More than 10,000 people were on hand for the October 18, 1968, opening of the “green felt Disneyland.” Sarno, of course, served as ringmaster, dressing for the part in top hat and tails. He figured that if he did something no one else was doing, there wouldn’t be any competition. While most other casino operators saw no value in creating a family attraction on the Strip, Sarno recognized an opportunity. The highly creative casino developer decided his next project would be driven by a desire to give families a reason to vacation in Las Vegas. Courtesy of UNLV Special Collections.Ĭircus Circus was the brainchild of Jay Sarno, who had imprinted his name on the Las Vegas map just a couple of years before with the Roman-themed Caesars Palace. Jay Sarno was the creative force behind Circus Circus, as well as Caesars Palace before it. It’s still there today, a battle-scarred survivor of the implosion fever that gripped the casino business from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. Courtesy of Alex Proimos / Wikimedia Commonsįifty years ago this month, Circus Circus opened its doors at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip. Although it shows a lot of wear and tear, it continues to be a profit center for MGM, an affordable alternative to its higher-end resorts. Today, Circus Circus is one of 11 Strip properties owned by MGM Resorts.
