You’re driving down the Strip today and it’s a neon blur. Massive LED screens. Dancing fountains. High-tech spheres. But if you look at the center of the action, there’s that pink glow. It’s the Flamingo. People always ask when was the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas built because it feels like the DNA of the city itself. Honestly? It sort of is.
But the "when" is a bit messy.
Construction actually kicked off in 1945. World War II was barely over. Materials were scarce. It officially opened its doors on December 26, 1946. However, if you walked in that night, you wouldn't have seen the finished resort we imagine today. It was a disaster. It was raining—yes, in the desert—and the hotel rooms weren't even finished. Guests had to gamble in the casino and then drive down the road to sleep at other motels.
The Visionary (and the Mob) Behind the 1946 Opening
Most people think Bugsy Siegel just woke up and decided to build a casino. That’s not quite how it went. The original idea actually belonged to a guy named Billy Wilkerson. He was the founder of the Hollywood Reporter. Billy wanted a "carpet joint," a place of high-end luxury that didn't look like the dusty sawdust joints that populated Vegas back then.
He ran out of money.
That’s when Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel and his organized crime associates stepped in. They took over the project in 1946. Siegel was obsessed. He wanted the best of everything. We’re talking hand-cut marble and private plumbing that cost a fortune because he wanted every room to have its own sewer line—a total rarity at the time. Because of his "extravagant" spending (and some likely skimming off the top), the budget ballooned from $1.2 million to over $6 million.
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Why the Date December 26, 1946, Matters So Much
The Flamingo didn't just open; it struggled to exist.
When it opened in December '46, it was a flop. The air conditioning—a massive selling point in Nevada—kept breaking. The stars Siegel invited, like Jimmy Durante and Xavier Cugat, performed to half-empty rooms because the locals stayed away. It closed just two weeks later.
It didn't truly "arrive" until it reopened in March 1947. That’s when it started making money. But for Siegel, it was too little, too late. He was murdered in Beverly Hills in June 1947, just months after his dream finally started turning a profit. If you visit the Flamingo today, there’s a stone pillar and a plaque near the wedding chapel that marks the site of his original "fortress" suite. It’s a bit eerie if you think about it too long.
Architecture and the "Miami" Influence
Before the Flamingo, Vegas was "Western." It was cowboys, spurs, and wagon wheels.
The Flamingo changed the vibe to "Miami Modern."
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They used wide glass windows. They brought in exotic plants. It was designed to feel like an oasis. The architect, Richard Stadelman (who took over from George Vernon Russell), wanted it to feel sophisticated. Even the name "Flamingo" was a departure. Some say it was named after Siegel's girlfriend, Virginia Hill, because of her long legs, but Billy Wilkerson actually came up with the name long before Siegel was the boss.
The building you see now isn't the 1946 original. Not really.
Vegas has this habit of "imploding" its history. The last of the original 1940s structures was torn down in the early 1990s to make room for the current towers and the 15-acre pool habitat. If you're looking for the exact wood beams Bugsy touched, you’re out of luck. But the footprint? That’s original. The soul of the place hasn't moved an inch.
How the Flamingo Defined the Modern Strip
The Flamingo was the first "resort" on what we now call the Las Vegas Strip (Highway 91). Before that, most of the action was downtown on Fremont Street. By building out in the middle of nowhere, Siegel and Wilkerson proved that people would travel for a self-contained experience.
It set the template for everything that came after:
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- The luxury pool culture.
- The high-stakes "private" gambling rooms.
- The celebrity residency (it basically started here).
- The integration of "theme" into every corner of the property.
Beyond the Mob: The Hilton and Caesars Eras
By the 1970s, the Flamingo underwent a massive identity shift. Kirk Kerkorian bought it, and then Hilton took the reins. It became the "Flamingo Hilton." This was a big deal because it was the first time a major, "legitimate" corporate hotel chain put their name on a Vegas casino. It signaled that the era of mob rule was fading and the era of corporate mega-resorts was beginning.
In the late 90s and 2000s, it transitioned again, eventually landing under the Caesars Entertainment umbrella. Throughout all these corporate handovers, the one thing that never changed was the color pink. It’s the brand.
Visiting the History Today
If you want to feel the history of when the Flamingo hotel in Las Vegas was built, don’t just stay in your room.
Walk the gardens. There are actual Chilean flamingos there, plus ducks, swans, and turtles. It’s one of the few places on the Strip where you can find a bit of quiet that feels like the old-school "oasis" concept.
The casino floor still has that low-ceiling, high-energy vibe that reminds you of the 1950s "Rat Pack" era, even if the slot machines are all digital now.
Actionable Tips for History Buffs
If you’re heading to the Flamingo to soak up the lore, do these three things:
- Find the Bugsy Memorial: It’s located in the outdoor garden area. It’s subtle, but it marks the spot where the original "Oregon" building stood, which housed Siegel’s private, bulletproof suite.
- Check the Neon: Look at the "Champagne Tower" neon remnants. While the exterior has been updated many times, the lighting designers still try to mimic the original 1950s and 60s neon sweeps that made the hotel a landmark.
- Visit the Wildlife Habitat: It’s free and it’s the best way to see the original "oasis" layout that Wilkerson dreamed up before the mob took the reigns.
The Flamingo is the oldest remaining resort on the Strip. Every other pioneer—the Sands, the Sahara, the Desert Inn—is gone, either blown up or rebranded beyond recognition. The Flamingo stayed. It’s still pink, it’s still there, and it still tells the story of how a mobster's expensive headache became the most famous corner in the world.