Published on: December 3, 2024, 07:55h. 

Last updated on: November 30, 2024, 04:04h.

The future looks bright for the former Lucky Strike miners. The iconic 12-foot tall fiberglass statues, once part of the rooftop sign of the Lucky Strike Club on Fremont Street, now call Goodsprings their home. This small town in Nevada, located 40 miles southwest of Las Vegas, gained worldwide recognition due to its association with the popular video game “Fallout: New Vegas.”

The journey of these miners to Goodsprings is filled with tales of survival, including surviving a demolition, multiple casino closures, a likely car accident, years of desert weather, and even a fire.

The statues were relocated this year from Terrible’s Casino in Jean, Nevada, after the demolition of the casino in January. The developer who acquired the property donated the statues to the Goodsprings Historical Society.

Stephen Staats, owner of the Pioneer Saloon, expressed his excitement about housing one of the statues and welcoming visitors to Goodsprings through this historic display.

Golden Boys

The miners were crafted by renowned wax artist Katherine Stubergh, known as “America’s Madame Tussaud.” Their creation dates back to 1954 when they were installed as part of the sign advertising the Lucky Strike Club casino. Despite being referred to as “Dan the Miner” in copyright applications, they were not commonly known by that name.

Equipped with their own electrical feeds, the miners would move their pans filled with lighted “gold” from side to side when the sign was illuminated at night.

After years of being stored and relocated among different casinos, the miners found a long-term home outside the Gold Strike Hotel and Casino. This signified the beginning of a 30-year stint for the statues in one location.

Following various incidents, including a fire and vandalism, the miners were eventually relocated to the Terrible’s Casino in Jean, Nevada. After years of exposure to the elements, they were donated to the Goodsprings Historical Society by Tolles Development.

The second miner statue is currently in temporary storage, with plans to display it once construction is complete on the property.