VEGAS WORLD MEMORIES

I came across my original 1991 Vegas World VIP invitation while rummaging around. It brought back memories of Vegas World that I thought I'd share. If you ever stayed there this might bring back some memories of your own.

In the summer of 1991 I received a 3-page letter from Bob Stupak, owner of Vegas World. He had a very special VIP package lined up for me. Why me? Not because I was part of a 1 million piece random mailing campaign, but because I was an 'elite' person hand picked by a team of 'high powered experts' that he paid a lot of money. He had decided to give me $1,200 in 'Cash and Casino Action', a free Vegas vacation and lots of other stuff, just to get me to try Vegas World. It only cost $398 for two. The Exact Offer was:

4 Days/3 Nights Free Room
$200 Cash
$200 Casino Action (1 Dollar Chips…if you win they pay you in a real chip and take your Casino Chip)
$400 in slot play on their 'Jumbo Jackpot' Machines
2 Free chances to win a million bucks
Free Buffet the Moon Rock Café
5 Free Keno Plays
Unlimited Free Drinks
2 Show tickets to the Galaxy Lounge
1 of five expensive gifts
A pair of Las Vegas Dice
A deck of Las Vegas Cards


Bob went on to say 'I'm not kidding when I tell you I've moved heaven and earth to make this package attractive to you. You won't be disappointed. You have my word on that. You'll say, as so many others have said "That guy Bob Stupak is a man of his word…he really knows how to make his guests happy'.

I imagine the 'experts' came up with a list of suckers with spare money because something made me want to accept his invitation…I figured my free expensive gift alone would be worth the price of admission.

Welcome to Vegas World….

For those of you that never got a chance to visit Vegas World…well it's kind of like the Stratosphere…except no tower, no rides, no kids and darker, dirtier, dingier, seedier. But what Vegas World lacked in glamour it made up in pure psychedelic bizarreness. The outside walls had giant colorful murals depicting planets, flying saucers, a giant astronaut connected to a roulette wheel, and cards floating through space. A huge round sign declared 'Sky's the Limit'. The main Vegas world sign was shaped like a rocket.

Inside Vegas world was dark. The ceiling was painted black and was embedded with miniature lights that twinkled like stars. Lot's of stuff hung from the ceiling including a large sky lab model, rocket ships and an astronaut. Stupak's name was everywhere…in the carpets, on the rockets and his portrait identifying him as 'The Polish Maverick' was featured in several places. Lighted plastic columns went from floor to ceiling and were filled with colored liquid. They produced bubbles that slowly made their way from floor to ceiling. There was a 50-foot, motorized, lighted Big 6 wheel at one end of the casino.

Hotel check in was at 'Space Pod Check In', which had several large gold rotating balls suspended above. One glass case displayed a real moon rock (it was a gift from the US to the Nicaraguan government)...lord knows how Stupak got it. Another glass case supposedly displayed a million dollars, but seemed to have too many 5's and 10's to come anywhere near a million.

They had the Moon Rock Buffet, which may have been the worst buffet in Vegas History; The Galaxy Bar which served watered down drinks with rot gut booze; and a Big Pool on the Roof that was closed. In the elevators were artist's renderings of the 1500' Stratosphere Tower that Bob was going to build…and a pitch to invest money in it and be a lifetime partner. To sum it up with one word this place was Tacky, but weird enough to be entertaining and memorable.

At check in we received two 100 bills and vouchers to pick up our casino action. My wife took the 400 in slot play and I took the casino chips. I had planned to bet 95 on pass, 95 on don't pass and 10 bucks on craps, thus guaranteeing a 95 win and I figured the slot play would return a hundred bucks so the trip would be free.

When I read the fine print, it turned out you could only use the chips on even odds bets and the Craps tables were 'Crapless Craps' a game Bob invented. 2,3 and 12 were actually on the layout and could become points. He also offered Double Exposure 21 where both the dealer's cards were dealt face up, but the dealer took pushes and blackjack paid 1 to 1. I finally decided just to bet it all on Red on the roulette wheel. I won. Unfortunately the 400 in slot play was only good on his special machines. Total return from the slot play was exactly 0. But we still had a free trip because of my win.

We saw Allen and Rossi in the showroom and they were a riot. Also saw Marty Allen and Bob walking around the Casino. Our free gift was a $300 vacation at a Hawaii resort. To get it we would only have to sit through a 3-hour presentation….sound familiar? That's about all I can really remember. I did come home a winner and the trip was free so I have to say 'That guy Bob Stupak was a man of his word…he really knew how to make his guests happy'

Vegas World was a dank, tacky, smelly, casino with rude dealers and a completely surreal design. When you walked out of the place it was like leaving a cave and walking into direct sunlight…. I remember looking back at it and saying 'What the hell was he thinking'. Was it awful? Absolutely. Do I miss it? You betcha.

QUESTIONS

Did anyone else ever do the VIP package?
What happened to the Moon Rock?

I received an invitation or two through those years. After checking it out, I passed it on to someone else.

I remember mixed reviews.

He was a promoter for sure.

R.I.P.

Never did the package deal, but we did stop in there once. There were 6 of us, and we played double exposure BJ. I thought it was a sure win, lol. NOT!

My wife & I did it after three couples told us it was for real. We got a big kick out of it. Crazy Bob was a Las Vegas Legend.

I used to get those mailers as well during that time period (approx. 1991-1992). I was a Vegas virgin at that time and my first trip to Vegas wasn't until 1999 but those mailers sure tempted me to give it a go. My neighbor who was a Vegas regular at the time informed me that he had put my name onto those referral lists and that is why I was receiving those mailers. I wish I had kept those mailers. During those years I barely could pay my rent let alone taking a 2500 mile trip to Vegas was out of the question for me.

There were several different mailers. This was one of them.

I remember parking outside and having an employee come up and tell me that the few open spaces were reserved for their valet (this is before I knew valet was free). I drive a little further and I can see the swimming pool. It is the size of a swimming pool in the back of someone's house. In matter of fact, I've visited homes with bigger swimming pools.

I walked in one time with a friend because we were told there was a sports book. We saw nothing so we asked for directions to it. The employee said it is just around the corner. We walk around the corner and there is a table that can seat two people and a chalkboard behind it with odds posted. Nobody was manning the table. We must have laughed for ten minutes.

The casino had full mirrors around it. Why? Because it was tiny and the mirrors made it appear bigger.

Been there done that-- more than once! This was back when we were sort of Vegas Virgins. It was fun though!!!!

I did the trip in 91 also, it was my first trip to Vegas never went to the buffet It was a strange place rooms small but clean I also came home a winner left Vegas with more than I came with

I go ever year now have graduated to the Paris (this year) but have fond memories of hearing Bob S being paged every 10 minutes to pose with customer

He was unique and a strange one

Snazzy

Stayed there once under the promo - it certainly was different! Anybody remember the rooftop pool which was about 10 degrees hotter than the street temperature.

After staying there, received numerous offers including an aopportunity to buy stock in the Stratosphere - anybody remember that one?