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3555 Las Vegas Blvd. S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(800) 732-2111
(702) 733-3353
The Flamingo Hilton was renamed the Flamingo Las Vegas in Feb. 2000
The first lavish hotel/casino in Las Vegas was the Flamingo Hilton, on what was no more than a desert dirt road in the middle of no-where. Build to fulfill the dreams of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel in 1946, using mob money, the 105-room resort that was suppose to cost $1 million ended up costing nearly $6 million. Due to shoddy workmanship on the original structure that had to be reworked, the high cost of materials caused by WWII, and the mob figuring Bugsy was ripping them off, Bugsy was shot to death while visiting his girl friend in her apartment in California in 1947. When the Flamingo first opened it lost money and was forced to close after two weeks. New mob money was used to reopen the resort but it continued to lose money. No one knows for sure if the employees were stealing the money, if the players were just plain lucky or where the money went, but Bugsy was blamed for the loses anyway. By the end of 1947, the Flamingo Hilton started to show profits.
The dapper gangster with the engaging smile and the hated nickname of Bugsy has been dead for over 50 years, cut down by an unknown executioner before he ever saw his beloved Flamingo Hotel bloom into the success it is today.
But he's back. As the Flamingo Hilton celebrated its first 50 years, the spirit of Bugsy is every-where. His face can be seen on his memorial plaque at the rose garden in front of the Garden Wedding Chapel, an acknowledgement of his own beloved rose garden that is long gone.
That same grainy visage is stamped onto commemorative $5.00 gaming chips. And in Bugsy's Celebrity Theater--where mock bullet holes testify to Hilton's tongue-in-cheek tribute to the hotel's hot-headed founder--a special anniversary movie traces the history of the Flamingo from a few boxy buildings in the desert to the beautiful bird she is today.
"Ben Siegel was a ruthless killer who lived by violence and died by violence," says Flamingo Hilton President Horst Dziura. "You under- stand he is not our idea of a role model." "Still, the public is as fascinated with him today as they were when he hung out with George Raft and Virginia Hill. Celebrating our first 50 years -- and we know there will be many more -- we knew we could not ignore him or the beginning of this beautiful resort."
The film, entitled "Flamingo Hilton: The First Fifty Years," is shown free 5 times daily at 11:00 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Cocktails are available and there are free pretzels. Special commemorative beer mugs, sold at lounges throughout the hotel are also available during the film, which artfully intersperses grainy black-and-white of the original building with color filming from today.
In Bugsy's Deli, 50th anniversary, White castle-style hamburgers can be purchased two-for-a-dollar during the deli's 11:00 am to 11:00 pm operation.
"We are very proud of what we have become," says Dziura. "We wanted to share the joy -- and legend of these first 50 years with everyone."
Photo -- The Flamingo Hotel, months after the opening in 1946. Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was the owner of the 105-room resort built "in the middle of no where" on Highway 91 heading to Los Angeles.
Bugsy's Lair -- These last remaining buildings, where Bugsy Siegel holed up amid thick walls and a maze of tunnels came down in 1994, as the Flamingo Hilton made way for a $130 million expansion and renovation. Siegel, who was killed in California during a visit to his girlfriend only months after opening his beloved Flamingo in 1946, wouldn't recognize the place now.
Going down, down, down. In the 1960s, the champagne tower at the Flamingo built only a decade before came down. It was the beginning of a new era for the Flamingo. In 1971, Hilton Hotels Corporation stepped in and started the aging dowager on the road to elegance and unprecedented success.
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It took some time and more than $130 million, but the Flamingo Hilton Las Vegas has blossomed into one of the most beautiful hotels on the Strip. Even "Bugsy" Siegel wouldn't recognize the 15 acres of Caribbean-style playground that houses a wildlife habitat, swimming pools and a wedding chapel. A gleaming sixth tower caps the massive expansion and renovation project that began in the late 1970s and makes the Flamingo Hilton Las Vegas one of the largest resorts in the world at 3,642 rooms and suites.
The Peking Market restaurant reopened with a new $1.5 million look. Enhanced by teakwood paneling, intricately carved antiques, and a lighted 800-gallon seawater aquarium, the Peking Market reflects the equally dazzling renovation and expansion of the rest of the resort.
A gleaming teakwood gate welcomes visitors into the Peking Market where plush booths provide both comfort and a view of the unique artwork reflecting the many faces of China. Above the octagonal aquarium filled with various species of exotic fish, twinkling lights minic a clear night sky and near each table, pagodas in miniature add a subtle glow.
One of the most popular meals offered by Chef Jimmy Wu is his "Special Dinner, " which offers -- along with an assortment of popular appetizers and a choice of soups -- sweet and sour pineapple shrimp, crispy chicken, orange peel beef, lop chung fried rice, and sauteed vegetables. With more guests, orange roughly with black bean sauce or five spice monkfish can be added to the choices. Also included with the chef's special dinner is a dessert of flambe' fried coconut custard -- termed "fried clouds" by one satisfied diner.
Jimmy Yee is the dapper maitre'd for the Peking Market. Hours are 5:30 to 11:00 p.m. nightly. For reservations, call (702) 733-3111.
Room rates (subject to change), average $69 to $209 a night depending on availability, Suites $290 to $580. The Flamingo Hilton has 150 mini-suites, 2-super suites, a health club, sauna, spa, steam room, swimming pool, nine restaurants, seven retail shoppes, video arcade for kids, baby sitting service on request, room service and laundry service. The Flamingo Showroom seats 740 guests, Bugsy Celebrity Theater 500 guest. The Flamingo Hilton has a slot club and free Funbooks.
Gaming action in the 77,000 plus square-foot casino includes 1,970 slot machine (25 cents to $100), 69 gaming tables, Big Six Wheel, Keno and a Sportsbook. Minimum bets for Blackjack $5.00; roulette $5.00; craps $5.00. Poker includes 4-8-Hold'Em and 3-6 Stud.
With the legend of The Flamingo behind it, The Flamingo Hilton has kept both the lure of the Old Las Vegas while maintaining the most glamorous and modern hotel on the Strip. And the Wildlife Habitat, with its charming menagerie of flamingos and penguins is part of the reason people return again and again to Bugsy Siegel's "real class joint."
