October 18, 1968 - Circus Circus opened with 700 rooms. The Circus Circus now has 2,800 affordable rooms and suites. It is the first hotel on the Strip to actively seek family trade and still one of the best family resorts in Las Vegas. Circus Circus started as a circus in 1968 and continues with that heritage today. Before it was a casino and a resort, it was a permanent big top. The circus theme is carried throughout. With a carnival atmosphere, there are still live circus acts. Free circus acts happen periodically above the main casino. The kids will enjoy the Grand Slam Canyon theme park which opened in 1993. It is the world's largest Permanent Circus covering an area of 120,000 sq. ft capped by a 90 foot high tent shaped roof. Fully enclosed (which means that it is climate controlled) amusement park, five acres inside a giant pink dome complete with a double loop, double corkscrew roller coaster, the Rim Runner - a water log flume ride, water slide, virtual reality games, Hot Shots - laser tag and animated prehistoric dinosaurs. There are snack bars and food carts. Also for the kids, is the largest carnival midway in Las Vegas. It is located near the main entrance on the second floor above the main casino. Circus Circus is located on the west side of the Strip south of Sahara Avenue and across from the Riviera Hotel and Casino.

Circus Circus, 2880 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Circus Circus opened its doors in 1968 at a value of $15 million and originally had no rooms. Architects Rissman and Rissman Associates designed a giant pink and white oval shaped circus tent across from the Riviera. The football field sized casino and big top was built by R.C. Johnson Construction of Las Vegas. The roof followed the curves of draped canvas, and pennants ringed its crown. The tent-like canopy had to be poured in a continual fashion so that no one section would harden before any other. The result was a roof that produced the image of a taut canvas. By 1972 it had its first casino tower addition under Rissman & Rissman. In 1974 ownership changed with the sale of the casino to William Bennett by original owner, Jay Sarno. In 1975 Bennett decided to add another tower by the same architect. In 1980 there was another addition, the "Manor" addition. On August 23, 1993, Circus opened The Adventuredome. The first theme park in Las Vegas, the 150 foot high, five acre, $90 million dome, enclosed by 8,615 panes of glass (each pane weighing over 300 pounds) features the world's only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster, The Canyon Blaster, which travels at 55 miles per hour.

Circus Circus TCR# V3866 $1 New 2000	Circus Circus TCR# V3870 $5 New 2000	Circus Circus TCR# V2281 $25 New 1999	Circus Circus TCR# V2282 $100 New 1999
2880 Las Vegas Blvd S	2880 Las Vegas Blvd S	2880 Las Vegas Blvd S	2880 Las Vegas Blvd S

Circus Circus Hotel & Casino - Image Gallery Chip scans courtesy of Ross Poppel and Silver State Treasures Ads from Fabulous Las Vegas Magazine Click on Thumbnail for full-size view
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1968	1972	Burlesque Burlesque 1971	Fashion Show 1968
Andre Prince 1971	Flying Farfans 1971	Free Admission 1971	Performers 1970
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Casino Carpet	Single Room	Double Room	Hydroplane
Belt Buckle	Ashtray	Postcard	Cowboy Limousine