The Neon Gutter Crew visits Las Vegas’s casinos that have been lost in the shuffle, either through indifference, cheapness, or choice, and discuss whether they’re better or worse for it. These are all casinos that opened a long time ago with big dreams and grand ideas, but then seem to have been left alone.
Some of the Casinos that time forgot are corporate behemoths that have been lost in the shuffle as management finds shiny new baubles. Others are little local joints that are spending every penny just to keep the doors open. And one is willfully and delightfully stuck in time.
Join us as we walk on carpets from before you were born, wander down halls that even the casino owners have forgotten exist, and marvel at wonderful casino themes buried under dull, modern dreck.
Know a forgotten corner of Las Vegas? Call our Stinkline at (775) 400-2941. Randy Shandis is standing by! Leave your mailing address to get a free Neon Gutter poker chip, sticker, and an authentic $100 entry into Bob Stupak’s Vegas World Daily Slot Tournament.Don’t worry; we won’t do anything with your information We don’t even know how to!
Aztec Inn
Does the Aztec Inn have Las Vegas’s dirtiest carpet? Would you eat a hot dog off it?
The Aztec Inn cowers in the shadow of the Stratosphere Tower, and stumbling distance from Dino’s.
Circus Circus
Is this what you expect to find right inside the front doors of Circus Circus? No? Well. too bad for you, then.
After going up and down dirty stairs, Matt and Dan emerge into more empty space at the Circus.
It feels like acres of unused, abandoned space in the back half of Circus Circus, and it’s sad.
The Circus has put a bunch of cheap chairs, a stage, and a couple pool tables in one of its many empty spaces. They didn’t put any life into it, though. Matt and Dan take advantage of the quiet to have an enlightening conversation.
This Circus buffet sign says so much about the overall quality and desirability in, oh, so many ways. Obvious attention to detail!
Come, stay at the Circus Circus Manor, maybe. These old motel rooms behind the towers are not exactly open, and not exactly closed, but they are exactly weird.
Bighorn
Humble inside and out, the Bighorn serves North Las Vegas with mediocrity on tap.
Another contender for dirtiest carpet in Las Vegas. Just close your eyes and imagine the stickiness.
Temporary A/C had been moved in to cool the Bighorn Casino on the night of our visit.
If it can be dunked in hot oil it’s on the menu at the Bighorn!
Skyline
The old school, low-ceilinged casino at the Skyline, an wonderfully anachronistic place to spend some time.
Burt receives yet more bad news on the Skyline’s house phone.
Matt patiently waits for his turn at an antique machine inside the Skyline, while Dan watches the peep show for his 32nd time.
Among the many knick-knacks and antique slot machines at the Skyline is this W.C. Fields slot.
Burt claims he can swim 50 laps in the Skyline’s luxurious pool, but nobody has ever seen him do it.
Excalibur
The old castle theme is still present at the Excalibur, until they need to put up more banners for strip shows, bad restaurants, and fast food.
The Sherwood Forest Bar seems to survive only because the bean counters haven’t yet found an already fading trend to rebrand it to.
There are several other tiki bars in Las Vegas these days, and the Excalibur’s half-assed attempt is worse than all of them.
Casino Royale
The center bar at the Casino Royale serves cheap beer and a brief respite from the rest of the lousy casino.
In better times at the Casino Royale, Matt and Stinky let it fly with Lady Denim and Middle Management at the Cook E. Jarr Show (no longer at the Casino Royale).
