Lost Vegas: The Historic Lucky Strike Prospector Statues Face Final Days
Two 12-foot prospector statues that once adorned the Lucky Strike Club casino in downtown Las Vegas have witnessed 70 years of the city's history. Created by renowned wax artist Katherine Stubergh and manufactured by YESCO, these fiberglass figures were installed in 1954 at 117 Fremont Street.
Lucky Strike neon sign, 1955
The statues featured an innovative design where they would jiggle their illuminated gold pans at night, creating a memorable display for passersby. When the Lucky Strike Club became the Lucky Casino in 1963, the statues were temporarily stored before finding a new home at the Fort Lucinda Casino in 1964.
Lucky Strike bingo club signs
After Fort Lucinda reverted to the Gold Strike name in 1968, the prospectors were positioned back-to-back beneath the marquee's roadside sign, where they remained for three decades until a fire in 1998. They were then relocated to the Gold Strike casino in Jean, Nevada.
Bronze miner statue at Fort Lucinda
Today, these historic figures stand weathered and damaged outside the abandoned resort, which was sold in 2022 to Tolles Development for $44.7M. The company plans to transform the site into a 2.84 million square-foot industrial center, leaving the fate of these iconic Las Vegas artifacts uncertain.
Woman poses before Gold Strike statue
Despite surviving multiple casino closures, relocations, and natural elements, these historic statues now face their greatest challenge yet: potential demolition as the property undergoes redevelopment.
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