New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas (must see)

The New York-New York Hotel and Casino celebrates the spirit of New York City through distinctive architecture and themed attractions. Owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International, the resort pays homage to the New York City with a series of replicas and design elements.

Guests are welcomed by scaled-down landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, while the hotel tower itself forms a stylized skyline of New York skyscrapers. The most prominent feature is a 47-story imitation of the Empire State Building, which rises to 529 feet. Remarkably, it held the distinction of being Nevada’s tallest building until the debut of Wynn Las Vegas in 2005. Among the resort’s attractions is the Big Apple Coaster, a thrilling ride that loops around the hotel tower. Inside, the 51,765-square-foot casino provides ample room for gaming, and the hotel offers 2,024 guest rooms.

Construction began in March 1995, and the resort officially opened on January 3, 1997, as a joint venture between MGM and Primadonna Resorts. MGM later purchased Primadonna’s share in 1999, becoming the sole owner. Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, visitors created a spontaneous memorial near the Statue of Liberty replica. In 2003, an official memorial was installed, though it was removed a decade later during a renovation of the facade. That same redevelopment phase brought a new feature: Hershey’s Chocolate World, which opened in 2014 and added a playful touch to the resort’s lineup.

Throughout its history, New York-New York has hosted a variety of entertainers and resident shows. Comedian Rita Rudner performed there from 2001 to 2006, and the acclaimed Cirque du Soleil production Zumanity ran from 2003 to 2020, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.