# Anyone else surprised (dismayed?) by Las Vegas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 9, 2023, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948 "2023-03-09T21:07:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/81 "2023-03-10T23:58:23Z")
> [@bump](#): > > We also hit the Hoover Dam, which was _ **COOL** _. I’m a bit of an engineering weirdo anyway, and huge projects like that always intrigue me. It was just neat too, to see how something so utilitarian can still be made to be surprisingly pretty. I went once and took the deluxe tour where you actually go inside the dam, not just the generators and diversion tunnels. Very cool. I’ll echo what a lot of posters have said; I’m not much for gambling and debauchery, but I found a few things in Las Vegas that were interesting. I went to the Museum of Atomic Testing. Saw Penn and Teller. Ate at the Hofbrauhaus, and learned that every song ever written can be a German drinking song. There are a few interesting things there, but I haven’t felt a burning desire to go back. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/82 "2023-03-11T00:14:26Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m not much for gambling and debauchery Whereas those of us that **are** go every chance we get! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/83 "2023-03-11T00:22:25Z")
I do need some more vices in my life, but it’s just so hard to choose. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/84 "2023-03-11T00:43:06Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Well, I’m going to be in Vegas next week from Thursday-Sunday for the first two rounds of March Madness. We’re staying downtown at the ‘old’ strip. I’ll report back on my experiences. If you haven’t been lately, plan for “expensive”. I was on Fremont at the end of January, after not going to Vegas since 2017, and everything was a lot more expensive, and the bars were being a lot more picky about who could sit there. It seems like everything I used to like about Vegas has either disappeared or gotten worse since I last visited. I used to love this crappy little casino called Slots-A-Fun, right next to Circus Circus. When I first visited Vegas, it was still a fun sleazy little place with cheap blackjack and dollar beers. Then the corporate people decided to “fix” it, and it just kept getting worse. I visited this time just to see what it was like now, and it’s still there, but everything that made it kind of cool is gone. Nothing but slot machines now, no snack bar, no real bar, no live games, and no customers. The only other person I saw there was a woman going in to use the bathroom, which was also the only reason I walked through the place. It’s utterly dead now. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/85 "2023-03-11T00:59:41Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Or Tropicana to Wynn. Hell, Paris to the Cosmopolitan, and they’re across the street from one another! People who stay at Excalibur have a completely different experience from people who stay at Encore. Excalibur is a horror show. Paris isn’t terrible. A month ago I stayed at Horseshoe, which is what they called Bally’s now. It is, at best, grimy. (The poker room is really nice, but it’s the one new thing.) I spent all my time not sleeping in nicer properties. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/86 "2023-03-11T01:00:47Z")
> [@bump](#): > > That was it; my concept of Las Vegas was basically some sort of myth with a big dose of Rat Pack and pretty people/places from the movies. > > This was like a HUGE parking-lot carnival for adults… on steroids and then irradiated Incredible Hulk-style. And crowded with people wearing fanny packs or who seemed decidedly trashy. I’ve always said that Vegas is everything that’s good and bad about the United States, all in one place, and cranked up to 11. You can find the best and worst of US society right next to each other. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/87 "2023-03-11T01:34:03Z")
Yeah, “Family Vegas” was more along the lines of “come on, people, it’s not THAT adult all over the place!” But then again, very shortly after that the real NYC “cleaned up” so that _ **it** _ also became safe to visit with the kids. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > By and large the scheme worked for its limited objective at the time. But the kid-stuff has not aged well, was always a loss-leader, is not being upgraded / improved, and is increasingly out of step with 2020s tweens & teens. One of the archetypes thereof, Treasure Island’s pirate battle, was replaced on 2003 by a “more mature” show that in turn closed in 2013. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@bump](#): > > > > Hoover Dam, which was _ **COOL** _. I’m a bit of an engineering weirdo anyway, and huge projects like that always intrigue me. It was just neat too, to see how something so utilitarian can still be made to be surprisingly pretty. > > I went once and took the deluxe tour where you actually go inside the dam, not just the generators and diversion tunnels And then there is the danged [star calendar embedded in the pavement](https://medium.com/the-long-now-foundation/the-26-000-year-astronomical-monument-hidden-in-plain-sight-9ec13c9d29b5). Far out, man. But, yeah, Vegas _is_ a fine base of ops for the greater region. Gotta hit that desert again soon… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/88 "2023-03-11T01:48:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I do need some more vices in my life, but it’s just so hard to choose I keep hearing positive things about drugs and alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/89 "2023-03-11T01:55:37Z")
“Psychedelics are almost irrelevant in a town where you can wander into a casino any time of the day or night and witness the crucifixion of a gorilla - on a flaming neon cross that suddenly turns into a pinwheel, spinning the beast around in wild circles above the crowded gambling action.” - Hunter S. Thompson ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/90 "2023-03-11T01:57:54Z")
I once did drive from LA to Vegas. But all that took hold outside of Barstow was the need to pull over to grab a bite and use the restroom. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/91 "2023-03-11T02:11:08Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I did stay there one night and wasn’t impressed. I’ve been in better theme rooms. But an interesting place. If you are into theme rooms, check this out: [LILEKS (James) :: the Gobbler](https://www.lileks.com/institute/motel/) Unfortunately, all but the supper club has been demolished but one can at least imagine it in all of it’s ‘Seventies bright orange shag carpet splendor. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AajNoE2AqnY/hqdefault.jpg "The Gobbler Supper Club TV Commercial") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AajNoE2AqnY) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/92 "2023-03-11T02:59:01Z")
We stayed at Excalibur a year ago. It wasn’t that bad. Of course, we were there only to sleep: Our main purpose was to see a show at the Park MGM. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/93 "2023-03-11T03:30:59Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Casino Royale ($2 a beer) It went up to $3. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/94 "2023-03-11T03:50:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > I do need some more vices in my life, but it’s just so hard to choose > > I keep hearing positive things about drugs and alcohol. I kinda had my heart set on loose women. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/95 "2023-03-11T04:11:11Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And then there is the danged [star calendar embedded in the pavement](https://medium.com/the-long-now-foundation/the-26-000-year-astronomical-monument-hidden-in-plain-sight-9ec13c9d29b5). Far out, man. Unfortunately, that whole plaza is under renovation. The statues are still there, but it’s all roped off and under construction right now. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/96 "2023-03-11T07:07:26Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > If you are into theme rooms, check this out: [LILEKS (James) :: the Gobbler](https://www.lileks.com/institute/motel/) > > Unfortunately, all but the supper club has been demolished but one can at least imagine it in all of it’s ‘Seventies bright orange shag carpet splendor. I did some digging on the internet and found out the supper club was renovated into [an entertainment venue](https://www.gobblertheater.com/). Unfortunately, it became a casualty of the pandemic and was for sale as of August 2022. (As seen in this Google Street View shot.) https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211s6F0zGtCOA6ABWXwj6pIBnA%212m2%211d43.0838081%212d-88.7705509%213f320.59%214f9.161%215f0.75 ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/97 "2023-03-11T07:16:37Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > If I wanted overpriced kitsch, I’ll go to the [Madonna Inn](http://neat-stuff-blog.blogspot.com/2010/04/madonna-inn.html), which is a least near stuff I’d like to see instead of being out in the middle of a fucking desert where nothing should live, and there aren’t “slots” jammed into every nook and cranny with some retiree mechanically pulling a lever in a Skinner experiment turning humanity into zombies. I’ve been to Vegas a half dozen times and stayed at the Madonna Inn twice - once c. 1979 as a kid and just last summer with my wife and kids. MI does not have the gloss of Vegas. Both obviously fake, but MI much shabbier. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/98 "2023-03-11T08:25:35Z")
heh some of you might like laughlin its a calmer vegas and there’s still a cowboy vibe there since they have a rodeo and other things there ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/99 "2023-03-11T12:28:16Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@kayaker](#): > > > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > > > I do need some more vices in my life, but it’s just so hard to choose > > > > I keep hearing positive things about drugs and alcohol. > > I kinda had my heart set on loose women They follow after the drugs and alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948/100 "2023-03-11T12:54:43Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > In addition to the places I mentioned in my earlier post, it was also our gateway to Bryce, Zion, North Rim, Page and the slot canyons, Death Valley, Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and the Escalante and Paria plateau. Not only that, but when you land, even if it’s 11:30 at night, something’s open and it’s possible to get a real meal. Las Vegas is not for everyone, but most places aren’t. My friends are there now (just posted a picture from Omega Mart), and they go there every few years and even got married there. They don’t drink or gamble, and they keep going back. They also see a couple shows, with a tendency towards Cirque de Soleil and Blue Man Group. We went on a tour to the Hoover Dam, which was really interesting as we learned a lot about the desert which we wouldn’t have picked up on our own. Yes, I find the mini Eiffel Tower a bit kitschy, but it is what it is. And I didn’t like the buskers dressed up like Elmo and Mario, and trying to get people to pay them money. However, those buskers are just about everywhere there are tourists. If you don’t want to be surrounded by tourists, go somewhere else. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I went to the Museum of Atomic Testing. Also cool. Except for walking there. Not the best idea. I did find it interesting how much [indoor walking](https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/question/longest-indoor-walk/) is possible. Makes sense for a place that gets really, really warm. And if you ever wanted to walk into a store and discuss about adult toys with people who can give advice, Las Vegas can also oblige. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-surprised-dismayed-by-las-vegas/980948.md?page=6)