Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
- Address
- 5200 Las Vegas Blvd S, south of Russell Road
- Built
- 1959; designed by Betty Willis
- Height
- 25 feet
- Historic status
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009
- Owner
- Clark County; the site is in unincorporated Clark County
- Getting there
- Dedicated parking, crosswalks and rideshare/taxi drop-offs
- Power
- Solar panels added by Clark County in 2014
About
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign stands on Las Vegas Boulevard South, south of Russell Road, at the southern end of the Strip. Clark County says it was created in 1959 after the County Commission approved funding for a sign on what was then Highway 91. Western Electric Display, known as Western Neon and later bought by YESCO, submitted the lowest qualified bid to build it.
Betty Willis, a commercial artist born in Overton and raised in Las Vegas, designed it in the Googie style. The county notes she also designed the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Blue Angel Motel signs. The silver circles that spell WELCOME stand for silver dollars, a nod to the Silver State.
The 25-foot sign was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, the county's centennial year. The back reads "Drive Carefully, Come Back Soon."
What to expect
The sign sits in the median of Las Vegas Boulevard, with a grassy area, a driveway entrance and a dedicated parking area so visitors no longer have to cross traffic for a photo. LVCVA describes it as one of the city's main selfie spots, so expect other people waiting to take pictures.
Clark County regularly changes the color of the 89 bulbs around the sign's perimeter for causes and events, usually with a short public ceremony announced in a county news release. Recent examples include red, white and blue for America250 in February 2026 and blue and yellow for National Service Dog Month in September 2026. Since 2014, solar panels next to the sign have supplied the power to light it day and night.
Other landmarks
Things to do nearby
Good to know
- LVCVA lists the sign among its free things to do in Las Vegas.
- LVCVA says dedicated parking, crosswalks and rideshare/taxi drop-offs serve the sign; use them rather than stopping on Las Vegas Boulevard.
- Read the back of the sign: it says "Drive Carefully, Come Back Soon" for travelers leaving town.
- After the October 1, 2017 shooting, the sign became a temporary memorial. The Clark County Museum keeps an archive of items left there.
- Clark County announces special lighting colors in its news releases, so check them if you want to see a particular color.
Questions about Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Who designed the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign?
Betty Willis designed it in 1959. Clark County describes her as a trailblazing commercial artist in a male-dominated neon sign industry. She was born in Overton, graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1941 and studied art in Los Angeles. According to LVCVA, she sold the design to Clark County without copyrighting it.
Where is the Las Vegas sign and is there parking?
The sign is at 5200 Las Vegas Blvd S, on the Strip south of Russell Road, in unincorporated Clark County rather than the City of Las Vegas. LVCVA says a dedicated parking area makes it easy to reach. Use that lot rather than stopping on the boulevard.
How tall is the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign?
Clark County says the sign is 25 feet tall. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The county also says 89 bulbs line its perimeter, and those bulbs are switched to different colors for awareness months and civic events.
What does the back of the Las Vegas sign say?
The back reads "Drive Carefully, Come Back Soon." Clark County says the message was meant to say goodbye to departing travelers and invite them back. The front's WELCOME is spelled out on silver circles that represent silver dollars, a reference to Nevada as the Silver State.
Why does the Las Vegas sign change color?
Clark County uses the sign to promote community awareness, public programs and civic causes. For each campaign a commissioner usually holds a short ceremony and the perimeter bulbs change color. Examples announced by the county include red for Red Cross Month and purple and gold for National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.