Bollard Installation Along Las Vegas Strip Decimates Las Vegas Walk of Stars

By Scott Roeben, on March 06 2018
2 min read 15 comments
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The Las Vegas Walk of Stars has always been an awkward rip-off of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but it’s our awkward rip-off of the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

The recent installation of safety bollards along Las Vegas Boulevard has resulted in the destruction of 49 stars honoring Las Vegas entertainers and other dignitaries.

Gloria Estefan

Emilio and Gloria Estefan received a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2010. Their star was not affected by the recent brouhaha. It’s at the entrance to the Flamingo.

Bollards, of course, are steel posts intended to prevent morons and terrorists (which, we realize, is redundant) from driving onto sidewalks to run people over. Because asshattery.

Apparently, the stars were too fragile to relocate. Just 33 of the stars remain intact.

Of the 49 stars destroyed by the bollard installation, upwards of five belonged to actual celebrities.

Those celebrities included Wayne Newton, Liberace, Rich Little, John Stuart, Sammy Davis Jr. and Elvis Presley.

Wayne Newton’s star was the first to be added to the Las Vegas Walk of Stars back in 2004.

Visit the KTNV Web site for the full list of stars obliterated by the bollard installation.

Bollards Las Vegas Strip
No, “bollards” is not a British obscenity. Probably.

Why is the Las Vegas Walk of Stars awkward, you ask? Well, because pretty much anyone can get one if they pony up the required fee.

A donation of $20,000 is required for each star. Additional “pomp and circumstances” can add to that cost. We are not making this up.

Bob Alexander, president of the Las Vegas Walk of Fame, says each tribute costs $5,000. You do the math.

Some stars are fully earned and warranted, of course.

Our all-time favorite Elvis tribute artist, Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee, was the most recent recipient of a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, and if they try ripping his up, they’ll have to do so over this blog’s dead body. Yes, Vallee is a friend, but he’s also worked his ass off, so to speak, to become a Las Vegas icon.

Pete Vallee star
If you haven’t seen Pete Vallee’s free show at Harrah’s, you haven’t done Vegas.

The goofy charm of the Las Vegas Walk of Stars stretches four miles along the Las Vegas Strip between Sahara Ave. and Russell Blvd.

While the removal of the stars is bittersweet for some, we’ve been an advocate of installing bollards for quite a while and are happy there’s been progress creating a safer environment for pedestrians along The Strip.