It’s a well known fact that a little competition can cause a lot of change. This is the same with Las Vegas. Once Atlantic City legalized gambling, Las Vegas could no longer have the title of the only city with gambling casinos. This lit a fire under the feet of Las Vegas casino owners and opened their eyes to a need for change. If they were going to keep their reputation as the only place to go for some good, legal gambling then they would have to pick up their game. Atlantic City legalized gambling, it was that same year that Las Vegas decided to become bigger and better. A new trend was about to take over the already hopping strip; megaresorts.
Las Vegas would vow to capture the attention and loyalty of all. Now they would strive to become the vacationing spot of not only the gambling loving men; but also the simple vacationers, conventioneers, and even families. Las Vegas wanted it all, leaving no rock unturned, they built bigger and better to make sure that they captured the attention of all.
Theme styled hotels and casinos would be the next big boom to hit the Las Vegas strip. October of 1968 a circus tent styles casino had opened. It offered gambling for the parents as well as video games and rides for the children. A circus act was put on for the families which included acrobats, clowns, and animals. This tent style circus that brought laughter to thousands was called Circus Circus. A hotel would be added in the year 1972 and $90,000,000 would be spent to add on a full water park which would be called Grand Slam Canyon. Grand Slam Canyon would be completed and open its doors on August 23, 1993. Circus Circus is still a family favorite that any family should stop by and visit when they are in Las Vegas. This water park would include huge 140 foot mountains, river rapids, a 50 foot plunge, roller coaster, and be climate controlled and enclosed.
Then, in 1989 after a construction cost of over $630 million dollars would be incurred; Las Vegas introduced the amazing Mirage Hotel and Casino. This casino was definitely a one of a kind, harboring such features as a White Tiger habitat, a Dolphin enclosure, an unbelievably elaborate pool, waterfalls, and volcanoes that spew fire and water. Nothing like that had ever been seen before in a hotel. The bar had now been raised in Las Vegas. Treasure Island would soon be constructed adjacent to the Mirage and would offer a full sized pirate ship, including a battle which you can enjoy.
The way was paved for many more mega resorts and themed hotels and casinos to make their appearance on the strip. Soon to follow would be many more including; The Excalibur which would feature a medieval style castle including knights on horseback decorating the showroom, The MGM Grand Hotel and Theme Park which is the largest hotel resort anywhere, and The Luxor which displays an exact replica of King Tut’s tomb. The Luxor is also home to the world’s most impressive beam of light; it shoots through the sky out of the top of the pyramid and is visible from as far as 250 miles away. The world had no choice but to take notice of the changes taking place in Las Vegas and wonder what would be next.