Viva Las Vegas! The City That Grew Out of the Desert
In July 1969, Elvis Presley opened at the Showroom Internationale in Las Vegas. For Elvis, the four-week engagement started a new phase of his musical career; he performed in Vegas every year after that, to sold-out houses. He was the first big rock ‘n’ roll star to headline regularly in the city, and his arrival breathed new life into the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
For centuries, a natural freshwater spring in the Mohave Desert sustained the Native Americans in the area and later provided fresh water for travelers and Mormon settlers alike on the Old Spanish Trail. Today, the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, not far from downtown, teaches visitors about sustainable living through its botanical garden and hiking trails that string through the unique wetlands habitat.
The town was pretty much assured of success, located as it was on the main rail line linking Southern California to Salt Lake City. The townsite was laid out in 1905 and one hundred years later, in 2005, more than half a million residents made their homes in Las Vegas. Today, local society is not all that different from the rest of the United States in terms of ethnicity, age and race.
Just about everyone knows that Las Vegas has a somewhat racy reputation. Consider the following tidbits of non-trivial trivia. The city’s first hotel and casino, the Golden Gate, opened in 1906. (Unfortunately, Nevada legislators outlawed gambling in the city in 1910 until a new legislature reversed that decision in 1931.) Tule Springs Ranch became popular in the 1940s as a “divorce ranch,” a dude ranch where people could “live” for the six weeks it took to get Nevada residency and apply for a quick divorce. Ranches like Tule Springs were the precursors of today’s hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.
And there’s more. Bare-bosomed showgirls made their first appearance in 1957 at the Dunes. At 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere Hotel and Tower is the tallest building west of the Mississippi - people who want a shot of excitement can catch one of the thrill rides on top. In 2004, Vegas hosted more than 22,000 conventions. And of course, Las Vegas has become extremely popular as a venue for “destination weddings.”
Physical attributes can be important in this glitzy environment, and Vegas has plenty of luscious ones: 294 days of sunshine and an average maximum temperature around 80 degrees F. The city boasts 65 public parks, 14 golf courses and 16 public swimming pools.
Interesting property opportunities in Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas has recently experienced a boom in planning and construction of high-rise condominium and mixed-use units. The unique design of the recently-completed 11th Street Lofts, combined with the pizzazz of downtown living, has attracted a number of new residents to this development. While still in the pre-construction stage, downtown’s 601 Fremont Street development, in the heart of the entertainment district, will rise above a base of shops, clubs and entertainment venues. And the city has approved plans for Gateway Las Vegas, a mixed-use high-rise tower project that combines retail and residential condominium units in the heart of the new Arts District.
Property investors who are more comfortable with earth beneath their feet might find what they’re looking for further out. The Northwest neighborhood offers upscale, spacious living in a community of large lots and newer custom homes. In some parts of the community, a ban on strip malls preserves the gracious essence of the area. Higher in altitude and cooler in temperature than many other neighborhoods, the master-planned community of Summerlin sits at the foot of the Spring Mountains.
To the extent that such a thing can be true, Las Vegas really does have something for everyone!
