Stratosphere Las Vegas
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Stratosphere1.jpg
The Stratosphere Las Vegas is a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, owned by American Casino Properties which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Real Estate Partners.
It is most notable for its tower, which at 1,149 ft (350 m) is not only the tallest structure in Las Vegas, but also the tallest building in the United States west of the Mississippi River.
The top of the tower has an observation deck, rotating restaurant and the following rides:
- The Big Shot at 1,081 feet is the highest thrill ride in the world;
- The High Roller at 909 feet is the second highest ride in the world and the highest roller coaster;
- Insanity the Ride, opened in 2005, at 900 feet is the third highest thrill ride in the world;
- XSCREAM at 866 feet is the fourth highest thrill ride in the world.
Stratosphere-during-the-day.jpg
The Stratosphere is the northernmost of the major Strip casinos and the only one actually in the City of Las Vegas. While the Stratosphere was originally intended to become a major tourist attraction and major strip property while it was being built, it was decidedly less popular than first envisioned due to its distance from the other major Hotel Casinos and attractions on the Strip. It now has a reputation for being less expensive than many Strip hotels. Many visitors find its location at the far end of the Strip a bit inconvenient and the area immediately to the north – between the Stratosphere and Downtown – a bit seedy.
History
The Stratosphere opened on April 30, 1996. It was conceived by Bob Stupak to replace his Vegas World Casino. The complex was built by the Stratosphere Corporation which lost control when he was forced to file for bankruptcy.
Reference
- John L. Smith, No Limit: the Rise and Fall of Bob Stupak and Las Vegas' Stratosphere Tower (Huntington Press, 1997) ISBN 0929712188
External links
- Stratosphere Las Vegas homepage (http://www.stratospherehotel.com/)
- Las Vegas Leisure Guide page on the Stratosphere, with construction details (http://www.pcap.com/strato3.htm)
- More details about the Tower (http://www.structurae.net/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0003279)
- Satellite shot (http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.147487,-115.156213&spn=0.005096,0.007918&t=k&hl=en)de:Stratosphere Las Vegas