You’ve probably heard the story. A handsome, hot-tempered mobster named Bugsy Siegel stands in the middle of a barren desert, has a fever dream about a neon oasis, and builds the Flamingo from scratch. It's a great movie plot. Honestly, it's also mostly a lie.
The real Flamingo Las Vegas history is a lot messier, more interesting, and involves a lot more people getting pushed out of moving cars (metaphorically, mostly) than the Hollywood version suggests. If you walk into the Flamingo today, you’re standing on the bones of a project that nearly destroyed everyone who touched it in the 1940s.
The Man the History Books Forgot
Before Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel ever set foot on the property, there was Billy Wilkerson.
Wilkerson wasn't a gangster. He was the founder of The Hollywood Reporter and a total gambling addict. He owned some of the swankiest clubs on the Sunset Strip, like Ciro’s and La Rue. He had this vision for a "European-style" resort in the Nevada desert—something that didn't look like the dusty, sawdust-on-the-floor "sawbuck" joints that dominated Vegas back then.
In 1945, Wilkerson bought 33 acres of land for about $9,500. He started building. But he had a problem: he kept gambling away his construction budget at other casinos.
By the time the project was a shell of a building, he was broke. He needed cash, and in the 1940s, the only people with that kind of liquid "startup" capital were the guys in the suits from New York and Chicago.
Enter the Mob
Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel didn't just stumble upon a patch of dirt. They saw a desperate man with a brilliant idea. Siegel initially came in as a partner, but he didn't stay a partner for long. Using a mix of physical threats and legal maneuvering, he eventually forced Wilkerson out of his own dream.
Siegel took over, formed the Nevada Projects Corporation, and watched the budget explode.
Originally, the Flamingo was supposed to cost about $1.2 million. By the time it opened, the bill was closer to $6 million. Siegel was a terrible foreman. He was constantly changing plans, getting ripped off by contractors who sold him the same pipe three times, and insisting on the absolute best materials during a post-war shortage.
The "Pink Palace" was born out of pure, unadulterated mismanagement.
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The Opening Night Disaster (That Wasn't)
If you watch the 1991 movie Bugsy, the opening night of the Flamingo on December 26, 1946, is a total ghost town. There’s a thunderstorm. Nobody shows up.
In reality? It was packed.
People were literally shoving each other to get through the doors. The problem wasn't a lack of people; it was that the hotel wasn't finished.
The guest rooms weren't ready because Siegel had prioritized the casino and the showroom. So, high rollers would win a bunch of money at the Flamingo, realize they couldn't sleep there, and drive back to the El Rancho or the Last Frontier to spend their winnings.
It was a financial bloodbath. Jimmy Durante performed to a packed house, but the casino lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the first few days. Siegel had to shut the whole thing down in February 1947 just to finish the rooms.
Why Bugsy Actually Died
There is a common misconception in Flamingo Las Vegas history that the mob killed Siegel because the casino was losing money.
That’s only half the story.
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By May 1947, the Flamingo was actually starting to turn a profit. It was working. But the "Commission" back east—led by Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky—was convinced that Siegel’s girlfriend, Virginia Hill, was skimming money and stashing it in Swiss bank accounts.
They figured if the project was millions over budget, Siegel must be stealing.
On June 20, 1947, Siegel was sitting on a couch in Hill’s Beverly Hills home when a gunman fired a .30-caliber carbine through the window. He was hit four times. Twenty minutes later, mob associates walked into the Flamingo and announced they were the new owners.
Efficiency was the Mafia’s strong suit.
The "Bugsy" Ghost and the Original Buildings
If you’re looking for the original Flamingo hotel today, you won't find it.
Every single original building from the 1946 era has been demolished. The last piece of the "old" Flamingo, the Oregon building (which housed the "Bugsy Suite" with its secret exits and bulletproof glass), was torn down in the early 1990s to make room for the current tower and the wildlife habitat.
That said, the spirit—and some weird legends—remain:
- The Memorial: There is a stone pillar in the garden area dedicated to Siegel. It’s tucked away near the wedding chapels.
- The Wildlife Habitat: Since 1995, the property has maintained a 4-acre oasis with actual Chilean flamingos. It’s one of the few things on the Strip that is still totally free.
- The 80th Anniversary: As of 2026, the resort is undergoing a massive renovation. They are leaning into the "vintage glam" look with a redesigned lobby and a total overhaul of Bugsy’s Bar to keep that 1940s vibe alive without the 1940s plumbing.
Ownership: From Mob to Corporate
The Flamingo passed through several hands after the Gus Greenbaum and Moe Sedway era.
- Parvin-Dohrmann: This group bought it in the 60s.
- Kirk Kerkorian: The legendary Vegas mogul owned it briefly.
- Hilton: They took it over in 1970, and it became the "Flamingo Hilton" for decades.
- Caesars Entertainment: This is who runs the show now.
It's actually the oldest operating resort on the Strip. Every other place from that era—the Sands, the Sahara, the Riviera—is gone or has been completely rebranded. The Flamingo is the only one that kept its name and its soul through the decades.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Visit
To really "see" the history when you visit the Flamingo in 2026, don't just stay at the slot machines.
Start at the Wildlife Habitat around 10:00 AM. That's when the keepers do their talks, and you can see the resident pelicans (one is actually named Bugsy). It’s the best way to visualize what Wilkerson wanted: a tropical escape that felt nothing like the desert.
Next, hit the Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse. It’s not "original," but it’s built to look like a 1940s speakeasy. They have a "hidden" bar inside called The Count Room that feels more like the real 1946 Flamingo than anything else on the property.
Finally, look for the bronze flamingo sculptures in the newly renovated lobby. They were commissioned for the 80th anniversary to bridge the gap between the mob-run past and the corporate future.
The Flamingo survived because it was the first to realize that Las Vegas isn't about gambling; it's about the atmosphere. Bugsy might have finished it, but Wilkerson’s dream of a lush, neon-pink paradise is what actually stuck.
Check the local event calendar before you go. In 2026, the resort is hosting several "vintage Vegas" nights to celebrate eight decades on the Strip, featuring 1940s-style cocktails and performers that pay homage to the Jimmy Durante era.
How to experience the history yourself:
- Visit the Siegel Memorial: Locate it in the gardens behind the pool area.
- Check out the 2026 Lobby Renovation: See the new "pod-style" check-in that uses materials inspired by 1940s luxury.
- Dine at Bugsy & Meyer's: Ask for a seat in the back to see the historical photos of the property's evolution.