Flamingo Las Vegas (a Harrah's Entertainment property) opened as The Pink Flamingo Hotel & Casino on December 26, 1946, and was built for a total cost of $6 million. It had 105 rooms (Flamingo now has 3,626 rooms.) "Gangster" Benny "Bugsy" Siegel came to Las Vegas, bought the El Cortez for $600,000, then sold it for $766,000. This success is probably what encouraged him to start building the Flamingo. Initially a failure, the Flamingo did become profitable fairly quickly. Siegel got "whacked" over the deal, however, as his superiors thought he skimmed a bunch of money off the project for himself.

As the first Las Vegas strip "megaresort", it makes sense that Flamingo is now at the geographic center of the strip, at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Blvd. While this location is excellent, at the same time, Flamingo looks a bit cramped being wedged in between Bill's Gamblin Hall to the south (formerly Barbary Coast), O'Sheas to the north, and Las Vegas Blvd. to the west. Their only room to grow is either eastward or vertically.

Formerly the Flamingo Hilton... I never did stay here, but I did stay at the Reno Flamingo Hilton before Hilton sold both Flamingos (the Reno Flamingo was called Golden Phoenix last time I saw it.) The Reno Flamingo was nice, reminded me a lot of Bally's. Flamingo Las Vegas offers several room choices, including something called the GO room which is upgraded with a giant plasma TV, WiFi, IPod dock, electric drapes, and a second television built into the bathroom mirror.

I remember asking for a pint of beer at the Flamingo casino bar once, the bartender didn't seem to understand me. I think I repeated my request and then she said "Oh, you want the large glass." They have a large glass and small glass I guess. Don't ask for a pint. The casino is nice and just about the right size. It's not so big that you'll get lost but it's not as shoeboxy as Bally's casino either. The location is the dead center of the strip, and prices are reasonable. I'd go with the GO room if you decide to stay here.