Place Archive

Circus Circus Hotel and Casino

Opened in 1968 by developer Jay Sarno, Circus Circus was originally conceived as a casino-only property built around a circus-themed gambling floor, with no hotel rooms. It was among the first Strip properties to market itself to families rather than exclusively to gamblers, a strategy that shaped its development through the following decades. The original pink-and-white striped big top structure remains at the front of the property, with a hotel tower added later and the Adventuredome, an enclosed theme park, opening in 1993. The Manor, a low-rise annex across Las Vegas Boulevard from the main tower, offers motel-style rooms along interior corridors, a format typical of Strip-adjacent lodging built before high-rise construction became standard. Now operated by Phil Ruffin, Circus Circus remains one of the oldest continuously operating casino resorts on the Strip.

9 photos

Markers

Circus Circus Hotel and Casino Photo Locations

9 geotagged photos

Circus Circus Lit Up Marquee, Las Vegas Hotel and Casino — The illuminated marquee at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip at night. The sign features the property's iconic clown mascot above advertisements for the Adventuredome indoor theme park and the Midway arcade.

Circus Circus Hotel Illuminated Entrance, Las Vegas — The thousands of lights at the entrance to Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. The lights have existed since 1968. Circus Circus opened in 1968, making it one of the oldest casino resorts still operating on the Strip. It was the developed by Jay Sarno, the same developer behind Caesars Palace, and was originally conceived as a casino-only property with no hotel rooms, just a giant circus-themed gambling floor under a big top. It was one of the first casinos to actively court families rather than just gamblers, a strategy that was popular around with Las Vegas development in the 1980s and 90s. The property features a permanent indoor circus with free acts running continuously above the casino floor — a feature that's been there since the beginning. The pink-and-white striped big top structure at the front is the original 1968 building. The tower itself is the later hotel addition. The curved copper/bronze structure in the foreground is the Adventuredome, an indoor theme park that opened in 1993. Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was shot at Circus Circus.

Splash Zone Water Park at Circus Circus, Las Vegas — The Splash Zone Water Park at Circus Circus in Las Vegas opened in 2017. Circus Circus opened in 1968, making it one of the oldest casino resorts still operating on the Strip. It was the developed by Jay Sarno, the same developer behind Caesars Palace, and was originally conceived as a casino-only property with no hotel rooms, just a giant circus-themed gambling floor under a big top. It was one of the first casinos to actively court families rather than just gamblers, a strategy that was popular around with Las Vegas development in the 1980s and 90s. The property features a permanent indoor circus with free acts running continuously above the casino floor — a feature that's been there since the beginning. The pink-and-white striped big top structure at the front is the original 1968 building. The tower itself is the later hotel addition. The curved copper/bronze structure in the foreground is the Adventuredome, an indoor theme park that opened in 1993. Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was shot at Circus Circus.

Circus Circus Manor Exterior Photo, Las Vegas — The exterior of the Circus Circus Manor motel across from Circus Circus. Circus Circus opened in 1968, making it one of the oldest casino resorts still operating on the Strip. It was the developed by Jay Sarno, the same developer behind Caesars Palace, and was originally conceived as a casino-only property with no hotel rooms, just a giant circus-themed gambling floor under a big top. It was one of the first casinos to actively court families rather than just gamblers, a strategy that was popular around with Las Vegas development in the 1980s and 90s. The property features a permanent indoor circus with free acts running continuously above the casino floor — a feature that's been there since the beginning. The pink-and-white striped big top structure at the front is the original 1968 building. The tower itself is the later hotel addition. The curved copper/bronze structure in the foreground is the Adventuredome, an indoor theme park that opened in 1993. Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was shot at Circus Circus.

Clown signage on the outside of the Circus Circus manor motels — Clown signage outsdie Circus Circus Manor. Circus Circus opened in 1968, making it one of the oldest casino resorts still operating on the Strip. It was the developed by Jay Sarno, the same developer behind Caesars Palace, and was originally conceived as a casino-only property with no hotel rooms, just a giant circus-themed gambling floor under a big top. It was one of the first casinos to actively court families rather than just gamblers, a strategy that was popular around with Las Vegas development in the 1980s and 90s. The property features a permanent indoor circus with free acts running continuously above the casino floor — a feature that's been there since the beginning. The pink-and-white striped big top structure at the front is the original 1968 building. The tower itself is the later hotel addition. The curved copper/bronze structure in the foreground is the Adventuredome, an indoor theme park that opened in 1993. Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was shot at Circus Circus.

Circus Circus Hotel Registration sign as seen near the Circus Circus Manor. Circus Circus opened in 1968, making it one of the oldest casino resorts still operating on the Strip. It was the developed by Jay Sarno, the same developer behind Caesars Palace, and was originally conceived as a casino-only property with no hotel rooms, just a giant circus-themed gambling floor under a big top. It was one of the first casinos to actively court families rather than just gamblers, a strategy that was popular around with Las Vegas development in the 1980s and 90s. The property features a permanent indoor circus with free acts running continuously above the casino floor — a feature that's been there since the beginning. The pink-and-white striped big top structure at the front is the original 1968 building. The tower itself is the later hotel addition. The curved copper/bronze structure in the foreground is the Adventuredome, an indoor theme park that opened in 1993. Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was shot at Circus Circus.

Circus Circus Hotel Exterior, Las Vegas — Circus Circus opened in 1968, making it one of the oldest casino resorts still operating on the Strip. It was the developed by Jay Sarno, the same developer behind Caesars Palace, and was originally conceived as a casino-only property with no hotel rooms, just a giant circus-themed gambling floor under a big top. It was one of the first casinos to actively court families rather than just gamblers, a strategy that was popular around with Las Vegas development in the 1980s and 90s. The property features a permanent indoor circus with free acts running continuously above the casino floor — a feature that's been there since the beginning. The pink-and-white striped big top structure at the front is the original 1968 building. The tower itself is the later hotel addition. The curved copper/bronze structure in the foreground is the Adventuredome, an indoor theme park that opened in 1993. Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was shot at Circus Circus.

Interior guest room corridor with numbered doors in the Circus Circus Manor building, Las Vegas. — Circus Circus Manor's low-rise buildings sit across Las Vegas Boulevard from the resort's main casino tower, offering motel-style rooms reached by interior corridors rather than exterior walkways. This layout was typical of Strip-adjacent annexes built before high-rise towers became the standard lodging format. Circus Circus opened in 1968 and has run continuously as a casino-hotel since, now operated by Phil Ruffin. The Manor rooms remain a budget-oriented option compared to the property's newer high-rise accommodations.

Circus Circus hotel toiletries on a bathroom counter in Las Vegas. The set includes conditioning shampoo, lotion, and a wrapped bar of soap branded for the hotel.

Photo Map

Circus Circus Hotel and Casino Photo Locations

Minneapolis Photographer