Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arcade-ia
Founded by Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks SKG company, and now owned
by video-game giant Sega,
Gameworks
5
9
(3785 Las Vegas Blvd. S.;
%
702/432-GAME; www.gameworks.com; Sun-Thurs 10am-midnight, Fri-
Sat 10-1am; free admission; AE, MC, V)
is the only arcade on the Strip not
attached to a casino. Which makes it perfect for families, and anyone who
wants to trade the endless dinging of slot machines for the, well, rat-a-
tat-tat, whoosh, and jangle of various types of video and pinball games.
High-tech, highly interactive games are the big lure here; the popular
Jurassic Park ride puts you into a small theater, in moving seats, and
places a weapon in your mitt so you can hunt dinosaurs. But there are
other enticements, such as the clifflike rock climbing wall at the front; an
entire section of those vintage video games that boomers always gravitate
to (Centipede, Moon Patrol, Galaga, and so forth); actual pinball
machines; 45 driving rides, including a bunch of brand-spanking new Sega
ones; and even an old-fashioned pool table in the bar and snack area.
There are various pay schemes to choose from, with hard-core fans usually
going for unlimited gaming for $20 an hour. If you just want to breeze in
and out, go for the $1 per game tickets.
MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS FOR VISITORS
WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS
AUTOMOBILES
Over 300 vintage cars are parked at the 125,000-square-foot
Imperial Palace
Automobile Collection
5
(in the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino;
%
702/794
-
3174; www.imperialpalace.com;
$
6.95 adults,
$
3 seniors and children 5-12;
9:30am-9:30pm daily; AE, DISC, MC, V),
but because all but two are for sale, you
never quite know what you'll see when you'll visit. About one a day is sold, with
muscle cars and hot rods the most popular buys right now. But what makes a lot
of these cars special is the roles they've played in history and popular culture. You
might see “Eleanor,” one of the 67 mustangs that were built to be driven and
destroyed in the Nicolas Cage movie
Gone in Sixty Seconds;
or a rare Rolls Royce
Phantom; or an actual Model T; or the Duisenberg custom-built for Howard
Hughes. Not for sale and always on display are the 1942 armored Lincoln that
once carried presidents Roosevelt and Truman; and Johnny Carson's first car (a
video on loop shows Johnny talking about his ride). Almost all the cars have
plaques attached telling their history, but the big appeal here seems to be simply
gazing around and sniffing up that old-car smell. “You get a good dose of nostal-
gia here,” says General Manager Rob Williams. “You might see the car that you
dreamed about as a teenager.” And if you're looking to buy, you'll be pleased to
