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What's your Vegas Mount Rushmore?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by grosx2, Feb 21, 2014.

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  1. grosx2

    grosx2 Have fun storming the castle!

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    For anyone who follows the NBA or regularly watches ESPN, you've probably heard about the trendy "Mount Rushmore" topic in the last week or so. It started when Lebron James named, in his opinion, the top four basketball players of all time, aka the Mt. Rushmore of the NBA. This led to other current and former players giving their own Mt. Rushmores, and also to Mt. Rushmore lists for topics other than basketball (one of the more humorous variations I heard on the radio was the Mt. Rushmore of US monuments....is Mt. Rushmore on it?)

    So I started wondering about the Mt. Rushmore of Vegas hotels. Not necessarily which ones are merely the biggest or nicest, but the most important/iconic ones throughout history. Caesar's Palace, probably the most well-known among folks who otherwise aren't familiar with Vegas? MGM, which redefined the term "mega resort?" The Mirage, responsible for ushering in the modern era of Vegas? The Wynn, which has set the current bar for ultra luxury? Classics of years past, such as the Dunes and the Sands? A perennial favorite like the Bellagio?

    What's your Mount Rushmore of Las Vegas?
     
  2. xizor

    xizor Tourist

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    I think the Flamingo needs to be on there for historical reasons.
    I would also put Caesars, Mirage and whatever is most iconic from downtown.
     
  3. Jonnyvegas

    Jonnyvegas Low-Roller

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    Bellagio has to be included. The fountains are currently the most iconic image on today's TV/movies.
     
  4. woodsie

    woodsie VIP Whale

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    Bellagio always felt like the pinnacle to me. It's not the nicest but it does have a central and imposing presence on the strip. Wynn is more subtle on the outside by comparison.
     
  5. Blacklegs22

    Blacklegs22 Low-Roller

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    Tough/good topic...Caesars has to be there, if you mention Las Vegas around the globe, most persons thoughts turn to Caesars. Mirage-the utimate game-changer. Tempted to say Bellagio for 3rd, but Flamingo has a more flamboyant history- 3rd one would probably be between those two...

    To honor downtown for the fourth, you'd like to select the "old" Horseshoe , but it technically doesn't exist anymore and Binions certainly not as iconic. Golden Nugget is what started the ball rolling for Wynn's career, so maybe that one deseves consideration? Is my list too Wynn-Centric?
     
  6. Jordan

    Jordan Caveman

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    Caesars, Bellagio, MGM and Binions for me!
     
  7. jackincols

    jackincols Guest

    Bellagio, CP, Flamingo, & the old Binion's Horseshoe (the OP did say throughout history). Benny gave us free drinks, what is now known as the WSOP and was the first to advertise never turning down a bet of any size.
     
  8. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    1. Caesars Palace, Jay Sarno was well ahead of his time.
    2. The Stardust, Frank Rosenthal's vision of what a sports book could do for a casino was seminal.
    3. The Mirage, Steve Wynn ushered in the new era of Las Vegas.
    4. Binion's Horseshoe. The anchor of downtown for decades under Benny and Jack.

    The Flamingo, although a mainstay on the strip for decades, wasn't even close to being the first casino on the strip so it would be way down on my list.

    :peace: :beer:
     
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  9. OhioStateAlum

    OhioStateAlum High-Roller

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    Bellagio, Mirage, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace
     
  10. ruralhipster

    ruralhipster High-Roller

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    Since either the Marquee or actual building should be instantly recognizable if actually carved out of a mountain I'd go with:

    Bellagio (the view with the fountains in front of the hotel is one of the the most recognizable in Vegas, until 2018 when it gets filled in to become a "luxury retail experience")

    Stardust (the best Marquee in history. and relevant to Vegas mob history)

    Horseshoe (downtown has to be represented)

    The Stratosphere (the casino is unremarkable, but Bob Stupak is up there with Wynn, Sarno, Binion, Webb etc in shaping Las Vegas and the tower is completely iconic to the Vegas Skyline)

    Legitimate contenders

    Caesars (should be here except architecturally and iconographic-ally unremarkable, really you could drop it in Mecca and it wouldn't look out of place)

    MGM (but with the original lion entrance please)

    Mirage (iconic in it's time and who doesn't love volcanoes and that suntan lotion scent)

    Dunes (just because I love the slightly politically incorrect sultan)

    CityCenter (picture Fonzie on water skis)
     
  11. Terry Benedict

    Terry Benedict VIP Whale

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    Flamingo, DI, Mirage, Bellagio

    1. Flamingo -- The pioneer of resorts. Not the first on the Strip, but certainly the most successful early hotel. I tell people it's in the center of the Strip because that's where they decided to build it. The Strip stretches out from that point.

    2. Desert Inn -- Barely ahead of the Sands for that era. Although the Sands is famous for the Rat Pack, my gut tells me Wilbur Clark was quite an owner who put a lot of focus on the luxury aspect of the casino. He might not have originated the idea, but he succeeded in putting class into the gambling joint. And Howard Hughes bought it. How's that for legacy?

    3. Mirage -- Everybody knows why.

    4. Bellagio -- Again, didn't come up with the concept of elegance, but took it to another level. Iconic look, mesmerizing fountains, the Chihuly, the conservatory.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2014
  12. reef33

    reef33 Tourist

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    I'm sorry I missed Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn, when it was in it's heyday.
     
  13. wpete

    wpete High-Roller

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    Well, since all the Presidents were dead when Rushmore was completed, I'd have to go with.

    1. Sands.
    2. Thunderbird/Silverbird/El Rancho.
    3. Stardust.
    4. The Landmark.
     
  14. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    Steve Wynn
    Remodeled: Golden Nugget.
    Built: The Mirage, Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, Bellagio, Wynn/Encore.

    Jay Sarno
    Built: Caesars Palace & Circus Circus.

    Sam Boyd
    Built: The California, Hotel Nevada, Sam's Town (first Vegas locals casino).
    Owned: Sahara, The Mint, El Dorado, Union Plaza, Stardust, Fremont.

    Kirk Kekorian
    Built: The International, both MGM Grand Hotels (current Bally's and MGM Grand)
    Owned: Flamingo, Sands, Desert Inn, Marina, MGM Resort International.

    Pretty much covers the entire strip, several downtown properties and off strip properties.
     
  15. Username

    Username VIP Whale

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    NYNY as it still stands proud to the test of time....

    [​IMG]
     
  16. jwhdds

    jwhdds Tourist

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    I like doing it as people, not hotels. So, I would say Bugsy Siegel, Elvis, Steve Wynn, and Frank Sinatra.

    Cool idea
     
  17. redzone

    redzone Low-Roller

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    I think Wayne Newton has to be in there. Maybe ahead of Siegal.
     
  18. redzone

    redzone Low-Roller

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    Dunes, Circus Circus, Mirage, Desert Inn
     
  19. AndyAkeko

    AndyAkeko Time magazine's 2006 Person of the Year

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    If you think of the four presidents on Mount Rushmore as not only icons of the republic, but also the ones largely responsible for her expansion, then I think the Vegas equivalents are the Flamingo, Caesars Palace, Mirage and the Bellagio. Each one redefined the strip and spawned a wave of growth.
     
  20. sco5123

    sco5123 VIP Whale

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    I am not so sure most visitors know about wynn before coming. But Bellagio is more well known. luxor is iconic despite its lower ratings. caesars is a grand dame. and i dont think citycenter is yet iconic. the original flamingo and riviera is important too. but sands made serious waves as I understand. hard question. if i had to choose it would be caesars, riviera, bellagio and sands.
     
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