Downtown Las Vegas to Get New Welcome Arch, Probably

The City of Las Vegas recently revealed plans for a welcome arch to greet visitors to downtown.

The announcement of the “Las Vegas Gateway” project has caused a lot of confusion, so please don’t skim this story for a change.

A location for the downtown Las Vegas gateway arch hasn’t been determined yet, but it’ll be fancy.

Downtown Las Vegas gateway arch
Thankfully, Las Vegas drivers are known for their alertness and competency, so no worries about a dazzling welcome arch distracting them. Whatsoever.

The arch rendering was released following a City Council meeting where $60,000 was approved for property rights for the project, but not the arch part. Told you it’s confusing.

Additional confusion has resulted from the fact the artist that did the Las Vegas Gateway rendering took some liberties with the time-space continuum.

Here’s a look at the site in the arch rendering, described as a “work in progress” by those familiar with the project.

Downtown Las Vegas gateway arch
Nice try, renderer.

Officials don’t know where the arch is going, but it won’t go where the artist put it.

The most logical location for the arch is at the symbolic “entrance” to downtown from the Las Vegas Strip, at Sahara Ave. near the Bonanza Gift Shop.

Currently, there’s banner that runs across Las Vegas Blvd. welcoming people downtown.

Downtown Las Vegas welcome banner
Locals refer to this banner as Bruce. You wouldn’t like it when it’s angry.

So, that’s the arch part of the project.

The second component of the project is a display located a few blocks away from the current welcome banner, at the spot where Las Vegas Blvd. and Main Street meet.

This is not, as widely reported, the site of the former “Welcome to Downtown Las Vegas” sign. That sign was demolished by a drunken asshat in July 2016.

Let’s break this down, because the alternative is to have a life.

First, let’s look at the former site of the “Welcome to Downtown Las Vegas sign.” It’s boring, but could end up being where the new arch is installed. It’s at South 4th Street and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Downtown Las Vegas gateway arch
It’s rare when our photos capture so much not much.

Next, let’s look at the second part of the gateway project. It’s an homage to Las Vegas, featuring showgirls, chips, dice and a roulette wheel.

This display is definitely going where South Main Street and Las Vegas Blvd. connect. The address is 1830 S. Las Vegas Boulevard.

Downtown Las Vegas welcome sign
Quick, name the first five things you think of when you hear “Las Vegas,” including the words “Las Vegas.”

The funds approved by the City of Las Vegas were to acquire property rights for a corner of a Denny’s parking lot.

Yes, we took a photo. Do you know this blog at all?

Downtown Las Vegas gateway arch
Seriously, the things we do for you.

Here’s an overhead view of the site. The City has thoughtfully highlighted the space it’s purchasing the right to use for this new welcome display.

Downtown Las Vegas gateway arch
We are now, officially, boring ourself.

Now, here’s a map of where everything is in relation to everything else. Farthest north is the site of the former “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. In the middle is the future site of the welcome display with the showgirls. Farthest south is the current welcome banner.

Downtown Las Vegas gateway arch
Thanks for helping us clear this up, Google Maps.

That’s where the downtown Las Vegas gateway project stands at the moment.

We’ve been told the designs for both the arch and the sidewalk display have been approved, but there’s no word on when they might be installed.

While these new welcome signs may not become iconic like the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign on the south end of The Strip, we’re a big fan of the concepts for the arch and over-sized gambling paraphernalia, so we can’t wait to see the finished product.

Suck it, drunken asshat.

Not you, the one who knocked over the welcome sign.

We asked you not to skim.