vintage vegas....

After shooting back to back weddings last weekend, Marlene and I packed the kids up (and Mom!) and went to Vegas for a few days of fun. We actually packed a lot into three days, including pool time, a movie (Wall.E), gambling, dinner at Mesa Grill (so yummy) and my personal favorite looking for old buildings in Vegas!

Ten years ago I stumbled upon the Moulin Rouge and instantly became interested by its history. As the first racially integrated hotel and casino in Las Vegas, it opened so many doors and forever changed the landscape of Vegas. Opened in 1955, it operated less than a year but drew in the biggest names of all colors. Unfortunately it now sits abandioned, only a shell of its original beauty. In 2003, arsonists burned it to the ground. The only thing that survived is the front facade with the magnificent logo, the tower and the hotel. Hopefully someday, someone will return this treasure to its original glory.