In just 20 days, Flamingo Las Vegas will officially turn 75 in the heart of the Strip. Owned by Caesars Entertainment, the legendary Las Vegas Strip Resort is an important part of the city’s rich history for many reasons.
Here we take a look at some of those reasons along with the history and amenities of the first resort-style property to emerge on the Strip.
10. The story
It all started in 1945 when gangster Bugsy Siegel became fascinated with gambling and off-track betting, and he and his partners bought two-thirds of the Flamingo Las Vegas project.
In the final phase of construction, Siegel was fed up with the rising costs and is said to have told his builder about his past and killed 16 people. Siegel even built a ladder in the presidential suite in case he had to flee quickly.
On December 26, 1946, Siegel opened the resort casino for $ 6 million with 105 rooms. Allegedly Siegel named the property after his girlfriend, who was named “Flamingo” because of her skinny legs.
In 1960 the flamingo was sold for $ 10.5 million. It was only in 2005 that Caesars Entertainment, formerly Harrah’s Entertainment, added Flamingo to its portfolio.
The resort now looks different after some renovations, but we’ll get into that in a moment.
9. The performers
Las Vegas has seen everyone and everyone perform over the years, but Flamingo has had some notable names on the stage from the start.
During the 1960s, the resort held a few major concerts including Ray Charles, James Brown, Little Richard, Tom Jones, and Wayne Newton, to name a few.
Fast forward to the late 1990s and early 2000s and you had groups like The Beach Boys and Kenny Rogers making their way to Flamingo.
The entertainment has never stopped at this resort. In 2018 Ja Rule, Jesse McCartney and Bow Wow took the stage.
8. Wildlife habitat
It might not be lions, tigers, and bears, but the wildlife habitat at flamingo is something not to be missed.
The area allows guests to get up close and personal with many different species of birds.
The Flamingo website states: “The variety of wildlife that guests can experience is wonderful. The habitat is home to a flock of Chilean flamingos, several species of exotic waterfowl, and brown pelicans. You’ll also find impressive sturgeon, koi, albino catfish, turtles, as well as some of our native songbirds. Local hummingbirds delight our guests with close encounters at our feeding stations, as they live in the southwest all year round. “
Until January 2nd, the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat takes guests to a winter wonderland with spectacular pink and white lights and other bizarre ornaments.
Don’t forget to visit the #WildlifeHabitat for the # falalamingo vacation fun! We have perfect drinks and a fabulous crowd ready to welcome you. ?????? pic.twitter.com/fsVm7pNxds
– Flamingo Las Vegas (@FlamingoVegas) November 28, 2021
7. The location
One of the best things about this great resort is its location on the strip. I have been to Las Vegas twice now in the past three years and I have to say it’s hard to beat the Flamingo’s location.
No matter where I went, I found myself either passing or entering the property as it is in the center of the strip.
You see it in movies, in fact the 1960s version of Ocean’s 11 was filmed here and when you see it in person and see the famous sign on the front of the resort you almost have to go inside and see it.
6. The hotel
When you step in, you’ll find yourself in the lobby of an iconic hotel that houses over 3,500 rooms and suites.
This hotel was renovated in 2018 in two phases. In April 2018, Flamingo redesigned the first 1,270 rooms and suites with an initial investment of $ 90 million. The following December, another 976-room renovation was completed and two-thirds of the room products at Flamingo Las Vegas were new or had been remodeled in two years.
During this change, the hotel unveiled the new bunk bed suite. The upscale bunk bed suite at Flamingo Las Vegas consists of a 430 square meter bedroom with two queen-size beds, each equipped with its own oversize bunk bed and connected to a 550 square meter salon, which has a living area with oversized lounge furniture and a complete kitchenette with refrigerator.
The 515 square meter bunk bed room can accommodate a group of friends or the whole family with two queen-size beds, each with its own oversize bunk bed. The upscale room also has modern furnishings paired with elegant furniture in a spacious living area, 55-inch HDTV, a separate wet washbasin, USB ports on the bed and a rain shower in a stylish bathroom.
5. Actions for the 75th anniversary
In honor of when Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and his business partner Meyer Lansky opened the Flamingo Hotel to bring Hollywood glamor to the desert, the resort launched its 75th anniversary promotions.
Until the end of the year, guests at the resort can enjoy anniversary offers, from a social media competition to hotel, spa and wedding packages.
During the 75 days of appreciation, all active Flamingo team members take part in a daily raffle of fun prizes. Outstanding team members will also be entered into a raffle to win a grand prize package of a fabulous stay at the Flamingo.
The hotel is also offering special offers for the anniversary:
- Flamingo 75th Anniversary View Room Offer (Promo Code: FL75V) – Enjoy great views in a renovated room. Stay two nights for $ 75 in a room with a Flamingo Garden, City, or High Roller view.
- Flamingo 75th Anniversary Premium Room Offer (Promocode: FL75P) – Celebrate “75 Years of Fab” in a GO Mini Suite or a refurbished Flamingo Premium Room for USD 75 per night.
Time to celebrate 75 years on the #VegasStrip! Post a picture and share your favorite ?? Save and tag us with # 75YearsofFab and #Winnspiel. The winner receives two nights, food and spa credit, two show tickets and two tickets for a ride on the @HighRollerVegas. https://t.co/61oY16gNLS pic.twitter.com/hSX9Wzpz8H
– Flamingo Las Vegas (@FlamingoVegas) November 18, 2021
4. The casino
We must remember that there is plenty of space and seating for table games and slot machines at this historic resort. The casino offers 130 table games and more than 1,600 slot machines.
Table games include major interests such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
Aside from the 72,000 square feet of gaming space, you also have the Caesars Race & Sportsbook, where guests can enjoy plenty of custom lounge chairs and screens to hopefully see their bets in cash.
3. Garden bar
If you are looking for a place to start your night out in Sin City, the Garden Bar might be the perfect choice.
This bar is a very relaxed, “chilled” atmosphere where guests can enjoy a few drinks with friends and enjoy the view of the waterfalls and the flamingo lagoon.
The casual bar is open until 11pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and until 1am on Saturdays and Sundays.
It would be a great place to stop and open a bar tab for a few laps with friends before extending your night into the later hours at a strip nightclub.
2. The basins
Much like the Garden Bar, the Beach Club Pool at the Flamingo isn’t a wild scene but a great place for families to enjoy the pool and see the waterfalls and lagoon. This pool also has a water slide and no matter how old I get, the kid in me will always love a good water slide.
If you are looking for something a little more intense and dare to say “lit”, there is also the GO Pool, which is home to cabanas, daybeds and a party atmosphere.
DJs and entertainment take place in the GO Pool, where guests can also create a stir with a few cocktails.
1. Bugsy and Meyers Steakhouse
Last summer, the resort officially opened the Bugsy & Meyers Steakhouse. The name of the restaurant is a reference to Flamingo Las Vegas founders Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and business partner Meyer Lansky, who created the first resort-style hotel on the Strip in 1946 and changed Las Vegas forever.
On the evening of Thursday, July 2, 2020, Lansky’s grandson Meyer Lansky II came by to experience the brand new steakhouse. He noted that one of the last things Siegel said to his grandfather was, “Don’t give up on Las Vegas.”
The Bugsy & Meyer menu offers steakhouse classics and retrospectives with modern additions. Bugsy & Meyer’s in-house dry-aged program is presented in the restaurant in a glass show cooler. Hand-picked cuts include Domestic Prime, Wet Aged, Dry Aged Prime, Imported Wagyu, and more.
The winner of the Food Network Vegas Chef Prizefight series of competitions, Lamar Moore, joins the steakhouse’s talented culinary team.
Ready for #FridayNight Cheese Pulls at #BugsyandMeyers Steakhouse ????
Reservations: https://t.co/givTlrXhTL pic.twitter.com/cIfUmU4JFC
– Flamingo Las Vegas (@FlamingoVegas) November 26, 2021
