In 2007, The World Wildlife Federation created an event called “Earth Hour.” People all over Australia and a few other countries turned out their lights for an hour as a group expression of concern about global warming. In 2009, nearly 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries on 7 continents, including 67 national capitals, agreed to participate. As an Earth Hour “official city,” Las Vegas joined cities across America and turned out lights from 8:30 to 9:30 on Saturday night, April 28th. Writers from Living Las Vegas observed the neon vacuum from various vantage points around the valley.

Brian Rouff
My wife and I observed Earth Hour from the Fremont Street Experience, hoping it would be more “up close and personal” than the Strip. We stationed ourselves next to a city of Las Vegas film crew in front of the Fitzgerald. At approximately 8:28, a video on the Viva Vision canopy gave the estimated 5,000 onlookers a quick worldwide overview of the event. At 8:30 on the dot the lights went out, as did the music from a country rock band.

The Four Queens, Fremont, Golden Nugget and the rest of the properties all sat in darkness. Only in Las Vegas can a non-illuminated downtown seem cooler than the normal garish lightshow. And yet, in the back of my mind, I kept wondering two things: How much money are they saving? And, with our current economic challenges, is this a glimpse of our future?

Tasha Pittser
I was at a wedding during Earth Hour, and we had the most spectacular, unobstructed view of the entire strip. I watched the traditional colors of each casino building go dark, and it was fun to see what lights each building chose to leave on, and which ones they turned off. For instance; the Wynn and Encore were completely dark except for the hotel’s name at the top of the building- it was brilliant to see!

Mark Sedenquist
I was working most of the day on a pesky computer issue and so didn’t travel to airport parking lot where I had planned to capture the event in digital photographs. Instead I walked around my residential neighborhood. It’s easy to see both the Luxor “beam” and the “M” that is emblazoned on the front of Las Vegas’ newest resort from my street. At approximately 8:29:34 the Luxor beam blinked out… The “M” was as bright as ever and… I didn’t see a single house in my neighborhood that changed in any way. I walked about 4-5 blocks — no effects from this “earth hour” that I could see. My house was dark…. but the glare from neighbor’s TVs was as bright as ever. I even heard some air conditioner’s cycling on. At 9:30:01 Luxor’s beam was back.

Megan Edwards
My plan was to watch Earth Hour from Planet Hollywood, a nice, center-Strip vantage point. Traffic cooperated until I turned onto Las Vegas Boulevard from Flamingo and spent half an hour inching south through the thickest traffic jam I’ve ever enjoyed on the Strip. Fortunately, I made it to the top of the Bellagio’s parking garage with five minutes to spare. Joining a jolly group of tripod-and-video-camera-equipped Earth Hour observers, I watched the sign at Planet Hollywood count down to “lights off.” After Caesars Palace, the Bellagio, the Paris, and Planet Hollywood went dark (the Polo Towers didn’t seem to have gotten the message), I headed back down the Strip, where the most impressive black holes were created by New York, New York, the MGM Grand, and Mandalay Bay. The Harley Davidson Cafe and McDonald’s blazed through Earth Hour unapologetically, as did the South Point. Maybe next year…

Eric James Miller
Along with my wife Laura and our good friend Tina we observed Earth Hour with about twenty-five other people at a wine tasting party in the Southern Hills area of southwest Vegas. What could be better than great conversation and drinking fine wine with the lights off? Thanks to Barry and Jacquelyn for hosting a great candle power event!

Holly McKinnis
Titties and Tears — in honor of Earth Hour the Las Vegas strip went dim, and the Folies Bergere, the longest running show in America, went dark forever.