Good point regarding Bally’s streamlining to have a coherent and consistent theme. However, the tackiness of Bally’s inconsistent themes gives it an eclectic feel, if not strange yet appealing. There is definitely a sort of spooky theme happening in seemingly random spots throughout the long corridor of shops; Twilight Zone Bowling, Bodies exhibit, Zoe Escape Room, etc. Bally’s has many knooks and crannies to explore, and the entire property itself seems…alive in a way that is almost…surreal. From the candy colored buzzing of light fixtures to the reflections cast off of mirrors and wax polished floors-there is a presence that is underwhelming but just strong enough to sense-subconsciously. Like a swirl of smoke that always lingers.

My GO TO for 10 plus year!

To me Bally’s is a relic of a different Vegas that seems to be a mish-mash of: MGM Grand 1973 fading glory, 1993-esque décor elements (around the time that Bally’s really made a push to remove remaining MGM traces), and half-assed mid 2000s attempts to cater to baby boomers. There is no coherent or consistent image and it speaks volumes as to Caesars lack of investment expenditures for this property. They have really only adding cheaply built infrastructure with the goal of seeking almost certain sources of revenue return beyond gaming. Once they added the “flea market” to the front it really killed the “classic Vegas” theme and other than catering to tour groups, I can’t think of an element of this property that draws people in other than wandering through a climate controlled path into Paris. The Buca di Beppo is essentially a “lite” location offering a modified menu from the off-strip location and feels like it was a hastily opened overlay of the coffee shop it replaced. The shops on the lower level are mostly shuttered and a far cry from the days where there was a Swensen’s Ice Cream Parlor, Comedy Club in what I believe was the Jai Alai fronton.

It’s just a sad slow decline for a property that really changed a lot of elements of the strip from mostly low-rise buildings spread around pools to ushering in the era of mega-resorts that had everything under one roof. The backdrop for Dean Martin celebrity roasts; where Apollo Creed met his fate with Drago, the last classic Vegas show (that wasn’t some iteration of Cirque du Soliel), the site of a deadly fire which had the positive outcome of requiring hotels to invest heavily in fire safety where minimal investment was previously required. I would love to see if Caesars could restore Bally’s to its former glory…..it’s ripe for a full renovation. It would be cool if they could go for a retro theme or at least something coherent and consistent.

Exactly Speedy

Yeah, without the flea market there’s be no source of food to deliver in Vegas.

Yes but even the flea market serves a, if not albeit “essential” service. Alot of good delivery comes out of there, and helps support Postmate, GrubHub and other food delivery drivers,(like myself). Every little bit helps!