LOST VEGAS: 5 Classic Strip Experiences That Have Disappeared Forever

LOST VEGAS: 5 Classic Strip Experiences That Have Disappeared Forever

By Michael Thompson

November 20, 2024 at 09:10 PM

Las Vegas's Strip has undergone significant changes over the years, losing several iconic experiences that once defined the famous boulevard. Here are five quintessential Vegas experiences you can no longer find:

Showgirls in feathers from Jubilee show

Showgirls in feathers from Jubilee show

Showgirl Shows The last traditional showgirl production, "Jubilee!" at Bally's, closed in 2016. These glamorous shows became too costly, requiring over $5 million annually to produce. Today's entertainment consists mainly of celebrity residencies and Cirque du Soleil shows, while "showgirls" on the Strip are typically paid models or street performers.

Chuck Wagon buffet counter at UNLV

Chuck Wagon buffet counter at UNLV

Cheap Buffets From 18 buffets, only seven remain on the Strip today. The first buffet appeared in the 1940s at El Rancho Vegas, costing just $1. As casino revenue from gambling decreased from 75% to 25%, subsidizing cheap buffets no longer made financial sense. Most have been replaced by food halls, where casinos lease space to third-party restaurants.

Free Parking Free parking, a Strip tradition since 1941, ended in June 2016 when MGM Resorts began charging at all its properties. Caesars Entertainment followed suit within six months, effectively converting two-thirds of the Strip into paid parking zones.

Black and white band photograph

Black and white band photograph

24/7 Lounge Acts Free entertainment from B- and C-list performers at all hours was once common throughout the Strip. From the Mary Kay Trio in the 1950s to Sonny King in the 1960s, these acts kept gamblers entertained and spending. Today, late-night entertainment consists mainly of expensive DJ shows at nightclubs.

Magician Dirk Arthur with leopard

Magician Dirk Arthur with leopard

Big Cat Shows Magic shows featuring tigers and leopards declined after 2000 due to animal welfare concerns, accelerated by Roy Horn's 2003 tiger attack. The last big cat magic show, Dirk Arthur's "Wild Illusions," ended with the Riviera's closure in 2015.

Related Articles

Previous Articles