Page 117 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

LAS VEGAS  115

r Flamingo
Las Vegas
3555 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 733-
3111; (866) 343-0496. Open 24 hours
(see p239). 7 ∑ flamingolv.com
The brilliant pink and orange
neon plume of the Flamingo
hotel’s façade is, to many, the
archetypal Las Vegas icon.
However, nothing remains of
the original 1946 casino: the last
vestiges of this building, including
mobster Bugsy Siegel’s private
suite, were bulldozed in 1976
(see p101). One of the few
The lobby area of Caesars Palace, with ornate ceilings and opulent decor remaining signs of this notorious
gangster’s involvement in the
e Caesars Palace decor, create an elegant and hotel is a memorial plaque
upbeat atmosphere. located near the outdoor
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 731- The entrance to the chic and wedding chapel. In the 1990s a
7110; (866) 227-5938. Open 24 hours highly exclusive Forum Shops $130-million renovation created
(see p239). 7 ∑ caesars.com/ (see p128) continues the ancient one of the most elegant pool
caesars-palace Greek and Roman theme and is areas in Vegas. Set among 15
as impressive as the hotel and acres (6 ha) of landscaped
Roman statues, Greek columns, casinos. The grand portico gardens, two Olympic-sized
and cocktail waitresses in togas features a trompe-l’oeil sky ceiling pools are veiled by tropical
could all be found at Caesars and is adorned with statues and plants and palm trees. There is
Palace when it opened in 1966. relief sculpture. a kids’ pool, two Jacuzzis, and a
The decor and waitresses Replicas of the Trevi and Triton water slide leading to three
remain part of the ambience Fountains in Rome adorn a additional pools. The hotel’s
here, but in a less kitsch, more sweeping plaza that is topped pretty wedding chapel is
upscale way since the resort by a glass dome ceiling and has a lavishly landscaped. Both guests
was refurbished during the large reflective pool at its center. and visitors may visit The Wildlife
1990s and further expanded in There is also a majestic spiral Habitat at the Flamingo, a lush
the 2000s. escalator leading to the shopping peaceful area with streams,
This classic Vegas casino was mall itself, which offers more than waterfalls, and Flamingo Island.
the first themed hotel on the 160 upscale stores, specialty Vividly colored Chilean
Strip and quickly established a stores, and 11 restaurants flamingos, ring-tealed ducks,
reputation for attracting top including Italian, Asian, French, and sacred ibis along with
artists, from Andy Williams in and American Steakhouse. turtles and koi fish live here.
the 1960s to the singer Celine
Dion and the musician Elton
John in the 2010s. Since the
1980s Caesars has also hosted
international sports events,
including championship tennis,
featuring stars such as John
McEnroe and Andre Agassi, and
boxing, with such names as
world champions Muhammad
Ali and Mike Tyson.
Today the hotel houses a
lavish casino with race and
sports betting, four lounges,
a health spa, and the 4.5-acre
(1.8-ha) Garden of the Gods –
a pool oasis with seven pools.
Caesars’ elegant façade is
fronted by fountains and
cypress trees. The casinos have
all been refurbished and, with
their high ceilings and light Lush palms surround the pool at the Flamingo Las Vegas
Glittering Parisian landmarks at the Paris hotel complex on the Strip

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