The scene has been playing out for weeks now across town, as various Las Vegas institutions resume daily operations, each providing its own chapter in the story of a 24/7 city getting back on its high-heeled feet.
Reopening Las Vegas
More than two months into a state-mandated shutdown, some Las Vegas casinos and restaurants are planning to reopen their doors to the public June 4.
Clark County’s more than 200 licenced operators celebrated reopening properties Thursday, but the bigger question is whether they’ll be able to build on that success.
There was much rejoicing Friday as visitors returned to Las Vegas casinos, open for the first time since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The room will be the fourth to reopen in Las Vegas after The Orleans and South Point on Thursday and The Venetian on Friday.
Las Vegas casinos weren’t inundated with gamblers when they reopened Thursday, but a flood of guests hadn’t been expected, according to Gov. Steve Sisolak.
Despite the availability of face coverings, Review-Journal staff and experts who toured casinos on Thursday and Friday said only about half of visitors were seen wearing masks.
A slight uptick in passenger volume continued Friday at McCarran International Airport as visitors arrived to take in Las Vegas’ reopened casino properties.
Strip hotels are offering free parking, waived resort fees and discounted room rates to bring tourists back to Nevada. But there is debate about whether it helps or hurts the Las Vegas brand.
Visitors were happy to be back, but overall, Las Vegas’ casino reopening wasn’t met with stampedes of incomers.
Led by vocalists Steve Judkins and LaShonda Reese, Mayfair’s production showed no signs of rust.
From the first cheers on Fremont Street at 12:01 a.m. Thursday to the quiet hum of traffic at midnight Friday, Review-Journal photographers captured the reawakening of Las Vegas.
We’re here! We’re back! So what’s going on?
There were more than 40 people each at the South Point and Sunset Station racebooks Thursday. But there were only a handful of people at their sportsbooks.
More than 10 tables were in action throughout the day at both rooms, with long waiting lists, as casinos reopened around the Las Vegas Valley.
The first and last place people see who fly into Las Vegas finally saw life pumped back into it.
Most Las Vegas-Clark County Library District branches resume operation, offering computer services, but no browsing.
