The Strat

Before continuing your visit, take a moment to turn around. From here, in the distance, you can see The Strat, formerly known as the Stratosphere, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Las Vegas. The complex opened in 1996 just north of the Strip, within the official limits of the city of Las Vegas itself, which is why some people do not always consider it fully part of the Strip. Its most notable feature is of course its tower, rising to about 350 meters, still the tallest structure in Nevada and the tallest observation tower in the United States built specifically for that purpose. Originally, the idea was much simpler. The project was meant to be a giant neon sign to attract attention to the Vegas World casino that once stood on this site. But its owner, Bob Stupak, eventually decided to build a real observation tower instead, inspired in part by the Sydney Tower in Australia. At one point he even imagined making it taller than Toronto’s CN Tower, but that plan was rejected because of aviation safety concerns related to the nearby airport. Today, The Strat includes more than 2,400 rooms, a casino covering over 7,000 square meters, and above all an observation deck offering a full 360-degree view across the entire Las Vegas Valley. At the top you will also find a revolving restaurant, where guests can dine while the view of the city slowly changes all around them. The tower is also famous for its thrill rides installed right on the roof, sending visitors out over the edge several hundred meters above the ground. Since 2010, it has even been possible to try the SkyJump, a controlled descent from more than 260 meters high, recognized as the highest commercial jump of its kind in the world. Despite a difficult start after opening, partly because of its location away from the main hotels in the central Strip, the complex gradually became a major tourist attraction and today remains one of the best places to take in a panoramic view of the entire city of Las Vegas.