October 23rd marks an important day for any fan of the Fallout franchise, as it was on this day in 2077 that the US and China launched enough nuclear lethality to obliterate civilization as we know it in the Great War. Take note, readers: you have 52 good years left, unless some idiot in Washington, DC decides to speed things up, but I mean, who would be stupid enough to do that, amirite?
Fortunately, since it’s not 2077, many of the sites in the Fallout series are still intact in their pre-war design, and with the both the Obsidian spinoff of the franchise turning 15 this year as well as the Fallout TV series setting its second season in New Vegas, now’s a great time to visit some of the sites found in Fallout: New Vegas before they become horribly irradiated and infested with mutated ants and feral ghouls. So take a swig of Sunset Sarsaparilla, strap a Big Iron on your hip, and check out these spots next time you’re patrolling the real-life Mojave. And remember, you’re nobody till somebody loves you.
And that somebody is me.
I love you.
VEGAS STRIP
The most obvious location in Fallout: New Vegas that has a real-world analogue is, of course, the New Vegas Strip. Mr. House’s walled walkway stands as a throwback to old Vegas before the bombs, reveling in luck, luxury, lasciviousness, and, of course, good old American capitalism.
The real Las Vegas won’t cost you 2,000 caps to get into, but many players will immediately see the parallels between old Vegas and New Vegas. Though the real Strip is much longer, stretching along Las Vegas Boulevard between Sahara Avenue and the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign near Russell Road, visitors can find similarities in its layout. As players enter from Freeside in the north, they’ll find a skyview tower standing at The Strat, resembling Mr. House’s own Lucky 38. However, the Lucky 38 was not fashioned after The Strat, but The Landmark Hotel and Casino, which sat slightly east of the Strip, currently the home of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Landmark, which operated between 1969 and 1990, had been closed for two decades before Fallout: New Vegas’ release in 2010, so the confusion surrounding the Lucky 38’s inspiration is not uncommon, but The Landmark’s history has one critical component that The Strat does not: its first owner during operation was none other than eccentric billionaire recluse Howard Hughes, the inspiration for Robert House himself. Hughes purchased The Landmark in 1969 through one of his businesses, Hughes Tool Company (the real-life version of H&H Tools) before opening it to the public in July of the same year.
Further down the New Vegas Strip, Courier Six will find the den of sin known as Gomorrah, representing the seedier side of the Strip. Known for its hedonistic offerings, Gomorrah’s motto is “It’ll Be Our Secret.” Though the Strip has been sanitized of some of its more notorious vices (sorry, but prostitution is still illegal on the Strip; you’ll have to make the drive to Pahrump for that), visitors can check out Circus Circus for some of the older Strip vibe. Fans of the Omertas (are there any?) can visit the Mob Museum in Las Vegas, as The Dunes, the demolished inspiration for Gomorrah, was notorious for its Mafia ties.
The Tops can be found in the middle of the New Vegas Strip, where players can find Benny and, if they so choose, return his gift of being shot in the head. Fashioned after the days of the Rat Pack instead of any particular property, fans who want a little bit of the Ring-a-Ding lifestyle can check out the Flamingo Resort and Casino, which currently holds the title of the oldest property on the Las Vegas Strip. Opened in 1946, the casino was bankrolled by the infamous mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Segal, and a memorial can be found on site at The Flamingo. The property has been home to many famous acts ranging from drag queens to burlesque, Tom Jones to Donny and Marie Osmond, and even is the frequent home of Mr. Las Vegas (and voice of Mr. New Vegas) Wayne Newton.
Photo Credit: @eatmelasvegas (IG). Used with permission.
The last major resort and casino players will find on the New Vegas Strip is the icon of excess, the Ultra-Luxe. The staff may have unusual wardrobe choices, but the stakes are high, the water is (mostly) pure, and the cuisine is unmatched in more ways than one. The home of the White Glove Society was directly inspired by The Bellagio Resort and Casino, down towards the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip. Its luxurious reputation fueled the latest iteration of the Strip, focusing on opulence and visible wealth from its own culinary heritage (sans human flesh), its luxury shopping outlets, and even the famous fountain show which inspired the Ultra-Luxe’s own fountain outside its entrance.
PIONEER SALOON & GOODSPRINGS
Another location that every Fallout: New Vegas player knows is the town of Goodsprings, where the aforementioned Benny deposits two 9mm bullets in the Bank of Your Head. Once Doc Mitchell bandages you up and forces you to look at a picture of two bears high-fiving, you’ll be sent to the Prospector Saloon to meet up with Sunny Smiles to get a primer on what’s what.
Fans who head out to the real Goodsprings, Nevada located along the I-15 heading towards the Las Vegas Strip can actually find the real Pioneer Saloon, a historic landmark in the state and one of the oldest bars in Southern Nevada. Established in 1913, the real Pioneer Saloon has leaned heavily into its Fallout fame, hosting Fallout Fan Days annually every November.
PRIMM
At the outset of Fallout: New Vegas, players have a few options when it comes to what direction to venture. Courier Six can head north toward Red Rock Canyon and discover how a week-old gecko steak feels when they’re swarmed by Cazadores, or they can head northeast from Jean through Sloan where they’ll eventually get to New Vegas if they’re not torn apart by Deathclaws first. The safest bet – and the direction the game not-so-subtly pushes you towards – is to loop around up the eastern part of the map, which will land you smack in the middle of what’s happening in Primm. There’s a way to curry favor with the NCR in Primm, as well as meet two of the most fantastic bots in the Mojave Wasteland, Ed-E and Primm Slim.
If you want to give a yee-haw to the real-life Primm, the town straddles the border between California and Nevada along the I-15. Primm technically is home to three casino properties: the Primm Valley Resort & Casino (still operational at the time of writing), Whiskey Pete’s, and the Buffalo Bill Casino. Unfortunately, the real Primm isn’t faring all that much better than the in-game version. Dwindling tourist dollars have shuttered both Whiskey Pete’s, which was believed to have been the inspiration for The Vicki & Vance Casino where players can first meet Johnson Nash, and The Buffalo Bill Casino, which was home to the Desperado wooden roller coaster which can be found at The Bison Steve, where Primm’s Deputy can be rescued.
All is not doom and gloom, however. The car in which Bonnie & Clyde were shot up in was moved from its old home inside Whiskey Pete’s to the nearby Primm Valley Resort & Casino, so fans of Vicki and Vance (other than Sammy and Pauline Wins) can check out the “death car” without having to sit through a Primm Slim travelogue.
LAKE MEAD
Getting friendly with the Boomers at Nellis will eventually see you helping them raise a water-logged B-29 Superfortress which currently rests at the bottom of Lake Mead east of Camp Golf and north of Hoover Dam. Aside from the infestation of Lakelurks, Lake Mead is the largest source of pure water in the Mojave Wasteland, and those looking for Star Bottlecaps may want to do some treasure hunting in its underwater caverns.
The real-world Lake Mead roughly occupies the same location as the New Vegas variant; unlike the real Primm, however, Lake Mead’s recent history is not awful. Though the man-made lake created by the real Hoover Dam hit critical lows in 2022, a wetter-than-average 2023 helped raise Lake Mead’s water level and the lake has been holding steady since. While not great, it’s not devastating.
The real Lake Mead is open for recreation, with the National Park Service still allowing for camping and water activities. Due to the extreme desert heat, the water levels, and the ongoing (at the time of writing) government shutdown, visitors who want to check out a non-irradiated, Lakelurk-free Lake Mead should check the NPS website for any relevant information.
RED ROCK CANYON
The current home of the Great Khans, Red Rock Canyon not only serves as the headquarters of the notorious drug-running tribe, but host to a bevy of nasties including the aforementioned Cazadores along with Radscorpions and a loose Deathclaw or two. Players will eventually have to make contact with the Khans no matter which faction they side with. The real Red Rock Canyon is much safer and much prettier.
Roughly fifteen minutes west from the aptly-named Red Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas’ Summerlin neighborhood, the natural majesty of the beautiful red rocks put New Vegas’ brown palette to shame. Featuring scenic drives and hiking trails, Red Rock Canyon is a must-visit spot for gamers who also love to go outside and touch… well… rocks.
Not all the danger is gone, however; though you may not find beasties, you still may find dangerous heat during the summer months, so take precautions and plenty of water before your trip. Also, brushing up on your “Jack & Diane” lyrics couldn’t hurt.
Credit: @thephantasmicprince (IG). Used with permission.
JACOBSTOWN/MT. CHARLESTON
Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter, but venture into the mountains west of the New Vegas Strip and Courier Six may find actual snow in the settlement known as Jacobstown. In what has become a safe haven for Super Mutants and Nightkin alike, Jacobstown, named for a friend of the Super Mutant Marcus (a returning character from Fallout 2), occupies a former ski resort and acts as a place where Super Mutants struggling to retain their humanity and Nightkin dealing with Stealth Boy-induced schizophrenia can live in peace from human aggression.
Jacobstown may be fictional, but snow in the Las Vegas region is not. Those who travel into the mountains northwest of the Las Vegas Strip can find the Mount Charleston Lodge, appropriately located in Mount Charleston. While the actual lodge burned down in 2021, the surrounding cabins are still available as are local ski activities and dining. And yes, the snow is natural, and completely radiation-free.
FREESIDE/FREMONT STREET
For those who can’t get on to the New Vegas Strip, there’s always Freeside. Between all the things you can buy and the stuff you can’t technically buy at Mick and Ralph’s, the warm rush of a laser in your hands at the Silver Rush, and all the… “offerings” the Atomic Wrangler has on tap, it’s like all the fun of the New Vegas Strip without all that pesky security!
Freeside clearly draws inspiration from the “old” downtown parts of Las Vegas, which is not as well-kept as other neighborhoods except for Fremont Street. No property really represents the Atomic Wrangler; Fremont Street frequently receives routine spit-shines despite places like The Four Queens looking like a spot one might actually find a ghoul dominatrix. However, fans of Freeside can find a real-life parallel on Fremont Street in the form of Vegas Vic. The sign above the Atomic Wrangler is a homage to Vegas Vic, the famous neon cowboy that can be found on the real-life Fremont Street Experience above the old Pioneer Club. It’s good to see Vic survived the Great War.
UNMARKED LOCATIONS
A bonus for New Vegas fans – though there’s no parallel in the game, three spots in Las Vegas are notable for Fallout fans.
For those who like the history of Vegas, including past locations mentioned in this article like The Landmark and The Dunes, fans can check out what locals lovingly call the Neon Graveyard. Officially called the Neon Museum, the museum takes special care of past neon signage that had a home on the Strip and Downtown. Tours are available both during the day as well as at night when some of the signs are illuminated.
For adoring fans of Benny and the Chairmen, the Wins, and the Omertas (are there any?), check out the Mob Museum, which chronicles the intersection of Las Vegas and organized crime.
Finally, launching soon, the National Atomic Testing Museum, located east of the Las Vegas Strip on Flamingo Ave., is partnering with Bethesda to present an exhibit based on the world of the Fallout series opening November 16, 2025.
Next: Discuss the Fallout TV Series on the PopGeeks Television Forums
Key Takeaways
- October 23rd marks Fallout’s fictional Great War, driving renewed fan interest.
- Fallout: New Vegas turns fifteen in 2025, coinciding with the TV show’s second season set in New Vegas.
- The Strip’s resorts reflect real-world landmarks such as The Flamingo, The Bellagio, and The Landmark.
- Goodsprings’ Pioneer Saloon directly ties into Fallout lore and hosts fan events.
- Primm’s casinos mirror the town’s fictional struggles, with closures paralleling in-game decline.
- Lake Mead remains a central ecological landmark, vital both in-game and in reality.
- Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston provide dramatic scenery, contrasting Fallout’s depiction.
- Fremont Street and its neon culture influence Freeside’s aesthetic.
- The Neon Museum and Mob Museum deepen connections between history and Fallout design.
- A Fallout exhibit will open at the National Atomic Testing Museum in November 2025.
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