Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is the city's classic photo stop and a reminder of the early days of the Strip. It was designed by Betty Willis of Western Neon at the request of local businessman Ted Rogich and went up in 1959. The Young Electric Sign Company, known as YESCO, has owned the sign since it bought Western Neon in the early 1960s and leases it to Clark County. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 2009.

Willis is said to have considered the sign her gift to the city, and its design has become one of the most recognised images of Las Vegas. It was added to the Nevada State Register in December 2013, and YESCO continues to maintain it, so the sign you see today is still looked after by the company that has owned it for more than six decades.

The sign stands in the median of Las Vegas Boulevard South, south of the Strip and just north of the old McCarran Field stone pillars. A small car park in the median, improved several times since 2008, gives access to the photo spot, and signalled crosswalks connect it to the pavements. Expect a queue at busy times, as visitors line up for a picture directly in front of the sign. There is no charge to visit.

Early morning is the quietest and coolest time to visit, while evening brings the lights on and a longer line. Allow 20 to 30 minutes including the wait. It suits everyone, and children usually enjoy it as a quick stop. In summer there is little shade around the sign, so bring water and a hat if you are visiting during the day.

If you are driving, the median car park is small and fills quickly at busy times, so be prepared to wait for a space or come back later. Watch for traffic when crossing, and use the signalled crosswalks rather than stepping into the road.

The sign is easiest to reach by car, taxi or ride-share, or on a tour that stops on the way to or from the Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon. Walking from the nearest resorts is possible but involves busy roads and limited shade. Many visitors combine it with an evening on the southern end of the Strip.