Flamingo Las Vegas – Haunted Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada

The Flamingo Las Vegas stands as one of the Strip’s most iconic properties. It holds a dark secret beneath its glittering neon exterior and tropical paradise theme.

This legendary casino-hotel opened in 1946 as the brainchild of mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. His violent death just months after the grand opening left an indelible mark on the property.

Guests and staff have reported strange occurrences for over seven decades. Bugsy’s restless spirit allegedly refuses to leave the property he died trying to build.

The Flamingo represents old Las Vegas glamour mixed with organized crime history. This combination creates the perfect recipe for paranormal activity that continues today.

Visitors come for the gambling and entertainment but leave with ghostly tales. The resort’s haunted reputation has become part of its enduring mystique and appeal.

Historical Background

The Flamingo opened its doors on December 26, 1946. Construction costs ballooned to six million dollars, far exceeding the original budget estimates.

Benjamin Siegel envisioned a luxury desert oasis for wealthy gamblers and Hollywood stars. He poured Mafia money into creating the Strip’s first true luxury resort.

The grand opening was an infamous disaster with incomplete facilities and poor attendance. Heavy losses angered Siegel’s mob investors who suspected him of skimming construction funds.

Bugsy closed the resort temporarily to finish construction and reopened in March 1947. The property finally started showing profits, but it was too late for Siegel.

On June 20, 1947, unknown assassins shot Bugsy through a window in Beverly Hills. He died instantly at age 41, never seeing his desert dream reach full potential.

The mob immediately took control of the Flamingo following Siegel’s execution-style murder. His legacy became forever intertwined with the property he fought so hard to build.

The original Flamingo buildings were demolished in 1993 to make way for modern structures. However, the memorial garden and certain original areas remain on the sprawling property.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Bugsy Siegel’s ghost is the most commonly reported supernatural presence at the Flamingo. Staff members and guests encounter his spirit in multiple locations throughout the resort.

People describe seeing a man in 1940s-style suits walking through the casino floor. The figure matches historical photographs of Bugsy Siegel in appearance and mannerisms.

Cold spots appear suddenly in warm areas, particularly near the memorial garden. Electronic equipment malfunctions without explanation when these temperature drops occur.

Security cameras have captured shadowy figures moving through empty hallways at night. These recordings show shapes that resemble a man’s silhouette but lack clear features.

Guests report hearing phantom footsteps in corridors during the early morning hours. The sounds suggest dress shoes clicking on hard floors when no one is present.

Elevator buttons press themselves on floors where Bugsy’s original penthouse suite was located. The lifts stop at these levels despite no passengers requesting those floors.

Dealers working late shifts feel an unseen presence watching them from behind. They turn around to find empty space where they sensed someone standing.

The smell of expensive cologne appears without source in certain areas of the property. This phantom scent matches descriptions of Bugsy’s preferred fragrances from the 1940s.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Benjamin Siegel’s spirit allegedly haunts the memorial garden bearing his name. Visitors photograph the area and later discover mysterious orbs and mist in their images.

A hotel guest in 2008 reported waking at 3:00 AM to find a man’s silhouette. The figure stood at the window looking out over the Las Vegas Strip.

She described him wearing a fedora hat and vintage-style suit. When she turned on the bedside lamp, the figure vanished into thin air.

Casino workers have reported chips moving on gaming tables after closing time. Surveillance footage shows gaming pieces sliding across felt surfaces with no physical cause.

A maintenance worker named Robert claimed he encountered Bugsy’s ghost in 2003. He was repairing a light fixture near the old wedding chapel area late at night.

Robert felt someone watching him and turned to see a well-dressed man standing motionless. The figure’s face matched photographs of Bugsy Siegel that Robert had seen in hotel displays.

When Robert called out, the apparition disappeared through a solid wall. He refused to work alone in that section of the property ever again.

Housekeepers report finding rose petals scattered in rooms that were just cleaned. No guests had checked in, and no flowers were present in the rooms.

Bugsy was known for his romantic gestures and love of luxury during his lifetime. Some believe these phantom flowers represent his continuing presence and personality traits.

Multiple guests have reported their belongings mysteriously rearranged while they were away from rooms. Items appear moved but nothing is ever stolen or damaged.

A bartender named Michelle experienced glasses sliding off shelves in the poolside bar. She watched three tumblers move several inches before falling to the floor.

The wedding chapel staff have their own collection of unexplained experiences. Brides report feeling cold hands touching their shoulders during ceremony preparations.

Photographers capture strange anomalies in wedding photos taken at the Flamingo. Light streaks and shadowy figures appear in backgrounds where no one was standing.

Most Haunted Spot

The Bugsy Siegel Memorial Garden serves as the epicenter of paranormal activity. This peaceful outdoor space features a bronze plaque honoring the resort’s controversial founder.

Visitors consistently report overwhelming feelings of being watched while standing near the memorial. Cameras and phones drain battery power rapidly in this specific location.

The Presidential Suite on the property’s upper floors experiences frequent unexplained occurrences. This luxury accommodation sits near where Bugsy’s original penthouse suite was located.

Guests staying in this suite report hearing knocking sounds from inside the walls. The disturbances typically occur between 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM.

The pool deck area near the flamingo habitat also generates numerous paranormal reports. Staff members working early morning shifts see shadowy figures walking between the palm trees.

Can You Visit?

The Flamingo Las Vegas is fully open to the public year-round. The resort operates 24 hours daily as a functioning casino-hotel.

No entry fee is required to access the casino floor and public areas. Hotel room rates vary depending on season and accommodation type selected.

The Bugsy Siegel Memorial Garden is accessible to all visitors without charge. It is located near the wildlife habitat in the resort’s outdoor areas.

No official paranormal tours are currently offered by the Flamingo itself. However, several Las Vegas ghost tour companies include the property in their itineraries.

Photography is allowed throughout public areas of the resort including the memorial garden. Flash photography may be restricted in certain areas like the wildlife habitat.

Guests staying at the hotel can explore the property freely at any hour. Some paranormal enthusiasts specifically request rooms near historically significant locations.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies during the overnight hours between midnight and 5:00 AM. This time frame corresponds with traditional supernatural activity patterns at most haunted locations.

June 20th, the anniversary of Bugsy Siegel’s death, reportedly sees increased supernatural occurrences. Staff members note more unexplained incidents on this date each year.

Early morning hours around 3:00 AM generate the most consistent reports from guests. This time coincides with what paranormal investigators call the “witching hour.”

Weekday visits often provide quieter conditions for potential paranormal experiences than busy weekends. Fewer crowds mean less distraction from subtle supernatural phenomena.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Travel writer Sandra Chen documented her 2015 experience in an article for a paranormal magazine. She stayed at the Flamingo specifically to investigate the Bugsy Siegel haunting claims.

Sandra woke at 2:47 AM to the sound of someone walking in her room. She saw a tall figure in vintage clothing standing near her hotel window.

The apparition turned to look at her before fading away like dissipating smoke. She captured photographs of the area immediately after but found only orbs of light.

Security supervisor James Martinez shared his experiences in a 2018 interview. He has worked at the Flamingo for over twenty years and collected numerous stories.

James personally witnessed a roulette wheel spinning by itself at 4:30 AM. The casino floor was empty except for cleaning staff who also witnessed the incident.

A paranormal investigator named David Hernandez conducted informal research at the property in 2012. He used EMF detectors and digital recorders in the memorial garden area.

His equipment registered unusual electromagnetic spikes at specific times throughout the night. He recorded EVP evidence that allegedly captured a voice saying “my hotel.”

Newlyweds from Ohio reported an unsettling experience in their room during their 2019 honeymoon. They heard music playing from the 1940s era though no radio was on.

The couple’s digital camera malfunctioned repeatedly when trying to photograph certain areas of their suite. The device worked perfectly fine everywhere else in Las Vegas.

Local Legends & Myths

Las Vegas folklore claims Bugsy Siegel refuses to leave because he died before seeing his vision succeed. His spirit allegedly protects the property from harm and watches over operations.

Some casino employees believe Bugsy’s ghost brings good luck to the Flamingo. They credit his supernatural presence with the resort’s survival through decades of Strip evolution.

A persistent rumor suggests Bugsy’s body was secretly buried somewhere on the original property. No evidence supports this claim, though it adds to the haunted mystique.

Another legend states that Bugsy appears to warn of impending danger or major changes. Staff members claim sightings increase before significant renovations or corporate restructuring.

Some believe touching the memorial plaque in the garden brings gambling luck. This tradition has no historical basis but remains popular among superstitious visitors.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” crew investigated the Flamingo in 2011. Zak Bagans and his team conducted overnight paranormal investigations throughout the property.

The crew reported capturing EVP evidence and unexplained temperature fluctuations near the memorial garden. Their equipment registered unusual electromagnetic field readings in specific locations.

Several independent paranormal research teams have visited the Flamingo over the years. Most report positive results including photographic anomalies and personal experiences.

The Las Vegas Paranormal Investigations group documented their findings in 2016. They recorded multiple instances of unexplained sounds and apparent intelligent responses to questions.

Psychic mediums visiting the property claim to sense a strong masculine presence. They describe feelings of unfulfilled ambition and a desire to see the hotel thrive.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The Flamingo is a functioning business, and all standard hotel rules apply to guests. Trespassing in restricted areas is strictly prohibited and enforced by security personnel.

Paranormal investigators must obtain proper permission before conducting formal investigations. Unauthorized ghost hunting activities can result in removal from the property.

The memorial garden is a respectful tribute space where appropriate behavior is expected. Visitors should maintain decorum even while seeking paranormal experiences.

Late-night explorations should respect other guests trying to sleep in their rooms. Noise complaints can result in security intervention regardless of paranormal investigation purposes.

Photography in the casino is generally restricted by Nevada gaming regulations. Visitors should ask permission before photographing gaming areas even for paranormal documentation.