Touring the Classic Hotels on the Strip

Begin your tour at Bally's Las Vegas, which has gone through a number of reincarnations over the years. Opened in 1963, this site was first occupied by the Three Coins Motel, which then became the Bonanza Hotel and Casino (and later renamed the New Bonanza Hotel and Casino). It was rebuilt and opened as the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in 1973; at the time it was the largest hotel in the world with 2,084 rooms. Many believe this hotel had the largest impact on Las Vegas until the Mirage opened in the late 1980s. On Nov. 21, 1980, the worst fire in Nevada's history swept through the property killing 84 people and changing fire regulations in hotels worldwide.

The present Bally's property is owned by Caesars Entertainment, and one of the most famous Las Vegas shows is found here. "Jubilee!" is a classic Vegas showgirl performance, which highlights song-and-dance routines by women dressed in massive headdresses and over-the-top showgirl outfits. In 2011, "Jubilee!" celebrated its 30-year anniversary. To buy tickets for the show, head to the box office.
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3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Take the footbridge from Bally's to the other side of Flamingo Avenue. Past Bill's is Flamingo Las Vegas, the first resort on the Strip with a mob connection and the oldest resort on the Strip today.

Las Vegas mobster Bugsy Siegel named this iconic Las Vegas casino the Flamingo after the long legs of his showgirl girlfriend, Virginia Hill. Siegel owned an interest in the Hialeah Park racetrack in Florida, and rumor has it that he considered the flamingos that lived in the Las Vegas property an omen.

When the Flamingo opened in 1946, it wasn't completely finished, but plenty of stars were present, including Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Joan Crawford and others. Siegel had the resort shut down in January 1947 to finish it, and it reopened in March 1947. By May, it was turning a profit. Siegel was shot in June of the same year. There is a memorial plaque near the outdoor wedding chapel at the Flamingo to the notorious Vegas mobster.

Flamingo Las Vegas continues to draw visitors and guests who love the classic Vegas vibe found on the casino floor. There are more than 3,500 rooms at the resort, many of which have been refurnished in recent years. If you've got kids in tow, check out the wildlife habitat, which houses several flamingos, turtles, koi and ducks.
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3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Next to the Flamingo is Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino, which has been in business since 1959. Originally called the Flamingo Capri, Imperial Palace is now owned by Caesars Entertainment.

Though not specifically significant to Las Vegas' history, Imperial Palace is home to the world's largest classic car showroom, which is located on the fifth floor. More than 250 antique, classic and historically significant cars are on display, and nearly all are for sale. To reach it, follow the signs through the casino and take the elevator to the top of the parking garage. The auto collection is open 10am-6pm daily. There is a small entrance fee.

Imperial Palace is also home to a show called "Smokey Robinson Presents Australia's Human Nature--the Ultimate Celebration of Motown." This quartet has hit it big in Australia, and now visitors to Imperial Palace can check out this group, which has toured with Celine Dion and Michael Jackson. The show takes place on the third floor in a remodeled classic showroom. The box office is located on the casino floor.
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3535 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Cross the street to the Mirage, a 3,044-room resort that was designed by Steve Wynn and opened in November 1989. At the time, it was the most expensive hotel casino constructed in history at a cost of $630 million. When it opened, the Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full time on all gaming tables.

Though the Mirage has been home to a number of well-known Las Vegas shows and performers including Cirque du Soleil's "LOVE," Danny Gans and "America's Got Talent" winner Terry Fator, it is Siegfried & Roy who really put the resort's entertainment on the map. The show, which began its run in 1990, featured Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn in a magic show that used several wild animals. In a show on Oct. 3, 2003, Horn was bitten and seriously injured by a male tiger. The show was subsequently closed and 267 cast and crew members were laid off. Nonetheless, Siegfried and Roy continue to have a presence at the Mirage with their Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, which is an educational facility and an excellent stop for those traveling with families.
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3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South

The Peppermill Restaurant & Fireside Lounge is located a little more than a mile north up Las Vegas Boulevard from the Mirage, but it is worth the trip if you'd like to experience one of Sin City's oldest and most classic diners.

Since 1972, this stand-alone structure has been serving up 24/7 casual diner meals complete with milkshakes and crazy cocktails. The inside of the restaurant is decked out in neon lights, and the adjacent lounge is classy with waitresses who wear long black dresses. Grab a bite to eat before heading on to your final stop on the tour.
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2985 Las Vegas Blvd. South

The present day Las Vegas Hilton was built on land that was originally occupied by the Las Vegas Park Speedway, a failed horse and auto racing facility in the 1950s. In 1969, the property was opened as International Hotel, the largest hotel in the world at the time.

The resort is best known for its famous performers: In 1969, Elvis Presley performed for 58 consecutive soldout shows, breaking all sorts of Las Vegas attendance records. He broke those records in February 1970 and then again in August 1970 and August 1972. Elvis lived in the penthouse suite (room 3000) on the 30th floor while performing in Las Vegas until his last performance there in December 1976. Liberace headlined in a showroom in the 1970s. When he signed his contract at the Hilton in 1972, he earned $300,000 a week, a record amount for individual entertainers in Las Vegas. The Hilton was also where Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1978 and where Mike Tyson beat Tony Tucker to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in 1986.

In order to experience the Hilton's glory days, catch a show in one of the Hilton's theaters where several classic Vegas impersonators perform. The Hilton Theater is considered the last remaining great showroom in Las Vegas with 1,700 seats within 87 feet of the stage.
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3000 Paradise Rd.