The Craziest Things That Happened in Vegas
It’s been said what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but these stories are too bizarre not to share. There are many strange and fascinating urban legends that have been told about Las Vegas, some of which are very hard to believe. This city is known for being home to the weird, the wacky and the outrageous and it really lends itself to myths and urban legends.
These strange urban legends may be less than true, however they are certainly entertaining. Here are a few of the strangest Las Vegas urban legends. When you’re looking for cheap Las Vegas hotels, don’t let these tales dissuade you from booking a room.
Man Gets Kidney Stolen
An urban legend originated in 1996 about a man who had drinks with a very attractive woman, but then blacked out and woke up later in his hotel bathtub covered in ice. The phone is next to the bathtub with a note instructing him to call 911 or he will die. The man is rushed to hospital and the doctors inform him he has a kidney removed. It is believed the kidney thieves are a gang selling human organs on the black market.
This story seems terrifying, but it is likely untrue. The National Kidney Foundation attempted to dispel the rumor by asking anyone who had their kidneys stolen to contact them and let them know, but no one came forward.
The Megabucks Curse
Another popular Las Vegas urban legend is that of the “Megabucks Curse.” The story goes in March 2000, a cocktail waitress won a $34.9 million jackpot at the Desert Inn. Six weeks later, she was left as a quadriplegic in a horrible car crash.
This tragedy led many people to believe all Megabucks winners were doomed to be maimed or killed in a terrible way after their win. The rumor persisted when a 25-year-old man won the $39.7 million prize in 2003. As soon as he won, rumours started that he had died in a plane crash, fatally overdosed or was murdered by a gang. However, the man (who chose to remain anonymous) is alive and none of the rumours are true. Of course, that doesn’t stop stories of grisly Megabucks deaths from spreading like wildfire through Las Vegas, such as the story of the elderly winner who dropped dead of a heart attack immediately after his win.
Aliens at Area 51
One of the most popular topics for myths and urban legends are extraterrestrials. Area 51, the government base located northwest of Vegas, has always invited speculation. The way the government has been so secretive about it and people’s natural curiosity has led to accounts of seeing “little green men” or grey-colored creatures with large almond eyes.
The Pentagon officially stated there are no aliens kept in Area 51, but isn’t that what they want you to think?
Dead Body Under the Bed
Another one of the most well-known Las Vegas urban legends is this: A couple checks into a hotel room and notes a terrible odor. They decide they don’t want to complain about it, as it’s late, so they figure they will tell reception in the morning.
The hotel’s staff comes to investigate and realizes the smell is coming from the bed. They lift the mattress and find a dead body stuffed into the box spring.
The most horrifying part of this urban legend is that it is actually true. Hotel rooms are common places for people to hide bodies and this has happened in Las Vegas as well as several other cities. The story is that a body is stashed under a bed and then is found after a guest complains when the room starts to stink.
These are not all of the crazy urban legends and stories about Las Vegas, but certainly they are some of the foremost. Some of these stories are wildly false while others are surprisingly true. It’s no wonder Vegas has such a colourful reputation!
About the Author: Nikhil Rangarajan is a freelance travel writer who blogs about strange, weird and fascinating destinations around the world. When he travels to Sin City, he finds cheap Las Vegas hotels on Expedia.
Apart from Area 51, I’d never heard of any of these. That one about dead bodies in hotel beds is freaky.