The Palms: Vegas’ Last Era of Cool?

The rise, fall, and persistent hustle of one Strip-adjacent resort that defined a generation.

I was in my 20s during the Palms highlight, still rocking more than one Ab, and always wanting to be at the center of the action. Palms was it. The place in Vegas where you either had money, or you blew all the money you did have trying to appear you did.

Those were the days.

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Rise and Reckless

When the resort opened in November 2001, the hours of glory were just beginning. The Maloof family built it with energy, off the Strip enough to dodge the over-the-top Bubble, but close enough to feel the pulse of chaos. MTV’s The Real World: Las Vegas filmed there in 2002, instantly giving the hotel cultural cred and setting the stage for a Vegas revolution.

And hovering above all that madness literally was Ghostbar.