-bit (Caesars, Flamingo, Sahara, Frontier (which is also slated for demolition)).
