Mention the words Las Vegas and the sentence ‘What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’ and you know Las Vegas Urban Legends are not far behind. With casinos, bustling nightlife, and a million light bulbs, we’re known all over the world as the go-to for R&R and fun!
We’re also known for our folklore, history, and architecture, and that’s why many stories have ended up becoming urban legends. How many are right, or how many are crazy and unbelievable, can anyone tell? Here are some of the most famous Las Vegas urban legends. How many of them have you heard about before?
The Ghosts of MGM Grand
One of the worst disasters to go down in history is the fire that ripped through the MGM Grand Hotel in November 1980. Eighty-five people lost their lives in this tragedy.
During that time, having sprinkler systems in hotels in Vegas was not required. The fire’s cause was faulty wiring, and the lack of sprinkler systems made it impossible to contain the fire.
The property is known as Bally’s today, and rumor has it that the ghosts of those who died that day are sighted walking around. Some guests have reported hearing screams and seeing apparitions wandering in the halls.
Hauntings at the La Palazza Mansion
La Palazza Mansion has made an appearance on many TV shows about ghosts and is known to be one of the most haunted places in the United States.
The previous owner started freaking out when bad things started happening in the house. He tried to confront the evil spirit, but rumor is he almost choked to death. He was fortunate to have escaped, and the house remains vacant.
It’s believed the mob in Las Vegas owned this house. Upon investigation, they discovered a room covered with dry blood. It’s speculated that the mob used this room to perform murders. While no one has dared to live in the house, no one has dared to tear it down.
Corpse Under the Bed
This one’s a classic! Here’s how it goes: a couple checks into a hotel room and complains about a foul odor. Since the hotel is full, they cannot switch rooms. The staff at the hotel try cleaning the room, but the stench persists.
The couple goes out gambling, come back tired, and go to sleep. In the middle of the night, the couple finds the stench unbearable and begins looking for the odor’s source. That’s when they lift the bed and find a rotting corpse under the bed. True story?
Bodies in the Hoover Dam
Sometimes urban legends become so popular that people start believing it’s a fact, and here is one such example. The Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s. During its construction, 96 workers lost their lives, but popular belief says the number could be much higher. More disturbing than that is that seven bodies were allegedly never removed from the dam because they fell through gaps and were buried in the concrete. (Everett, Angeline, May 2018)
Ghost Sightings at Dell H. Robison Middle School
Kids can have wild imagination when it comes to urban legends and myths. However, this one seems to have many witnesses to be dismissed without a thought.
The students at Dell H. Robison Middle School have reportedly seen a janitor walking the halls with bloody hands. Some new arrivals claim to see the man in their dreams after enrolling in the school. Some say that he’s followed them home and then disappeared. The strange twist to this Las Vegas urban legend is that all witnesses said their sightings ended when they started going to church.
The Black Market for Kidneys
Another classic one: a tourist heads out for the night and meets some locals in a bar. They share a few drinks. The tourist’s drink is spiked, and he wakes up to a nightmarish situation. He finds himself in a bathtub, with stitches. With his kidney removed, he finds a note telling him to call 911 if he wants to live. The kidney gets sold on the black market.
With so many myths and urban legends floating around, Vegas is somewhat wrongly portrayed as dangerous. Whether these Las Vegas urban legends are true or not is something we may never know. But it is fun to contemplate.
Elite Care is One of the Las Vegas Urban Legends
Our ER is conveniently located on the Strip and we have become an urban legend by winning the Best of Las Vegas Award for 2019. Our patients are wowed by their experiences with our Board-Certified doctors, Nurses and Staff. It is our intention to stay a legend. We’re open 24/7 for any medical emergency. You can even come by just to say “Hi!” and grab a complimentary beverage and share urban legend stories!
Works Cited
Everett, Angeline. “Top Las Vegas Urban Legends.” 17 May 2018. Web. 15 Sept. 2020. https://www.usaonlinecasino.com/blog/top-las-vegas-urban-legends/
