How much do you know about Las Vegas? Of course, everyone thinks of this desert metropolis as the world’s prime party and gambling destination, but we found some Las Vegas fun facts that you probably haven’t heard before. Here’s a list of mind blowing Las Vegas facts that are too good to stay a secret.
In 2004, a gambler bet $135,300 on a single spin of roulette at the Plaza Casino in Vegas… and won $270,600.
Ashley Revell risked everything on one bet... and won!
In 2004, a man from England risked it all for a chance to win big in Vegas. Ashley Revell sold everything he owned, even his clothes, before gambling $135,300 on a single bet on red in roulette at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The ball ended up on red 7. Revell doubled his money, winning $270,600. He then tipped the dealer $600 and immediately walked out.
In the 1950’s, Las Vegas tourists could watch atomic bomb tests in the desert.
Spectators watch an atomic bomb test in the Las Vegas desert.
Before becoming The Entertainment Capital of the World, in the 1950s, Las Vegas used to attract tourists who were eager to watch atomic bomb tests in the desert. Above ground testing became illegal in the 1960’s. Since then, over 10,000 people have successfully claimed half a billion dollars back from the U.S. government in compensation for radiation-related illnesses.
In 1964, a wealthy businessman, fearing a nuclear attack, built a 16,500 square foot mansion underneath Las Vegas.
Inside the underground mansion
In 1964, fearing nuclear fallout during the Cold War, a wealthy businessman named Girard B. Henderson built a 16,500 square foot mansion beneath Las Vegas. The underground mansion features a swimming pool, two Jacuzzis, a BBQ, faux lawn, and guest house, all in 1960s décor. The home even has adjustable lighting for sunset, day, dusk, and night with twinkling stars.
People live beneath Las Vegas in underground tunnels.
The fourth of our Las Vegas facts tells a story of what happens beneath the bright streets of Las Vegas. An elaborate network of tunnels winds through the city. Originally built to prevent flooding, these tunnels lie directly underneath the Las Vegas Strip. They have also become shelter for close to 1,000 people.
Las Vegas is the brightest city on Earth.
Las Vegas from outer space
Tokyo, New York, and Shanghai may light up the night sky, but according to NASA, when viewed from outer space Las Vegas appears as the brightest city on earth. Unfortunately, so much outdoor lighting also prevents Vegas vacationers from viewing the star-filled sky at night.
15 of the world's 25 largest hotels are located in Las Vegas.
Luxor Las Vegas, one of the largest hotels in the world
When it comes to Las Vegas facts, you probably already know of its many enormous and elaborate hotel resorts. Altogether, Sin City houses 15 of the world’s 25 largest hotels based on the number of rooms (totaling over 65,000 hotel rooms). The Luxor, for example, is a hotel that replicates an Ancient Egyptian pyramid with a beam of light shining up into the sky.
Read more about the largest casinos in the world.
Las Vegas casinos do not have any clocks.
Inside the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas, Is it night or day?
Look around and you won’t find any clocks in Las Vegas casinos. Why? Casinos in Las Vegas use all kinds of tricks so that gamblers lose track of time and stay at the gaming tables. Other traps include no windows, free alcohol, and a maze-like floor design that makes it difficult to find your way out.
The Las Vegas Strip and nearly all of the most well-known casinos are not actually in Las Vegas.
Did you know that most of Las Vegas’ biggest tourist attractions are not actually in Las Vegas? Technically, the little known city of Paradise, Nevada contains most of the Las Vegas Strip as well as nearly all of the city’s most popular casinos.
Michael Jackson planned to build a 50-foot robot replica of himself that would moon walk across the Vegas desert.
Michael Jackson's hotel and moon walking robot
Back in 2007, reports surfaced that Michael Jackson had plans to build a hotel along with a 50-foot robotic replica of himself that would moonwalk across the Nevada desert just outside of Vegas. Visible to tourists landing at the Las Vegas McCarran Airport, the robotic colossus would have promoted Jackson’s residency. As with many of Jackson’s over-the-top ideas, the plan never actually came to fruition.
Las Vegas does not allow lottery.
Not in Nevada!
Despite being the country’s gambling epicenter, the state of Nevada, which includes Las Vegas, does not allow lottery, the country’s most popular form of gambling. According to Article IV, Sec. 24 of the Nevada state constitution, "No lottery shall be authorized by this state, nor shall the sale of lottery tickets be allowed." Most likely the law exists so that people spend more money at the casinos.
The Harmon Hotel in Vegas cost $8.2 billion to build and will be demolished without ever seeing a single guest.
The Harmon Hotel
In City Center, Las Vegas sits the 16,700,000-square-foot Harmon Hotel. It’s made of shining blue glass and towers 49 stories above the city. In 2013, a judge ruled the hotel as structurally unsound and approved the tower’s estimated $30 million demolition before a single guest ever checked into a room.
Update: The dismantling of Harmon Hotel began in 2014.
Vegas casinos wouldn’t allow Rat Pack member, Sammy Davis Jr., stay in hotels and required him to wait outside by the pool between acts.
The Rat Pack in Vegas
Back in the 1950s, Sammy Davis Jr. frequently headlined in Vegas alongside fellow Rat Packers’ Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. At the time, Las Vegas casinos remained segregated, and like all other black performers, didn’t allow Sammy Davis Jr. to stay in the city’s hotels. They also didn’t provide him with a dressing room and required him to wait outside by the pool between acts.
Read more about the Rat Pack and other fun facts about Las Vegas in Las Vegas through the Years.
Las Vegas has the world’s tallest Ferris wheel which stands 550 feet and holds 40 people in each of its cabins.
In 2014, the Las Vegas Strip reached new heights after unveiling the world’s tallest observation wheel, the High Roller. Built in under 3 years, the Ferris wheel contains 28 cabins, which can hold an astounding 40 people each. From the top, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city from 550 feet in the air. Guests can also throw parties, host corporate dinners, and even get married on the wheel.
Las Vegas is the Leading Destination for Weddings in the United States.
While everyone knows Las Vegas for its quick marriage ceremonies and themed wedding chapels, did you know that the city hosts a whopping 300 weddings per day? It isn’t only the leading destination for weddings in the U.S. – the only other city in the world that hosts more marriages per day is Istanbul.
Las Vegas Resorts have some Outrageous Electricity Bills to Pay.
You know that Las Vegas is the brightest city in the world, but did you wonder how much all that lighting costs? To give you an idea, the monthly bill for the Luxor hotel alone works out to be more than $15,000 per month. That’s over $50 per day – and that’s just for one of the city’s many resorts.
Las Vegas has a Lion that Weighs more than 50 Elephants.
Did you ever wonder how much the lion outside of the MGM Grand Hotel weighs? It’s made of pure bronze, which tips the scales at 50 tons. That’s about as much as 50 grown elephants weigh.
A Man Actually had a Heart Attack while Eating at the City’s Infamous Heart Attack Grill.
Las Vegas is home to lots of yummy food, a large portion of which can be found at the Heart Attack Grill. The restaurant offers free food to any diner that weighs more than 350 lbs. It’s not really a surprise that one of them actually suffered a heart attack while eating there..
Howard Hughes Bought the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino after being Asked to Leave.
In 1966, a man named Howard Hughes came to Las Vegas to stay in the penthouse suite at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino. He ordered an absurd amount of banana nut ice cream and stayed so long that the management actually asked him to vacate the hotel. His response? He purchased the entire resort instead for $13 million.
Now that you’ve read our list of mind blowing Las Vegas facts, let us know what you think. Which interesting facts about Las Vegas history surprise you the most? Do you have any outstanding Las Vegas facts to share that we didn’t include? Join in the discussion in our comments section below.
