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City Cast Las Vegas

Rob Kachelriess

 quietly opened this week with an official grand opening celebration planned for June. The resort, which has a prime Strip location on the corner of Flamingo Road, has shifted identities over the years, beginning more than 47 years ago as the Barbary Coast.

Michael Gaughan opened the Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino on March 2, 1979, taking over a four-acre lot originally home to the Desert Villa motor lodge, which first welcomed guests in 1952. The name evolved to Empey’s Desert Villa and the Times Square Motel before closing.

 (or nearly $53 million in today’s dollars) to build from the ground up, allowing Gaughan to establish his own identity as a casino operator. He followed the advice of his father, legendary Vegas magnate Jackie Gaughan, who 

believed in the power of operating on corner lots

Other Strip properties, including the Flamingo and Caesars Palace, 

, complaining the new resort would generate too much traffic for the intersection, but Gaughan was able to win approval by the Clark County Commission. A year later, the Barbary Coast would temporarily close to assist survivors of the deadly 

Looking back, the Barbary Coast was a bridge between the eras of the motor lodge and the megaresort, making an impression with Victorian decor and stained-glass murals. The cylindrical neon marquee on the southwest corner of the hotel became closely associated with the Strip itself — and the font for the name would eventually become known as “Barbary Coast block.” With less than 200 rooms and a relatively small casino floor, Michael’s Gourmet Room and Drai’s (a restaurant that 

Gaughan sold the Barbary Coast to Boyd Gaming, which renamed the resort Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon. Eventually, the property landed in the hands of Caesars Entertainment. Plans to rebrand the property as a Gansevoort hotel fizzled out (over 

) before it was revamped as the Cromwell, mixing luxury with vintage Parisian aesthetics and moving Drai’s upstairs next to a new rooftop pool.

The names and identities keep changing, but the bones of the property are pretty much in place at the new Vanderpump Hotel. If you want to relive the history of the Barbary Coast today, a portion of the marquee is 

 and decor from the original Michael’s Gourmet Room, including a stained-glass door and marble floor, is 

The Vanderpump Hotel is now open, but we kinda miss the days when the property was known as something else. 

Remembering the Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino

People, places, and scenes from Las Vegas's past.

Las Vegas History

Inspired by the centuries-old tradition of decorating graves with flowers, Memorial Day had its beginnings in the aftermath of the Civil War. Today, the observance takes place on the last Monday in May to honor those who have died during military service.

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan of the Grand Army Republic (an organization of Union veterans) issued 

, designating May 30 as a day “of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves” of soldiers who were killed during the Civil War. Originally called Decoration Day, the date was chosen to ensure the availability of “the choicest flowers of springtime.”

New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a holiday in 1873. All Union states followed suit by 1890. Congress passed the 

 in 1968 to designate the last Monday in May as Memorial Day, calling on the people of the United States to remember fallen soldiers and pray for permanent peace. It officially went into effect in 1971.

 at Police Memorial Park | 7 p.m. | Lone Mountain

 at Woodlawn Cemetery | 7-11 a.m. | Las Vegas Blvd. & Owens

 at Skye Canyon Park | 9 a.m. | Skye Canyon

 at Boulder City Municipal Cemetery | 9 a.m. | Boulder City

 at Palm Boulder Highway Mortuary & Cemetery | 10 - 11 a.m. | Henderson

 at Cornerstone Park | 9 a.m. | Henderson

 at Lake Sahara South Park | 9:30 a.m. | The Lakes

 at Woodlawn Cemetery | 9:30 a.m. | Las Vegas Blvd. & Owens

 at Olympia Sports Park | 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Southern Highlands

Memorial Day began in the aftermath of the Civil War and is now observed on the last Monday in May.


Why We Observe Memorial Day in May

What Las Vegans have been wondering. We break down why things in Las Vegas are the way they are and how they work.

Las Vegas, Explained

Las Vegas is full of neighborhoods that aren’t always easy to define. We’ve got our share of townships — Paradise, Enterprise, Winchester — that nobody references in everyday life, and sometimes it’s hard to know when Henderson is really Henderson. (The guessing game on Eastern between the 215 and St. Rose is a good example.)

The Gateway District occupies its own land of confusion. I tend to think of it as “Arts District South,” containing the 

 and a few other random things. Upon consulting 

, the boundaries become more clear. The neighborhood stretches down to tourist destinations like 

, while brushing up to Las Vegas Boulevard on the east side and the Industrial Corridor to the west, drawing in small businesses like the historic 

The border between the Gateway District and the Arts District is officially on Imperial or at times, a fuzzy area in the block between Imperial and Colorado. But while the “18b Arts District” is technically 

 that inspired its proper-ish name, the neighborhood’s spirit carries over elsewhere, effectively pushing the Gateway District further south. Do you really feel like you’re leaving the Arts District when bar crawling to 

? To add to the confusion, some just refer to the area near the Strat as Naked City

“The Gateway District does kind of overlap with other places, more physically with Naked City and culturally with the Arts District,” says UNLV history professor Michael Green. “Naked City supposedly got its name from the showgirls, employed on the Strip, who sunned themselves at the apartments there, but it more likely had to do with the area's decline in the early 1980s.”

As the area evolves, efforts are underway to 

. Sometimes, Naked City feels more like gritty backstreets servicing The Strat than anything else, but small homes and apartments still have a presence, especially near Stupak Park, which shares a name with a community center that includes Meadows Library.

But the influence of the Arts District is changing everything in the area — just look at all the murals, painted by local artists, inside 

 driving range and other unexpected spots. “The artwork suggests you’re entering an area where the arts matter, and that neatly sets us up for the Arts District,” Green adds.

 sticks to referencing the “gateway” of 

 (illuminating the way to Fremont Street) and 

who might as well be pointing to the Arts District.

 in the middle of what is now the Arts District? It’s long gone, replaced by a Siegel Suites, which couldn't be a better metaphor for what we gain and lose in Las Vegas.

Can you tell the difference between the Gateway District, Arts District, and Naked City? It's getting harder to do. 

Where Is the Gateway District in Las Vegas?

The Art of Sharing Space in the Gateway District

Everything to know about Las Vegas neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Las Vegas Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

Cinco de Mayo just seems to get bigger every year in Las Vegas. Yet the celebration is about more than margaritas — although there’s plenty of that too 🍋‍🟩

 doesn’t celebrate the founding or independence of Mexico as a nation. (That comes later in the year on 

). May 5 marks the anniversary of Mexico’s military victory over France in the 

The Chicano social movement of the 1960s 

 with Cinco de Mayo, raising the profile of the holiday while identifying with Indigenous resistance to foreign oppression or influence. Over the years, Cinco de Mayo became a more generalized celebration of Mexican food, culture, and heritage as it grew in acceptance throughout the United States.

Cinco de Mayo is usually a weekend celebration (especially this year with the holiday falling on a Monday) with festivals, parades, decorations, food, and drink. Las Vegas traditionally hosts a big boxing extravaganza too. This year, unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez defends against undefeated two-division world champion David Benavidez on May 2 

 at Bob Price Park | May 1 | Sunrise Manor

Gritos Y Guitarras Cinco de Mayo Celebration

 at West Las Vegas Theatre | May 1 | Historic Westside

 at Fremont Street Experience | May 5 | Downtown

 at Cabo Wabo Cantina | May 2-5 | Planet Hollywood

 at El Segundo Sol | May 1-5 | Fashion Show Las Vegas

cool stuff happening in Las Vegas throughout May

 in today’s episode. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Your Guide to May 2026 in Las Vegas

Learn the history behind Cinco de Mayo and the best ways to celebrate in Las Vegas.

Cinco de Mayo Events in Las Vegas 2026

How to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Las Vegas. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Las Vegas Food & Drink

Food & Drink

David Copperfield’s show at the MGM Grand 

 after 25 years. By all accounts, it’s one of the most successful residencies in Strip history, capitalizing on a famous run of CBS television specials in the ‘80s and ‘90s that featured stunts like walking through the Great Wall of China and making the Statue of Liberty disappear.

Before the MGM Grand came calling, Copperfield had a Vegas presence at Caesars Palace, where he performed for 15 years inside the Circus Maximus ballroom. He also hosted a 

 on property that saw the magician escape a straitjacket while hanging from burning ropes 

Much like his stunts, nothing is ever too big for David Copperfield. He 

 in 2016 for $17.55 million, then a record for a Las Vegas home. (Based on his annual 

, he could’ve purchased three of ‘em with change to spare.) Before that, he lived off Tomiyasu Lane in a house (that 

 in 2023) between Sunset Park and Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah.

Off stage, Copperfield kept a low profile for a local celebrity, stepping out on occasion to represent Vegas at awards shows, 

, claims to help those with “physical, psychological, and social disabilities,” but is almost nonexistent. The nonprofit 

, collectively worth $30,000, to three recipients over the five most recent years of data. Revenue peaked at just over $8,000 in 2020. Last year, 

Copperfield made a greater investment in founding and financing the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, a Vegas warehouse that honors magic with more than 

More artifacts were stored in Copperfield’s four-story New York penthouse, which was 

. The performer also spends time at his own tropical resort, 

, an archipelago of 11 islands in the Bahamas that welcomes private groups of up to 12 guests, 

It’s another Caribbean location — Little Saint James or “Epstein Island” — that could ultimately define how we remember David Copperfield. According to federal evidence, the magician 

 with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and was infamously 

 with co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. Add in 

 by at least 16 women, and you may understand why MGM Resorts is now ending its relationship with the headliner sans fanfare. (Copperfield’s lawyers have denied any wrongdoing, and denied he had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes).

I crossed paths with David Copperfield exactly one time in Las Vegas — backstage at the MGM Grand before a show. He was very nice. I got a press discount for a front-row table that was actually too close to the stage to soak everything in. (When Copperfield addressed the audience, I could see directly up his nostrils. Not a booger or stray hair in sight. His grooming was impeccable.) The show was fine. There was no Statue of Liberty to make disappear, but his grand finale involved something with a small plane.

You can see it for yourself. Tickets remain for the final three performances tomorrow. Just don’t expect any money you spend to make its way to the Project Magic Fund.

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Ever Really One of Us?

Nevada is full of ghost towns. We actually have 

. You can thank a boom-and-bust mining legacy, which left behind a few spooky but historic sites to visit within driving distance of Las Vegas.

Located between Beatty and Death Valley, 

 began as a small camp in 1904, then exploded in size when gold was discovered. It quickly became a full-blown town with street lights, hotels, an opera house, stock exchange, schoolhouse, and dozens of saloons. At its peak, there were 10,000 residents. It all went belly-up by 1920 and the town cleared out. Today, Rhyolite is a fascinating place to see the crumbling remains of a bank, jail, and railroad depot while taking some impressive photos.

 isn’t nearly as well known as Rhyolite, but just an hour or so northwest, making it a relatively easy stop on a ghost town road trip — or 

 🎰 The town was known as Lime Point and Hornsilver before Gold Point stuck. It grew from a cozy mining camp to a town with more than 200 tin and wood structures before fizzling out around World War II. Investor Walt Kremin 

 in the 1980s with a partner who contributed winnings from a Vegas slot machine to the effort and now you can book a night in an old mining cabin, order whiskey from a saloon, and send mail from the original post office.

The place known as “Nelson Ghost Town” southeast of Vegas is actually 51 acres of private property outside Nelson’s official boundaries. Nestled within Eldorado Canyon, it includes the historic 

, which was once the richest place to dig for gold in Nevada — and attracted all sorts of criminals and riff raff hoping to get rich. Today, you can 

 and walk among historic structures. A lot of the “ghost town” elements — like vintage vehicles and gas station pumps — were added over the years. You’ll also spot old planes, including one filmed in a crash scene for the movie “3,000 Miles to Graceland.”

 has the unique distinction of becoming a ghost town twice. Once when left behind by native tribes and another when Mormon settlers were forced to clear out — or risk being flooded by the rising waters created by the construction of the Hoover Dam. Now that Lake Mead is receding, St. Thomas has become visible again, revealing what’s left of old buildings and foundations. Getting there is a little tough, due to a rocky, unpaved access road in Moapa Valley.

Nevada's boom-and-bust mining legacy produced hundreds of ghost towns. A few of them are within driving distance from Las Vegas. 

Ghost Towns Near Las Vegas

The Coolest, Creepiest Ghost Towns Near Las Vegas

 of the Hard Rock’s ever-rising guitar-shaped hotel tower has become a spectator sport in Las Vegas, and while I’m looking forward to seeing it finished — I kinda miss the old place.

The Mirage lasted from 1989 to 2024 at the Hard Rock’s new address, ushering in the era of the “megaresort” and changing Las Vegas for good. The man behind it says its design was based on the three primordial sources of life 💧 🌻 ☀️ 👀

“You’ll notice all the hotels we built depended heavily on the use of water, plants, and indoor-outdoor spaces where the sun was shining,” 

Those elements were reflected in the rainforest atrium, aquariums, and tropical-themed swimming lagoons at the Mirage. Wynn also put his creative stamp on the Bellagio with its conservatory and fountain shows, which remain iconic imprints of Las Vegas today. By the time his own self-titled resort came around, a waterfall was the kind of thing you could see inside a restaurant and floral displays threatened to outpace slot machines on casino floors. (Well, 

 … but you get the idea.) In each case, the goal was to create a hotel that “invites people and makes the place aspirational.”

These musings aren’t coming to light in a memoir or docuseries, but on Instagram, where Wynn might be the social media network’s most active 83 year old. 

 the Strip on the Treasure Island pirate ship.

At times, he almost seems to be chronicling his own career, producing an autobiographical documentary post by post instead of waiting for somebody else to come along and do something more official.

These bite-size news nuggets reveal how Wynn’s influence continues to shape Strip tourism, even while he remains absent from it. The casino giant was effectively booted from the Las Vegas industrial complex after a 

With a mixed legacy, it’s hard to assess if Las Vegas is better off with or without Steve Wynn. But even if he doesn't deserve a like, his account might be worth a follow.

While persona non grata in the Vegas casino industry, Steven Wynn is busy chronicling his life and career on social media.

Steve Wynn: Missing From Vegas, But Active on Instagram

, a series of tours and events by the Nevada Preservation Foundation that celebrate and promote the need to protect everyday history within our community.

“O ur mission is to preserve and revitalize historic buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural landscapes across Nevada,” says Dr. Paige Figanbaum, the nonprofit’s executive director. “And how we do that is through education and outreach.”

It’s also a lot of fun. The four-day festival kicks off on April 15 with a 

 reception inside a 1930s Tudor style home. The party takes inspiration from the wild days of the Prohibition era with live jazz, cocktails, and bites from local chefs James Trees and Tood Harrington.

, a sunset soirée at the Spanish Oaks Tennis Club, modeled after the preppy spirit of the “greed is good” decade.

. Take a bus tour that showcases places of worship with timeless architecture, a bike ride past old motels on Fremont Street and Lawyer’s Row, or a cocktail crawl through the Water Street District. In an annual tradition that dates back to the start, a home tour invites participants to step inside seven older, historic houses and learn about not only the properties, but the surrounding neighborhoods.

“People are really surprised how closely connected these historic neighborhoods are,” Figanbaum says. “You can be at John S. Park and drive 10 minutes to Beverly Green.”

Maybe you live in a home that might qualify as historic? 

 is the lunch for you. “Sometimes people get a little intimidated when thinking about what it takes for preservation and just having the conversation of ‘What is a historic designation?’ and ‘What does that mean when I'm living in an older home?’ We're able to answer all of those questions.”

The festival effectively kicks off the year for the Nevada Preservation Foundation, which continues to offer monthly programming and an 

 that can be used anytime. Take a walking tour of historic Woodlawn Cemetery or a drive to see more of the great midcentury modern architecture that's throughout Southern Nevada.

 shares more insight with City Cast Las Vegas with discussions about the 

. Think of these episodes as just a preview of what 

 is all about. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Home + History Las Vegas returns with tours via walking, bus, bikes, and more. 

A Las Vegas Tour of Historic Homes and Neighborhoods

Back in Time: A Celebration of Vegas History Returns

When does a city actually become a city? 🤔 It’s an easy question with a complicated answer — especially for Las Vegas. Indigenous tribes roamed the region for centuries before the 

 became the first permanent non-native settlement when it was built in 1855 — nine years before the Nevada Territory became a state — but the Utah pioneers who lived there 

The Vegas we know today dates back to when a railroad line between Salt Lake City and Southern California established a pivotal stop in what is now Downtown. The railroad company 

 on May 15, 1905 — a date everyone accepts as the official founding of Las Vegas.

, the City of Las Vegas was incorporated on March 16, 1911. That’s 115 years ago today! Slice the cake and pour me a shot of moonshine 🎂 🥃 

, and other sources beg to differ, saying the incorporation actually happened a few months later on June 1, 1911.

So, what gives? My schedule is tight and my microfiche skills aren’t what they used to be, so instead of doing more research, I cut to the chase and asked UNLV History Professor Michael Green to clarify.

Alright. Put the cake away. (Leave the moonshine.) We’ll reconvene on June 1.

Maybe we should just stick with May 15 🎂

 The original land auction is worth celebrating, especially since it 

, the oldest casino in Las Vegas. [City Cast Las Vegas ✍️]

When Did Las Vegas Become a City?

Is Today Las Vegas’ Real Birthday?

Drive around Downtown Las Vegas for a little while and you may come across a dusty relic of adobe-crafted history, built more than 170 years ago. The 

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

 is a quiet place, but one that ties together a wide variety of threads that helped shape Southern Nevada.

The fort, on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Washington Ave., is in the heart of the Las Vegas Cultural Corridor, which also includes the 

Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum

The fort wasn’t for the military. It was built in 1855 for Mormon missionaries traveling a segment of the Old Spanish Trail between Salt Lake City and San Bernardino. The location was chosen for its spring-fed creek — and a replica of it trickles through the site today. Construction took seven months. When complete, the fort 

spanned 150 square feet with 14-foot-high adobe walls

, making it the largest building for at least 100 miles.

The fort was around just two years before resources were stretched and tensions escalated with native Paiute tribes, prompting the church to recall the settlers from their mission. California entrepreneur Octavius Decatur Gass 

 in 1865, supplying goods to workers and travelers. He also developed orchards and wine vineyards while employing Paiute workers. Pioche businessman Archibald Stewart took control of the ranch over a loan dispute — and was later killed at Kiel Ranch, which is a 

 — before widow Helen Stewart took over the ranch for 20 years and established her own identity as the 

Ownership of the fort passed through the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad company, Bureau of Land Management, and City of Las Vegas before preservationist groups campaigned for it to become an official state park in 1991.

The site includes part of the original adobe structure with some parts recreated in the style of the era. You can browse artifacts and equipment, walk past pioneer wagons, and hang out at the picnic tables. The admission fee is the best three bucks you’ll spend in Vegas. (Kids 12 and under are free.)

The oldest non-native settlement in Las Vegas set the stage for the community we know today. 

history

Remembering the Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino

Why We Observe Memorial Day in May

The Art of Sharing Space in the Gateway District

Latest articles

Remembering the Barbary Coast Hotel and Casino

Why We Observe Memorial Day in May

The Art of Sharing Space in the Gateway District

How to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Ever Really One of Us?

The Coolest, Creepiest Ghost Towns Near Las Vegas

Steve Wynn: Missing From Vegas, But Active on Instagram

Latest articles

How to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Ever Really One of Us?

The Coolest, Creepiest Ghost Towns Near Las Vegas

Steve Wynn: Missing From Vegas, But Active on Instagram

Back in Time: A Celebration of Vegas History Returns

Is Today Las Vegas’ Real Birthday?

The Secret State Park in the Middle of Downtown Vegas