The Barbary Coast has an interesting history. Before the Barbary Coast was built, there was a motel on this property. While the other properties in the immediate area flourished, the motel did not do so well. In fact before the property was sold to the current owners, to property was not even open for business. The owner approached the Hilton Corporation and tried to sell it to them. The Hilton Corporation, perhaps thinking that the property was too small to develop into anything substantial, declined the offer. After all, they would probably only make a parking lot out of it since they had already put up their huge million dollar Neon sign at the current entrance. Also it seemed that the property was a little bit 'pricey'.

Wanting to expand to the Las Vegas Strip, a local casino company decided that the price was right and bought the property. At the time of the acquisition, a local law gave unrestricted gaming licenses only to properties which also had a minimum of 200 rooms. The problem for the new owners was how to get 200 plus rooms, a casino, a parking lot, restaurants and other attractions on such a small sliver of land. the solution was to built upward. The concept was ingenious. By building upward, the Barbary Coast almost completely obscured the Flamingo Hilton. The property is strategically situated on the corner of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard. All of the foot traffic between the Bally's Casino (at that time the MGM) and Caesars Palace would reach the Barbary Coast first, not the Flamingo.

Perhaps this does not matter to the owners of the Flamingo, but it seems like someone made a mistake here. It is really hard to buy into the notion that the presence of the Barbary Coast does not effect the balance sheet of the Flamingo. However, the Flamingo has flourished also. The damage done seems minimal. However, it is hard to think that someone at the Hilton Corporation does not wish that they had purchased this 'parking lot' when they had the chance.