LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A concrete arrow in the desert that once guided planes dropping mail, footsteps of the Rat Pack in bronze, and a piece of the Berlin Wall displayed in a casino bathroom are among the hidden gems featured in a new Las Vegas guidebook.
Author Mackenzie Jervis and photographer Kaitlyn Kelsey spent the last year creating “111 Places in Las Vegas That You Must Not Miss,” a guidebook focused on historic value and surprising locations throughout the valley.
The book includes the home of the original recipe for the 99-cent shrimp cocktail.
“We actually have the shrimp cocktail that’s now in Saginaw’s. It’s not 99 cents anymore, but they’re still using the original recipe that was at the Golden Gate Hotel,” Jervis said.
Research process uncovered local stories
The authors hit the streets of Las Vegas and beyond to uncover surprising gems and highlight the history of Vegas days gone by.
“A lot of history books, a lot of local books, reaching out to the locals… a lot of the places they would say, have you heard of this, this place you have to go visit,” Jervis explained.
Kelsey said the project helped her see beyond the Strip’s glitz and glamour.
“Coming from a small town most of my life and then coming here, I think it’s easy to get swept up in the glitz and the glamour of Vegas and forget that there’s a heartbeat to the city too that is completely separate from the Strip,” Kelsey said.
Authors discovered childhood connection
The collaboration between Jervis and Kelsey has its own unique story. Jervis posted an ad looking for a photographer to bring to light all the places she’d found. When Kelsey answered, they learned they were both originally from the Buffalo, New York area.
“Our parents were like, actually, we have baby pictures of you guys together, which is really crazy to think about,” Kelsey said.
Kelsey said photographing the diverse locations provided varied experiences.
“There’s a picture of Adam Raines at Golden Tiki lighting a drink on fire. That’s a lot of Vegas flair. Photographing an empty house or an empty atomic bunker was also just a really cool experience for me,” Kelsey said.
The book is designed for people like them — locals hoping to learn more about the Las Vegas they call home.
“I think there’s a little bit for everybody,” Jervis said.
The book is available on major online book retailers like Amazon and will also be available in local stores.
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