The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower

Overview

The Strat Hotel, Casino and SkyPod (formerly the Stratosphere) is a hotel and casino located in Las Vegas, Nevada. It includes a 1,149 ft (350.2 m) observation tower, the tallest in the United States. It is also the second-tallest observation tower in the Western Hemisphere, surpassed only by the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario. The tower is topped by a pod which includes a revolving restaurant, lounges, and observation decks. The top of the tower also has several thrill rides. The hotel and casino facilities are situated at the base of the tower, and the resort also includes a showroom and a shopping mall. The Stratosphere is located within city limits on Las Vegas Boulevard, just north of the Las Vegas Strip. The resort is sometimes considered to be a Strip property, although Clark County does not officially recognize it as such, stating that the Strip does not extend into city limits.

The resort was named after the stratosphere in Earth's atmosphere, as a reference to the height of the tower. At 1,149 ft (350 m), it is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States, and the second-tallest in the Western Hemisphere, surpassed only by the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario. It is the tallest tower west of the Mississippi River, and also the tallest structure in Las Vegas and in the state of Nevada.

The tower is a popular draw for tourists, and is a notable part of the Las Vegas skyline. The top of the tower has two observation decks and a restaurant known as "Top of the World", in addition to lounges, four thrill rides, and a wedding chapel. Top of the World is a revolving restaurant, taking about 80 minutes to complete a full rotation. It is located on the 106th floor of the tower, providing overhead views of the Las Vegas Valley. An indoor observation deck is located on the 108th floor, and includes food and beverage outlets, while stairs lead up to an outdoor deck on the 109th floor. Like the restaurant, both decks provide wraparound views of the Las Vegas Valley.

Rides

Big Shot, opened along with the resort in 1996. The ride travels up and down the tower's needle. At 1,081 ft (329 m), it was the highest thrill ride in the world until the Sky Drop opened on the Canton Tower at 1,591 ft (485 m).

X-Scream, opened in 2003. At 866 ft (264 m), it is the fourth highest thrill ride in the world. It consists of a single car that rolls back and forth on a straight piece of track that slightly overhangs the tower and pivots vertically in a see-saw motion.

Insanity, opened in 2005. At 900 ft (270 m) is the third highest thrill ride in the world; it dangles riders over the edge of the tower and then spins in a circular pattern at approximately forty miles per hour.

SkyJump Las Vegas, opened in 2010. SkyJump is a controlled-descent, Bungee-jumping-like ride that allows riders to plummet 855 ft (261 m) attached to a high-speed descent wire.

Tower Shops

The Tower Shops is a mall on the second level. The elevators that lead up to the observation decks are only accessible in the mall.

Top Restaurants

• Top of the World — award-winning fine dining with 360-degree rotating views and a menu featuring premium steaks and seafood
• PT’s Wings & Sports — lively sports bar offering classic pub fare, wings, and a wide selection of beers
• 108 Eats — casual spot for quick bites including sandwiches, snacks, and sweet treats near the observation deck
• McCall’s Heartland Grill — hearty American cuisine with steaks, chops, and comfort food favorites in a relaxed setting
• Nunzio’s Pizzeria — family-friendly pizzeria serving hand-tossed pizzas and Italian classics

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Strat (Las Vegas)", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0