One word has defined Las Vegas for more than 65 years. FABULOUS.
When you arrive in the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World, one vision always comes to mind. The globally famous sign that literally invites you to experience everything that only our spectacular city can offer. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!
Every visitor should take a moment and snap a selfie at this iconic symbol and appreciate the history behind how it came to be the most recognized landmark in the city.
A Vegas Institution Since 1959
Betty Willis, one of the first female commercial artists to work on neon signs, designed the sign in 1959. Willis attended art school and after graduation, found work creating ads for local casinos. She was approached by local businessman Ted Rogich, who thought the city needed its own flashy sign to advertise itself amid all the great entertainment and resorts in the area.
When Willis designed the sign, she sold it to Clark County – without copyrighting it – for a whopping $4,000. She called it a gift to her hometown and didn’t create it to get rich. That’s why the sign is duplicated across every type of souvenir – from T-shirts to keychains, the sign has become an icon!
Long before cellphones and selfies, the sign’s popularity was evident with tourists and guests. Decades before there was a grassy area and driveway entrance with parking spaces, people would race across Las Vegas Boulevard to take pictures with the sign.
When the Lights Came On
Neon signs adorning resorts had begun to decline by the 1970s as more high-rise towers began to propagate on the Strip and more established resorts began to replace their neon with more modern signage.
The welcome sign was unattended for years, until nearby motel owner John Woodrum witnessed visitors frequently taking photos at the 25-foot-tall structure. He ran a power line from his property to the sign and turned it on himself, and suddenly, the sign was lit.
Since then, the Welcome to Fabulous greeting has remained one of the top selfie spots in the city. While official numbers don’t exist, a significant portion of the 40-million-plus visitors to Las Vegas annually stop by the sign to commemorate their trip.
Switching to Solar Power
The silver circles that spell out “WELCOME” represent silver dollars as a salute to Nevada’s designation as the “Silver State.” But how does it light up? In 2014, Clark County installed panels by the sign that provide enough solar-powered energy to illuminate the sign, all day and night long.
Make sure a visit to the sign is part of your next Welcome to Fabulous experience. While you’re here, take advantage of these budget hacks to score some of the best deals on resorts, restaurants and attractions, and check out some of the shows and entertainment you can only find in Las Vegas.