EDITOR’S NOTE: “Vegas Myths Busted” is published each Monday, along with an additional Flashback Friday entry. Today’s piece in our continuing series originally appeared on Oct. 2, 2023. 

Websites focused on travel, real estate, and legal services often try to attract more visitors than warranted by sharing a list of “astonishing facts” about the locations they cover. A frequently repeated claim regarding Las Vegas is its assertion of featuring “15,000 miles of neon.”

This is less of a surprising fact and more a common Las Vegas misconception.

There isn’t any credible calculation of the actual length of neon tubing that winds through the Strip and downtown. Any estimation suggesting how much neon there is — if somehow unraveled and assembled in a straight line — was likely pulled from thin air.

And this isn’t just our assertion; it’s backed by a neon authority.

“Determining that figure accurately would be nearly impossible,” stated Emily Fellmer, collections manager at the Neon Museum, speaking to Casino.org. “We lack even a precise count of how many functional linear feet of neon exist in the Boneyard.”

In fact, even pinpointing the neon used in a single Las Vegas establishment can be contentious. For instance, one account cited eight miles of neon added to Binion’s Horseshoe during renovations in 1961, according to Fellmer. Another source claimed the figure was six miles, while a third suggested just four miles.

Decoding the Myth

The origin point for the “miles of neon” myth can be traced back to a May 2, 2000, article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“While the Strip measures three miles, there are over 15,000 miles of neon tubing illuminating the casinos along the way,” the journalist reported without providing a source.

This claim was then referenced in a Dec. 20, 2001, piece from the Nevada Appeal, from which it hasn’t truly faded. On September 14, 2023, even the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority tweeted out this figure:

When prompted about the source of this information, a spokesperson from the LVCVA responded to Casino.org saying: “Let me do some digging,” but did not provide further information.

The Neon Illusion

Even if a reliable method existed for gauging neon miles purely from visual observations when that Review-Journal article was published 23 years ago — which it certainly does not — the original estimate is now outdated, as much of the neon has been replaced with cost-effective, eco-friendly LED lighting.

For instance, a 2018 press release from Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO), the operator of the iconic Vegas Vic and Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas signs, indicated that they removed “15,000 linear feet of neon” from the Bellagio in favor of LED alternatives.

Interestingly, here’s an eye-catching fact: all neon measurements seem to universally resolve to 15,000 of something.

Catch “Vegas Myths Busted” every Monday on Casino.org. Additionally, visit VegasMythsBusted.com to explore previously debunked myths about Las Vegas. Do you have a Vegas myth that needs investigation? Reach out via email at [email protected].