Las Vegas, the chameleon city

THE CLOSING of the Stardust Resort and Casino on Wednesday and its transformation into Echelon Place, an upscale mega-property replete with a hotel, condominiums and other amenities, is the latest chapter in the never-ending reinvention of Las Vegas. Like no other city in the United States — indeed the world — Las Vegas creates itself anew in the wink of an eye. That malleability is one major component of the alchemy of the place but by no means the only reason for the remarkable rebirth of what was once the nation's "Sin City."

By Hal Rothman

October 29, 2006