With an Egyptian theme and sleek design, the resort strived to appeal to both families seeking theme-park-like experiences, and wealthier clientele than the Circus Circus crowd. An early example of the short-lived “family friendly” era of Vegas, the Luxor was intended to be a resort aimed at children as much as adults. The hotel-casino was the creation of Circus Circus Enterprises. The resort is also home to the only full-scale reproduction of King Tut’s tomb outside of Egypt. Inside, its interiors are lined with murals and statues depicting Egyptian iconography, mirroring the strongly themed exterior. The Luxor pyramid’s light beam is the strongest beam of light in the world, visible even to pilots flying hours away in southern California. At 30 stories, the Luxor pyramid is three-quarters the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza, its inspiration. The Luxor debuted on the Vegas Strip in October 1993 after only eighteen months of construction. Since its construction, the Luxor has been a magnet for strange, chaotic energy and tragic events: fights, terrorism, disease outbreaks, fatal accidents, suicides. The outwardly ominous appearance of the Luxor Las Vegas hotel and casino is no coincidence. Even viewing it in photos can induce a feeling of uneasiness.Īt the very front of the property, an obelisk inscribed “LUXOR” finally reveals the name of the property. It is a slice of a faraway era and desert placed in the midst of another desert. Taken in at once, the area is an uncanny reinterpretation of Ancient Egypt. In front, a lone sphinx reclines, a perpetual emptiness in its eyes. At night, an eerie beam of bright, white light shoots skyward from the pyramid’s north point, visible for miles and miles beyond in any direction. It is difficult to see inside through the opaque, onyx glass. In the thick of the Las Vegas Strip stands an immense, glossy, jet-black pyramid.

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