An neon icon that says it all
Who would have thought that a road sign could attract so much attention? In a town full of neon lights, the relatively humble “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign is the most famous of them all.
As it’s right in the middle of the freeway, you’ll have difficulty taking a photo of this national landmark. The best way to do so is by hopping on one of our open-top Las Vegas Bus Tours – we'll give you the best opportunity to capture the most iconic view in town.
The history of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign
In 1959, a designer named Betty Willis was working for the Western Neon Company. She was asked to design an appropriate sign to welcome visitors to Las Vegas and reflect the thrills and excitement of the Strip. The rest, as they say, is history.
The day the sign was changed
On April 28, 2010, visitors would have noticed something different about the sign. A cover placed over it read “Welcome to Fabulous Camp Vegas”. This was an audacious part of Mayor Oscar Goodman’s new marketing campaign to promote Las Vegas as a summer camp for adults.
Other interesting facts about the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign
- The design of the sign was never copyrighted as the designer considered this her gift to the city
- On October 4, 1999, the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign went dark because the electricity bill hadn’t been paid
- On the back of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign it reads: “Drive carefully. Come back soon”
- The "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign has been added to the US State Register of Historic Places
