The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower sits at 2000 S. Las Vegas Blvd., anchoring the northern end of the Strip beneath its 1,149-foot tower, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. Opened April 30, 1996 as the Stratosphere, the resort has been owned and operated by Golden Entertainment since 2017, following a $140 million renovation and rebrand to The STRAT.
Stay here for the tower itself: SkyPod’s thrill rides and observation deck are a built-in attraction no other Strip hotel can match, paired with 2,427 remodeled rooms, an 80,000-square-foot casino, and rates that consistently undercut the Strip’s mega-resorts.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 2000 S. Las Vegas Blvd., northern end of the Strip
- Operator: Golden Entertainment
- Opened: April 30, 1996 (as the Stratosphere)
- Rooms: 2,427
- Price tier: Budget to mid-range
- Casino: 80,000 sq ft
- Signature attraction: SkyPod tower (1,149 ft) with Big Shot, X-Scream and SkyJump
- Headline venue: Rouge production show and LA Comedy Club
Rooms, Pool and Casino
Rooms come in Elevate and Elite standard categories (320-340 sq ft) plus Tower, Boulevard and Grand Suites (574-1,097 sq ft), all remodeled in recent years. The 80,000-square-foot casino runs slots, table games, a William Hill sports book and weekly poker and blackjack tournaments.
The rooftop pool deck includes the Swim & Social bar and cafe and the adults-only WET24 pool bar, with a newly updated fitness center for guests who want more than the tower’s adrenaline.
Shows, Attractions and Dining
SkyPod is the draw: an observation deck plus thrill rides, with Big Shot launching riders up the tower’s mast and X-Scream tipping an open car out over the edge, both well over 800 feet above the Strip. SkyJump, a controlled base jump off the tower, is sold as a separate ticketed experience. The tower’s former fourth ride, Insanity, permanently closed in 2023 after its manufacturer went out of business and is no longer part of the lineup. On-property entertainment includes the Rouge production show and LA Comedy Club, with Top of the World Steakhouse revolving atop the tower for the resort’s signature dining experience alongside CHĪ Asian Kitchen, McCall’s Grill and casual options like Nunzio’s Pizzeria.
Location and Who Should Stay Here
The STRAT sits at the Strip’s northern edge, closer to downtown Las Vegas than to the Bellagio-to-Aria core, and Clark County doesn’t officially count it as a Strip address — expect a longer walk or a rideshare to reach the Sphere, T-Mobile Arena or the Colosseum. That tradeoff comes with lower room rates and a quieter casino floor, making it a fit for budget travelers, thrill-seekers chasing the tower rides, and anyone prioritizing panoramic Strip views over being steps from the busiest blocks.
Explore more: Compare more Las Vegas hotels on the Where to Stay hub, Planning around a Strip residency? Read our Las Vegas residency tips.
The STRAT FAQs
What’s the resort fee and parking situation at The STRAT?
The STRAT charges a nightly resort fee in the mid-$50s per room, covering pool access, fitness center and Wi-Fi. Self-parking and valet are both priced modestly compared with Strip mega-resorts, with discounts or free self-parking available for Nevada residents and loyalty members — check current rates directly with the property before your stay, since parking pricing structures there have changed more than once.
Is The STRAT within walking distance of the main Strip?
It’s at the far northern end of the Strip, several blocks from the Wynn/Fashion Show area and roughly 2-3 miles from the Sphere, T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium, so most guests drive or use rideshare to reach central and south Strip venues.
Which SkyPod thrill rides are currently open at The STRAT?
Big Shot and X-Scream are the current SkyPod thrill rides, with SkyJump offered as a separate ticketed base-jump experience; combo and multi-ride packages are available on-site. Insanity, a fourth ride, permanently closed in 2023 and is no longer offered.
Get More from The STRAT
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate The STRAT, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Stuart Seeger / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.