Vegas losing its magic?

I just returned from a 3 day trip to Vegas. I go twice a year, and generally always love it. This trip however, left me a little bit sad. In a nutshell, it seems like Vegas has lost alot of its Vegas. What I mean by that, is that the magical feel I used to get going there has been fading. As I looked out of my room at Ballys, I had a perfect view up the strip. The flashing neon lights that used to light up the strip are gone in lieu of solid signs/lighting designs. The quirky themed properties have been demolished, and the ones still standing have been gutted of their theme in favor of neutral themes. City Center as a whole represents everything I try to get away from when I come to Vegas. The blandness belongs in the middle of downtown LA, not Vegas. Yet it seems everything new is going in that direction. I really hope something gives and some of what made me fall in love with Vegas makes a comeback at some point.

 

yeah, i'd agree, somewhat.

in discussing the shrimp cocktail the other day, it made me realize how the gimmicky stuff, such as cheap strawberry shortcake, 1/2-pound hot dogs and shrimp cocktails has gone by the wayside, for the most part.

fun, low-roller joints such as the boardwalk and its tacky decorations are nowhere to be found on the strip. the silly gimmicks that were once a staple of westward ho: distant memories.

gimmicky little places like the klondike or silver city can't be found on the strip any more. i'd be grateful that slots-o-fun is still around, but it's a shell of its former self.

and i only have 15 years of experience to draw upon. i got in on the tail end of the magic.

there are still great things that make vegas unique without it being strictly a playground for the rich and pretentious. downtown is offering a lot of entertainment without being pretentious, for sure, and there are lots of great things to see and do away from the casinos, which may or may not appeal to me more because of the changes in the industry. to me, downtown will continue to thrive and prosper if it maintains the vegas charm of yesteryear rather than try to keep up with what the strip, which it will never do.

 

With Vegas, especially if you go frequently, it is easy to get burnout or get caught in a rut. My wife and I are prone to this often because we go to the same places, eat in the same places, order the same food . . .

I've been going to Vegas for 15 years now. On this last trip, my wife and I stayed downtown at El Cortez (a first for us) and promised each other we'd eat in a new place (something we hadn't tried) for every dinner.

We went all over town and had some amazing meals and really got a new awakening. Also, staying downtown was a real breath of fresh air too. We really felt more social there than on the strip (where we usually stay) and the typical pretenciousness was completely gone.

Earlier in the year, I had some friends from out of state and out of country come over and we all went to the Gun Range and shot machine guns. It too was a new and magical experience.

I won't start a strip v. downtown debate because I think it is futile and both are awesome. What I will say to those who are feeling like the Vegas magic is wearing off is . . . try something new. You might find there's a lot of magic still there that you've just been too narrow-sighted to yet experience. At least that has been my story.

I hope you get the fires of love relit for this fine little town. If not, that's okay too. All the best to you either way.

 

I totally agree with the op here!!!

I have been going to vegas for a little over 11 years now. The last 6 years I have been going with great frequency due to my job as a flight attendant. I may even be moving here soon and will be working out of McCarran.

But the Vegas I once knew and loved is NOT the Vegas that I seem to visit today. The kitchyness that DEFINED the city is GONE! I am not a rich man... I make about 40K a year. That leaves me with a little bit of play room and I like to go to las vegas for that playtime. But like the op said...the magic is gone. Sure I may have experienced vegas burnout, but i think it's more complex than that.

Our only hope is that some of the "Megas" like mirage, and TI, and such become somewhat dumpy and kitchy so that some of the "old" joints that we used to frequent are fun to visit. But I won't hold my breath! Seems like they're even making the dumps over...like i never considered Bills a dump per se... but they are making it over into another damn botique/club hotel.

When the dust settles, and the town no longer has gamblers coming in and subsidizing the tax coffers and the club crowd has moved on in life... They will realize their big mistake, but I have a feeling by then it will be too late.

 

haha you say that now....and then 2 months from now you are gonna be wishing you were there lol. I get what you are saying though. I've been quite a few times and sometimes things get repetitive, but what I absolutely love about Vegas(In my case at least) No trip is ever the same. All of my Vegas trips have been a completely different experience. When I go to a place like San Diego, it just feels like the same thing over and over. With Vegas you literally have no idea what is gonna happen and what new people you will meet. I have been going there about 3 times a year for a couple years now and have yet to tire of it just for the fact that I never know what is gonna happen. Though I agree with you 100% on the food part. I'm a meat and potato kinda guy. I basically only eat cheese burgers and fries. It sucks that Vegas has so many places to eat but I can't take advantage of it since they just have these crazy foreign menus. So I'm stuck eating at the same places over and over for the most part.

 

I pretty much agree with everybody so far. Vegas always changes, and it always has. It is also easy to get burned out on it all, yet at the same time, it always draws you back, and it so big, that you can always find something different if you decide to. As with anything, it can be good from time to time to take a break and try something else.

 

I think if you're wanting something different, try downtown next time. I wouldn;t exactly call it "themed" in the Vegas-nineties sense, but it has an orlder vibe than the Strip.

Vegas is always changing. It has been that way for the past fifty years. I've been going for ten. I still remember the talking camels at Luxor, Wet and Wild, and the scary clown facade at Boardwalk, but I have also seen ten years of changes (Wynncore, CityCenter, Cosmo). The evolving nature of vegas is part of what keeps it interesting for me

 

I guess the casinos bottom line will decide.

I'm a little bummed out about a lot of the things mentioned along with the "street trash" that seems to be all over meaning every body from time share guys to costumes ,to gang bangers etc.
BUT, I dont own a casino so it's not really my problem,people can go or stay
home.

 

I can certainly see where you are coming from and would agree that Vegas is losing that unique quality. To me there was always the feeling it was the one place you could go to see and visit, the unique casinos, shows and restaurants. Yet over time, the place is being strip malled, with franchises and what not. As you mentioned the detheming is boring. I liked the unique themes where each property was something to see. Now many of the casinos lack that. Heck the Luxor is a pyramid, yet the theme has been lost in the casino. Same with Monte Carlo.

From those I have read and talked to it appears the the large companies have underestimated the peoples desires for these unique properties, to replace so much with generic stuff. That Vegas is losing a bit of the must see uniqueness. Vegas has lost the characters that made it Vegas.

All that said, it is still Vegas and I like to visit. I just have to work a bit harder to find the things I appreciate.

 

i don't know, i think it's still very unique compared to the other cities i visit. there's still only one Vegas.

 

Yes, I think a lot of the new strip construction has been rather boring and not fit in with the old theme of the strip. But I also think that the way Vegas evolves is part of what keeps it fresh and exciting.

As much fun as I've found some places to be, I don't think I would go as frequently if there wasn't constantly something new to see and do.

Judging by a lot of the complaints here and in other threads, it kind of seems like a lot of people expect Vegas to be a time capsule, permanently frozen in whatever state their happy early Vegas memories took place in. But life just doesn't work that way.

And just because the magic changes, doesn't mean it is lost.

 

Maybe I've lucked out or maybe I'm too young to know better, but it's still insanely magical for me, every time I go. Even when I lose every cent I take with me, the experience is incredible. If I want the older neon themed experience I go downtown. If I want the glitz and glam I hit the strip. I appreciate the modern decor and prefer it myself... and appreciate the constant effort to keep the properties renovated and up to date.

 

These "I yearn for the way things were" posts annoy me, so I'll make my comment and move on... life changes, people change, circumstances change and I too "appreciate the constant effort to keep the older properties renovated and up to date", as TRN just stated. A certain portion of the "magic" needs to come from within, you may have indeed lost it, but Las Vegas still has it. I visit once or twice a month and am as excited getting off the plane today as I've ever been.

 

I've been going to Vegas regularly for 27 ½ years; not a record by any means, but certainly long enough to have seen a lot of changes. Most of the "improvements" I don't like, but they're obviously not enough to keep from going. Like most, I started out on the Strip, but for the past decade have stayed almost exclusively downtown and off-Strip. Without rekindling the much worn Strip vs. elsewhere debate, let's just say that it's no longer my cup of tea. Staying at two or more properties per trip helps keep things from getting too stale; and although "the magic" largely evaporated years ago, a more relaxed familiarity has taken its place. I no longer feel compelled to stay up all night gambling, order a drink every time one's offered (almost, however), nor treat every buffet as if food's going out of style. These days I go mainly to gamble (along with eating like a pig and drinking like a fish), so many of the non-gambling changes hardly affect me.

Other than that, I also miss the talking camels, lower limits, 3:2 everywhere, and generally better values. Putting my curmudgeon hat on, if I could make only one improvement, I'd tear down the entire FSE along with its resident freak show and put Fremont Street back the way it was!

 

You just need to get out and do something different.

There is an entire worlkd out there of casinos you might not have ever seen.

Downtown, the out by sams town, henderson.

Try those for a change of pace and see how you feel.

 

I agree with this sentiment.

Some changes I like, some I don't. Comes with the territory of getting older. You can't live your life wishing things were exactly the same as before. Gotta embrace change. If you really are just burnt out or so disgusted by the de-theming of the casinos and the addition of party pits and 6/5 blackjack, take a break from Vegas and try some place else for your next vacation. *shrug*

 

I was just going to move past this thread and not comment, but I just can't help myself. I think the comment on the time capsule is so appropriate.....for all of you who miss the "old vegas", do you still have orange shag carpeting in your living room? Back in the old vegas, there were no computers....does anyone really wish for that too? Well, except maybe the folks that designed the horrible computer systems at MGM/Mirage.

I still love EVERYTHING that Vegas has to offer and see the city as a total escapism. Free drinks, stay up all night, no schedules to keep, no calls to return (if I don't want to), fabulous five star hotel and restaurants, etc etc. I still get tingly standing on the overpass and looking down the strip at night.

Sorry you're losing the magic of it all, but after 23 years of going to LV, it's still there for me.....and will be waiting for me tomorrow morning!

 

It's still the same for me..........every time I play BJ they hand out the FREE drinks and I hand over lots of money to play....LOL

 

I feel that the Vegas "magic" has changed a little for me over the years. I think it has to do with going my first time at 23 my second time at age 24 the third time age 25 winning 1K on slots and getting engaged during that trip. The 4th time I went back I had my 2 yr old child with me there isn't much magic when you have a child with (never again). By my 5th trip I was so happy to get away with my husband (many children later) that the magic has come back plus it was when we learned how much we love downtown. We have always gone with different groups of people and that changes a trip all in it self. My 6th trip was with a group of 9 people most fun I have ever had in Vegas. The 7th trip is coming up all girls and just a 48 hour short stay!!!
I tell people all of the time I would never want to live near Vegas I would much rather visit and I would go 2 times per year if I could.

 

Mermaids "food court" is an OASIS of old vegas food deals! Super cheap Deep fried Twinkies, chili cheese fries etc. Ultimate affordable comfort food!