Flamingo

Here, on your right, you can see the collection of buildings that make up Caesars Palace, and on your left stands a true piece of Strip history: the Flamingo. Opened in 1946, it is quite simply the oldest resort still operating here and one of the first places to give Las Vegas a more glamorous image rather than the old western style it once had. The project was originally imagined by Billy Wilkerson, the founder of The Hollywood Reporter, a magazine dedicated to the entertainment industry that would later become a major reference for people interested in the behind-the-scenes world of Hollywood. Wilkerson dreamed of creating a resort in Las Vegas that could attract movie stars and celebrities from Los Angeles. But the story quickly took a different turn. Construction fell behind schedule and, more importantly, costs began to skyrocket. Wilkerson suddenly found himself missing several hundred thousand dollars to finish the project. That is when Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, an American gangster and influential member of the New York mafia, stepped in with financial support from associates such as Meyer Lansky. At the time, the mafia saw Las Vegas as a unique opportunity. Unlike Los Angeles or New York, gambling had been legal here since 1931, which meant casinos could generate huge amounts of revenue while also offering a convenient way to launder money from other illegal activities. Siegel eventually took control of the project and opened the casino even though the resort was not yet fully completed. He would not enjoy it for long, however, because he was assassinated only a few months later. The Flamingo continued operating through several different owners until Hilton eventually took over and greatly expanded the property for many years under the name Flamingo Hilton. Today, behind its pink façade and neon lights inspired by the plumage of a flamingo, the resort mixes its historic roots with a relaxed vacation atmosphere: a centrally located casino, a large tropical pool complex, and one of the most unexpected free attractions in Las Vegas, the Wildlife Habitat, a small lush garden where you can see real flamingos and other exotic birds among ponds filled with fish. When it comes to entertainment, the Flamingo has always been a place for shows. In recent years it has hosted both popular residencies and more unconventional performances. And if the place feels familiar, that’s no coincidence. Through films, television series, and books, the Flamingo has become part of the mythical backdrop of Las Vegas.