Editor’s Note: It has come to our attention that the information in this article about Lake Las Vegas has become outdated and/or incorrect since it was originally published in January 2017. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused! Check out this updated story to learn about what became of this amazing place.
The city of Las Vegas is a colorful desert flower blooming against all odds, but not every desert casino town is so lucky. Once upon a time, this abandoned resort was built on the edge of a manmade lake (Lake Las Vegas) and aimed to be the next big Nevada gambling destination. Instead, it quickly withered. Read on to learn more about this unique abandoned site, and then learn about what became of it!
The lake was formed in the late 1990s.
YouTube/ADVENTURES with Christian A group of investors decided to dam the drainage water from Las Vegas to create a waterfront community in the desert. Honestly, we’re not sure why anyone ever tries to force water-based communities in places they wouldn’t otherwise exist, but we digress.
Three massive casinos were built around the lake, as well as a slew of multi-million dollar homes.
YouTube/ADVENTURES with Christian It was beautiful, for sure, but unfortunately, it was ultimately not to be.
Within two years, the project was bankrupt.
YouTube/ADVENTURES with Christian Lake Las Vegas was abandoned almost overnight. It quickly faded into obscurity, and slowly, urban explorers began filing into the old buildings to enjoy the decay.
At the time this article was originally written, a few rooms remained open for rent on the lake, in a massive hotel operated by just a handful of people.
YouTube/ADVENTURES with Christian Some places were preserved exactly as they were when they closed, but others were in ruins. But then, something amazing happened: the area received new life breathed straight into it.
Take a look at Lake Las Vegas as it is today! It’s come a long way. Amazingly, it has undergone some truly incredible transformations and is nothing like the empty shell it spent so many years before. We are thrilled to see that it’s being redeveloped and repurposed – after all, we’re suckers for a good comeback story.
YouTube/ADVENTURES with Christian
A group of investors decided to dam the drainage water from Las Vegas to create a waterfront community in the desert. Honestly, we’re not sure why anyone ever tries to force water-based communities in places they wouldn’t otherwise exist, but we digress.
It was beautiful, for sure, but unfortunately, it was ultimately not to be.
Lake Las Vegas was abandoned almost overnight. It quickly faded into obscurity, and slowly, urban explorers began filing into the old buildings to enjoy the decay.
Some places were preserved exactly as they were when they closed, but others were in ruins. But then, something amazing happened: the area received new life breathed straight into it.
Interested in a tour of Lake Las Vegas? Check out this delightful video:
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Lake Las Vegas February 01, 2023 Tori Jane
What are some eerie abandoned places in NV?
Nevada is a state that’s quite well known for its mining history and, as a result, its ghost towns and abandoned places. Of course, some of these abandoned places in NV are more notorious than others, like:
Rhyolite, one of the most famous ghost towns in the west and the most famous ghost town in Nevada The Goldfield Hotel, which was once upon a time a very popular destination in a successful mining town now left to the elements Silver City, the other most famous ghost town in NV The cemetery in Tonopah, another ghost town with a spooky cemetery you’ll love poking around in
Learn more about famous ghost towns in Nevada by embarking upon our awesome Nevada ghost town road trip.
What parts of abandoned Las Vegas should I check out?
Believe it or not, there’s an entire smorgasbord of abandoned places in and around Las Vegas. It turns out abandoned Las Vegas is a pretty “real” place! Some of the most famous bits and pieces of abandoned Las Vegas are:
The Sandhill Road Tunnels: a “secret” network of hidden tunnels beneath the city of Las Vegas Delamar, a ghost town nearby Vegas that was once a booming gold rush town The Anson Phelps Stokes Castle, which isn’t a castle so much as an old stone tower that the old owned simply lost interest in and left
Learn more about some interesting abandoned places near Las Vegas.
Why was Lake Las Vegas abandoned?
The short answer: the 2007/2008 financial crisis, when developers defaulted on the $540 million loan for the project. This, combined with a myriad of other, smaller factors, was the death knell for an otherwise excellent project with high potential.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Lake Las Vegas
February 01, 2023
Tori Jane
What are some eerie abandoned places in NV?
Nevada is a state that’s quite well known for its mining history and, as a result, its ghost towns and abandoned places. Of course, some of these abandoned places in NV are more notorious than others, like:
Rhyolite, one of the most famous ghost towns in the west and the most famous ghost town in Nevada The Goldfield Hotel, which was once upon a time a very popular destination in a successful mining town now left to the elements Silver City, the other most famous ghost town in NV The cemetery in Tonopah, another ghost town with a spooky cemetery you’ll love poking around in
Learn more about famous ghost towns in Nevada by embarking upon our awesome Nevada ghost town road trip.
What parts of abandoned Las Vegas should I check out?
Believe it or not, there’s an entire smorgasbord of abandoned places in and around Las Vegas. It turns out abandoned Las Vegas is a pretty “real” place! Some of the most famous bits and pieces of abandoned Las Vegas are:
The Sandhill Road Tunnels: a “secret” network of hidden tunnels beneath the city of Las Vegas Delamar, a ghost town nearby Vegas that was once a booming gold rush town The Anson Phelps Stokes Castle, which isn’t a castle so much as an old stone tower that the old owned simply lost interest in and left
Learn more about some interesting abandoned places near Las Vegas.
Why was Lake Las Vegas abandoned?
The short answer: the 2007/2008 financial crisis, when developers defaulted on the $540 million loan for the project. This, combined with a myriad of other, smaller factors, was the death knell for an otherwise excellent project with high potential.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Nevada is a state that’s quite well known for its mining history and, as a result, its ghost towns and abandoned places. Of course, some of these abandoned places in NV are more notorious than others, like:
- Rhyolite, one of the most famous ghost towns in the west and the most famous ghost town in Nevada
- The Goldfield Hotel, which was once upon a time a very popular destination in a successful mining town now left to the elements
- Silver City, the other most famous ghost town in NV
- The cemetery in Tonopah, another ghost town with a spooky cemetery you’ll love poking around in
Learn more about famous ghost towns in Nevada by embarking upon our awesome Nevada ghost town road trip.
- What parts of abandoned Las Vegas should I check out?
Believe it or not, there’s an entire smorgasbord of abandoned places in and around Las Vegas. It turns out abandoned Las Vegas is a pretty “real” place! Some of the most famous bits and pieces of abandoned Las Vegas are:
- The Sandhill Road Tunnels: a “secret” network of hidden tunnels beneath the city of Las Vegas
- Delamar, a ghost town nearby Vegas that was once a booming gold rush town
- The Anson Phelps Stokes Castle, which isn’t a castle so much as an old stone tower that the old owned simply lost interest in and left
Learn more about some interesting abandoned places near Las Vegas.
- Why was Lake Las Vegas abandoned?
The short answer: the 2007/2008 financial crisis, when developers defaulted on the $540 million loan for the project. This, combined with a myriad of other, smaller factors, was the death knell for an otherwise excellent project with high potential.
