The city of Las Vegas is one of the most unusual locations on the earth, as it resembles a theme park more than a real metropolis. It goes by a lot of different names, and it’s been the site of a lot of strange stuff over the last sixty years or so. The ten most crazy are listed below.
Atomic Bomb Displays
Following WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union launched a nuclear arms race and ultimately got entangled in a cold war with one another. In 1951, the United States government chose a 680-square-mile plot of land 65 miles north of Las Vegas as a nuclear testing site. Over several decades, residents and visitors to the region frequently flocked to the Nevada Proving Ground to participate in atomic bomb celebrations and see over a thousand massive explosions.
A fire breaks out on the Sahara’s roof
The Sahara is one of the most established casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. In 1964, a crew of employees installing a sprinkler system on the venue’s roof unintentionally ignited a fire. It took hundreds of gallons of water to put out this fire, and some of it made its way into the casino’s gaming area and showroom. This indicates why gambling at online casinos is sometimes superior to gambling at traditional brick-and-mortar establishments since you never know what can happen.
Elvis’ tour through Las Vegas began at the International
The Westgate Resort and Casino originally welcomed visitors in 1969, when it was still known as the International. Elvis Presley had his debut performance at this venue in July of the same year, kicking off a remarkable seven-year run that featured 636 sold-out shows. His stay in Las Vegas would have a huge influence on the King’s career, and he would pave the way for the city to develop as the world’s entertainment capital. His first outstanding performance was at the International, and it will be remembered forever.
Evel Knievel’s Fountain Jump at Caesar’s Palace
Because Knievel’s landing was anything from smooth, the title of this subsection should be “attempts to jump Caesar’s fountain,” not “trying to jump Caesar’s fountain.” When Knievel landed, he lost control of his bike and skidded over the pavement due to a sudden loss of power. The 141-foot leap occurred on December 31st, 1967, and as a result, the famous daredevil went into a coma that lasted 29 days.
Roy is attacked by the tiger he is riding
Siegfried and Roy, a German-American magic act pair known across the world as Siegfried and Roy, was a Las Vegas institution for more than two decades. All of that changed in October 2003, when a seven-year-old white tiger attacked Roy Horn when he was performing at Montecore’s Mirage. Roy Horn’s spine was severely damaged as a result of the tragedy. The incident that ended this duet’s singing career is still widely discussed in current times.
During a bungee jump, Richard Branson’s pants split
Richard Branson, an entrepreneur, decided to publicize his newly created airline, Virgin America, by organizing a PR stunt in Las Vegas in 2007. It featured him bungee jumping from the roof of the 407-foot-tall Palms casino and flinging airline tickets into the air as he dropped. Despite this, his demeanor quickly shifted from confident to embarrassed due to an event that occurred during the act. A blast of wind smacked his bottom into the side of the Palms, causing the rip in his trousers.
Tyson bites off Holyfield’s ear
In late 1996, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield squared off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. For quite some time, the conflict had been anticipated. Holyfield won the fight via technical knockout in the eleventh round after dominating the fight in an exceptionally one-sided manner. After a seven-month hiatus, the two contestants faced off once more at the same site. By the third round of the fight, Tyson had had enough of his opponent’s alleged headbutts and delivered a dose of retaliation by chewing a chunk out of Holyfield’s ear, ending in Tyson’s loss by disqualification. The win went to Holyfield.
A Casino Thief Who Surrendered to Authorities
Heather Tallchief, a Las Vegas armored vehicle driver, was the one who took $3 million in cash on October 1, 1993, and then vanished without a trace. She was never discovered. That is until she turned herself into the authorities twelve years later. Tallchief said that her lover, Roberto Solis, had brainwashed her into carrying out his plan and had forced her to engage in the crime against her will.
A Mob Museum has opened in Las Vegas
The Mob Museum, located at 300 East Stewart Avenue, is widely regarded as one of the city’s most undervalued tourist attractions. It first welcomed guests on February 14, 2012, with artifacts and exhibitions detailing the history of organized crime in the United States. This attraction is housed in what was previously the Las Vegas Post Office. The basement of the attraction houses a distillery and a speakeasy, both of which are fully operational.
The Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing match has finally taken place
In May of 2015, one of the most anticipated events in the history of the combat sports business took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Although many industry insiders believe that this struggle should have occurred in 2009, it took six years for all of the pieces to come into place. When these two fighters agreed to battle each other in the ring, every hotel in Las Vegas rapidly got fully booked for fight night. The event was a watershed moment in the pay-per-view (PPV) business, with 4.6 million PPV purchases.