Vegas Vic - Famous Neon Cowboy Sign — Attraction in Las Vegas

The sing was in good shape and the area was very cool. But the presence of Marijuana and other such substances were so overwhelming that we had to leave as soon as we could. It was over powering and there were police there who did nothing about that. Also some of the "show girls" arrived and they literally had their breasts exposed. My mother was very uncomfortable as was I. We were very sorry that these women and tourist felt the need to do business in this way in such a public and family open place. We witnessed the "men" from Thunder Down Under solicit a child...maybe 4 or 5 by handing him a flier for their show. They had no shirts on. The family laughed but we were disgusted. All of this happened on the street where we were just trying to take a picture with Cowboy Vic. Not worth...

I first say “Vegas Vic” who my family affectionately refer to as “Howdy Partner” in 1981. This is when Fremont street still had cars traveling down it and long before the canopy.

His left arm used to motion (you can see the joint at the elbow) and he would loudly announce “Howdy Partner!” A veteran cashier said it’s rumored that his sound system was turned off because he was startling people (hard to believe on Fremont) or he may have broke. I believe the later looking at what few neon lights he has working now.

Definitely iconic downtown Vegas and definitely worth a pic or two before he is completely broken...

What a shame that the owners of Vegas Vic have let him fall into such disrepair, even though the neon preservation group has begged to restore him! What a shame!

UPDATE: I heard recently that he has had some repairs since my visit and is once again functional. I’m happy to hear it, but will be leaving this review as is as a reminder. We have to hold onto and cherish at least some of our history, the strip has already lost so much of it...