It is difficult for me to comprehend what has happened to Las Vegas in the last couple of weeks. I needed to see its pain for myself to help process it.
I drove to the Las Vegas Strip and downtown with my wife and son last night. It is a memory that I will never forget.
The roads in the tourist corridor were busier than I expected. In a major change from the norm, most of the cars had Nevada license plates. I suspect many of the others were locals trying to absorb the new reality like we were.
There were many casino signs with positive messages wishing the community wellness and safety during the closures. Most casinos kept normal lighting on, but a few were completely dark. The hotels that kept lights on did not beam with the normal brightness because of all the dark hotel rooms. The Strip was gloomy, just as you would expect it to be right now.
There were few pedestrians. There were some people biking on the sidewalks. A few kids rode skateboards around Mirage. Some of the entrances to resorts were blocked at the street. Others had security somewhat inside the property checking for authorization for entry.
Some may ask why I am sharing these. It was a tough call. I think it is in the public interest and newsworthy. Maybe others need the same visual of the situation like my family did to help make it real. Showing the devastation could help us get back on our feet quicker when normalcy returns because our guests will know how badly we need it.
We started at Mandalay Bay and went north to downtown. We then turned around and went back down the Strip the other direction. Here are some pictures of our depressing, painful tour.
Downtown Las Vegas
Most of the lights we saw were on in downtown Las Vegas. Plaza was the exception. The Fremont Street Experience is closed.
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- Barricades blocking the Fremont Street Experience in front of Golden Gate on March 18, 2020
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- Fremont Street Experience was barricaded in front of Golden Gate on March 18, 2020
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- The Fremont Street Experience mostly dark and barricaded at Las Vegas Boulevard on March 18, 2020.
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- Fremont Casino with most lights off and closed on March 18, 2020.
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- Plaza in downtown Las Vegas is dark on March 18, 2020.
Las Vegas Strip
Most of the Las Vegas Strip resorts were lit. Bellagio and Mirage were the exceptions. Restaurants and shops along Las Vegas Blvd were split about 50/50 as to whether there were any lights on.
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- Mandalay Bay closed during the COVID-10 pandemic on March 18, 2020.
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- Empty roads and sidewalks in front of Luxor during the COVID-19 pandemic on March 18, 2020.
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- The light atop Luxor’s pyramid shines bright during casino closures in March 2020
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- Empty roads and escalators in front of New York-New York on March 18, 2020
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- Empty escalators in front of Excalibur on March 18, 2020.
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- Empty escalators in front of New York-New York on March 18, 2020.
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- Lights are off at Bellagio on March 18, 2020
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- More empty sidewalks in front of Caesars Palace on March 18, 2020
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- Empty sidewalks in front of Caesars Palace on March 18, 2020
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- Empty entrance to Mirage on March 18, 2020
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- The Mirage closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020
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- Empty sidewalks in front of Mirage on March 18,2020
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- Sign for the Grand Canal Shoppes states “Be safe, be well” on March 18, 2020
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- Empty sidewalks in front of Treasure Island on March 18, 2020
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- CDC advice scrolls by the CVS signage in front of Treasure Island on March 18, 2020
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- Empty sidewalks in front of closed Slots A Fun on March 18, 2020.
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- Parking lot barricades at Circus Circus on March 18, 2020.
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- Entrance coned off in front of Circus Circus for the COVID-19 pandemic on March 18, 2020.
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- Entrance blocked in front of Circus Circus for the COVID-19 pandemic on March 18, 2020.
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- Empty parking lot in front of Peppermill on March 18, 2020.
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- Wynn sign stating “Looking forward to a healthy future for our community” on March 18, 2020.
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- Wynn sign stating “Wishing you all the best from the Wynn family to yours” on March 18, 2020
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- More empty sidewalks in front of Palazzo on March 18, 2020
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- Empty sidewalks in front of Palazzo on March 18, 2020.
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- Parking at Palazzo is blocked off during the COVID-19 pandemic on March 18, 2020.
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- Harrah’s Casino closed for COVID-19 on March 18, 2020.
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- Only two people walk down Las Vegas Boulevard in front of Harrah’s on March 18, 2020.
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- Closed restaurants in front of Bally’s on March 18, 2020.
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- Bally’s sign says “Stay safe & we’ll get through this together” on March 18, 2020.
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- Closed restaurant along the Las Vegas Strip near Paris on March 18, 2020.
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- Empty sidewalks with the Paris tower in the background on March 18, 2020.
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- Closed restaurant along the Las Vegas Strip on March 18, 2020.
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- Empty road and walkway along the Strip on March 18, 2020.
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- Empty sidewalks in front of Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood on March 18, 2020.
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- Sign on Paris says “Stay safe & we’ll get through this together” on March 18, 2020
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- Empty sidewalks in front of Paris on March 18, 2020.
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- Sign on Planet Hollywood says “Stay safe & we’ll get through this together” on March 18, 2020.
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- Empty sidewalks in front of Planet Hollywood on March 18, 2020.
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- Closed souvenir shop with MGM Grand in the background on March 18, 2020.
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- MGM Grand is closed on the Las Vegas Strip on March 18, 2020.
