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Roadside Peek Las Vegas
Americana| Architecture | Auto | Casino | Drive-in Theatre | Eateries | Motels | Neon | Retrolook | Signage | Theatre

 

Welcome to Roadside Peek's Las Vegas section. From it's origins as a desert oasis, Vegas has been known for its gambling, glitz, and entertainment. During this time, hotels have come and gone, while some have remained (after undergoing many renovations). For the mobile traveler, motels and roadside inns have always been prevalent throughout the Las Vegas area. With competition fierce, what was a small time motel to do to attract attention? Their big brother hotel/resort complexes had other means to attract the fickle tourist/gambler. What could a small motel offer?

Welcome to Las Vegas
Photo courtesy Don Whitten

 

Unique marquees. Yes, many motels were able to capture the eye of the wayward traveler and snag them for a night or two due to a unique, colorful, and sometime outright snazzy sign out front. Various themes developed. The common tiki names (Trade Winds, Hialeah) to the astro themed (Starview, Star) as well as gambling themes (Vegas, Par-A-Dice) popped up all over the desert. Stop here for a rest stop at Roadside Peek's Las Vegas Motels.

Another view of these motewls would be at night, with neon a-glittering. Check out Vegas Motel Neon for a lit-up look. Unfortunately, many of these roadside gems have disappeared and replaced big square box retail and drug stores.

La Concha Motel
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

 

Googie architecture also became popular in the mid-century, as Vegas continued to boast of its individualism and uniqueness. From the space orb of the old Stardust Hotel to the Sand Hotel marquee, Vegas rivaled Southern California for its mobile landscape. Although much of the googie is now gone, some signs of the past still remain. Still in business, (though just "barely" by the looks of things), is the La Concha Motel on the Strip as well a recently converted Korean BBQ joint. Yes, just a bit of what Alan Hess coined as "googie" remains out here in the desert. And you can see it here at Roadside Peek's Googie Architecture. See more at Roadside Peek's Vegas Architecture.

Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

 

If you enter Vegas via the Interstate 15 from California at night, your heart may skip a beat when you reach the straightaway just before Vegas. No matter how many times you've passed down this path before, a "wow" will escape your lips. Yes, Vegas and neon. Neon and Vegas. One and the same. Here at Roadside Peek's Las Vegas Neon, you can see up close many of the various neon attractions in this land of wonderment. So strap on in.

Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

 

 

Many sights await your eyes as you travel up the Strip and the Vegas outskirts. Looking for a quick hitch? What? You've never heard of Cupid's or the Silver Bell? Stop by one of many Vegas wedding chapels. Or interested in an open air movie? Stop by the Las Vegas Drive-in. Too lazy to leave the comforts of your home? Then check into Roadside Peek's Roadside Signage Las Vegas.

Photo courtesy Kelly Coalier

 

 

Old Vegas
Photo courtesy Allen Sandquist

New to Roadside Peek Las Vegas is Roadside Americana Las Vegas. Check out the roadside attractions of Sin City, including this famous frontier fort, and all the eye-catching sights from around the area.

 

 

Las Vegas Theatre
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Looking for an open-air theatre while in Vegas? While there's just one left, see others here at Roadside Peek's Drive-in Theatres Vegas.

 

 

Dunes Hotel
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Las Vegas is known for rebuilding itself on a constant basis. So catch some of the shots from the Vegas yesteryear before they pass into history for good. See the old classics here at Roadside Peek's Retrolook Vegas.

 

 

Charleston Auto Parts
Photo courtesy Allen Sandquist

Vegas is home to some auto dealership and themed favorites. See them here at Roadside Peek's Automobile Alley Vegas.

 

 

Hacienda
Photo courtesy Allen Sandquist

How about some shots of the Vegas casinos, both old and new. See them here at Roadside Peek's Casino Alley Vegas.

 

 

Green Shack
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Hungry for some grub while traveling through the sights in Vegas. See some of the old roadside favorites, both open and closed, of Sin City here at Roadside Peek's Roadside Eateries Vegas.

 

 

Huntridge Theatre
Las Vegas, NV
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Huntridge Theatre is a classic movie palace located off of E. Charleston Blvd in Las Vegas. For more roadside theatre classics in Las Vegas, see Roadside Peek's Grand Theatre.

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© Copyright 1998-2021 Syd Nagoshi. All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced, copied or revised without written permission of the author.