The last remaining publicly displayed sign from the Dunes Hotel and Casino has been relit at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas.
The restored Dunes entrance sign weighs about 1,200 pounds and stands 10 feet tall on a raised frame. It features LED tubes to recapture its original glow, and almost 100 incandescent bulbs sparkle through its mechanical flasher.
The Neon Museum acquired the sign in 2002. During its restoration, workers found that about 95% of its original sockets and wiring was still functional and preserved its original Ad Art stickers under protective tape during painting.
The Dunes, called the "Miracle in the Desert," opened in 1955. With an Arabian Nights theme, it featured opulent decor, the Sultan's Table fine dining experience and "Minsky's Follies," the city's first topless revue. The hotel closed in 1993, and it was imploded in a spectacular ceremony to make room for Bellagio, which opened in 1998.
"It was a true privilege to play a role in bringing this iconic sign back to life," said Roger Thomas, a former board member and chair of the Neon Museum collections committee. "The Dunes was a legendary resort that is deeply tied to my family and the shaping of Las Vegas history, so I am honored to have helped restore a piece of its history for future generations to experience and be inspired by."
The restoration was made possible by Thomas, a renowned interior designer, to honor his parents, Peggy and E. Parry Thomas, as well as Joyce and Jerry Mack. Jerry Mack and E. Parry Thomas and were instrumental in finance and legal reforms that helped create corporate ownership of casinos.
Another sign on the way
El Cortez's Prime Rib "19.95" neon sign will be added to the Neon Museum's Boneyard on Nov. 7.
"Las Vegas has changed a lot, and so have we, but El Cortez has been here since 1941 and still feels like a piece of classic Las Vegas," said Kenny Epstein, owner of the hotel-casino. "Relighting this sign honors our legacy, and we thank the Neon Museum for helping preserve it."
The 18-foot-by-24-foot sign was part of the hotel's parking structure and dates to 1974.
"This piece, with a reader board that reads, 'Fun in the Sun Since '41,' will undoubtedly bring smiles to hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but this sign also speaks to the historic nature that is the El Cortez," said Aaron Berger, the museum's executive director. "With this iconic -- very large -- addition, we can engage audiences with its long and storied history, its fun messaging and dive into how prime rib became a part of Las Vegas culture."
The sign will be re-illuminated at 5 p.m. on Nov. 7. Tickets for the ceremony are available at the museum's website.