Las Vegas’ Fruit Loop achieves historic landmark status: A victory for LGBTQ+ Heritage

Pride month closes with lasting recognition for iconic LGBTQ+ district

As Pride Month draws to a close this June 2025, Las Vegas’ LGBTQ+ community is celebrating a momentous achievement: the official designation of the Fruit Loop as a historic landmark. This milestone marks the culmination of decades of community building, activism, and cultural significance in a neighborhood that has served as the heart of LGBTQ+ life in Southern Nevada.

From safe haven to historic site

The Fruit Loop, centered at the intersection of Paradise Road and East Naples Drive, has long been more than just a collection of businesses. For generations of LGBTQ+ Las Vegans and visitors, it has represented safety, acceptance, and authentic self-expression in a city known for reinvention.

The journey to historic designation began in earnest in March 2025, when Nevada State Senator Fabian Doñate introduced legislation to formally recognize the area. What started as concern over pedestrian safety—after viral videos showed patrons dangerously crossing Paradise Road without proper crosswalks—evolved into a broader recognition of the district’s cultural importance.

The Nevada State Legislature officially approved the designation in early June 2025, transforming what was once a tongue-in-cheek nickname into an official historic landmark. The Lambda Business Association, Las Vegas’ LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce, has pledged funding for official signage that will mark the boundaries of this newly recognized cultural district.

A living history of resilience

For Garrett Pattiani, a Vegas native who now serves as creative director at Gipsy Las Vegas, the recognition carries deep personal meaning. “It’s one thing to be recognized in our own community, but it’s quite another to have the official title being recognized by the city,” Pattiani reflects. His perspective spans decades of watching the neighborhood evolve while maintaining its essential character as a sanctuary.

The area’s LGBTQ+ history stretches back much further than many realize. According to historical accounts shared during the legislative hearings, the neighborhood’s gay-friendly establishments date to the 1950s, with Club Black Magic laying early groundwork. By the 1970s, the area had blossomed into a full-fledged gayborhood, featuring venues like Le Cafe, the Carousel, and what would eventually become today’s iconic establishments.

The 1970s iteration known as Disco Fever transformed into Village Station from 1978 to 1981, weathering police raids and even a fire. “We’re resilient as a community,” Pattiani emphasizes, noting how each challenge only strengthened the neighborhood’s resolve.

The story behind the name

The “Fruit Loop” moniker itself tells a story of reclaiming language and identity. According to testimony presented to the Nevada Legislature, the name originated partly from the area’s proximity to McCarran Airport (now Harry Reid International Airport). The circular traffic pattern from the airport—exiting on what’s now University Center Drive, looping around at Naples, then heading onto Paradise—created a literal loop that visitors would navigate to reach the gay bars.

Local historian and publisher Rob Schlegel explained that the name also emerged as a response to hostility from some airport officials who allegedly tried to drive gay businesses from the area. What began as a potentially derogatory term was embraced and transformed by the community into a badge of pride. Schlegel famously handed out bags of Fruit Loops cereal at a National Coming Out Day celebration in 1993, cementing the playful reclamation of the name.

Decades of community building

The district’s significance extends far beyond nightlife. In the 1980s, the Fruit Loop became ground zero for Las Vegas’ response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, hosting the city’s first fundraisers and support services. This legacy of community care and activism has continued through the decades.

Dennis McBride, a queer historian whose work is preserved at UNLV, recalls the 1970s scene vividly: “We used to walk, take our lives in our hands, and make the loop around that intersection to the various bars.” His memories paint a picture of a community that persisted despite lack of infrastructure and occasional hostility, creating joy and connection in the face of adversity.

Modern hub of LGBTQ+ culture

Today’s Fruit Loop remains vibrant and essential, anchored by establishments that have become institutions:

• Piranha Nightclub: A cornerstone of the district’s nightlife scene
• Gipsy Las Vegas: Where Pattiani helps craft experiences that honor the past while embracing the future
• Quadz Video Bar: Managed by Billy Pilesky, who expressed hope that landmark status would bring improved infrastructure and visibility
• Get Booked: A legendary bookstore turned merchandise haven that’s been serving the community for over 30 years

These businesses and others continue to provide what Pattiani describes as fundamental to the Fruit Loop’s mission: “We just want to always make that people know that when they’re in these doors… they’re safe, they’re protected, they have security, and we’re not gonna let anything happen to them.”

Looking forward: Infrastructure and celebration

The historic designation promises tangible improvements beyond symbolic recognition. The Lambda Business Association’s commitment to funding signage will provide clear identification of the district, potentially boosting both tourism and local patronage. There’s renewed hope that longstanding infrastructure concerns—particularly the dangerous lack of crosswalks that sparked Senator Doñate’s initial involvement—will finally be addressed.

Las Vegas’ unique October Pride celebration means the Fruit Loop will see its first Pride festivities as an officially designated historic landmark this fall. Pattiani promises a full lineup of events that will honor both the district’s history and its continuing evolution.

A model for LGBTQ+ preservation

The Fruit Loop’s designation places it alongside other recognized LGBTQ+ historic districts nationwide, such as New York’s West Village and San Francisco’s Castro. This recognition acknowledges that LGBTQ+ history is American history, deserving of preservation and celebration.

The collaboration between business owners, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and the Nevada Division of Tourism outlined in the legislation suggests a model for how historic LGBTQ+ spaces can be both preserved and promoted as vital parts of a city’s cultural landscape.

Preserving stories for future generations

The landmark designation ensures that the stories of resilience, creativity, and community building will be officially preserved. From the early pioneers who risked police raids to create safe spaces, to the activists who turned a health crisis into a movement for compassion, to today’s business owners who maintain the Fruit Loop as a beacon of acceptance—all are now part of Las Vegas’ official historical record.

As Pattiani notes, it’s crucial to recognize those who paved the way, including Dennis McBride, whose work preserving LGBTQ+ history at UNLV’s library ensures future generations can learn from and build upon this legacy.

More than a landmark

As Pride Month 2025 concludes, the Fruit Loop’s historic designation represents more than official recognition—it’s an acknowledgment that LGBTQ+ spaces matter, that chosen families need homes, and that the fight for acceptance and equality is woven into the fabric of Las Vegas history.

For those who have called the Fruit Loop home, whether for a night or a lifetime, this designation validates what they’ve always known: this corner of Paradise is exactly that—a paradise where being yourself isn’t just accepted, it’s celebrated.

The newly designated historic Fruit Loop stands ready to welcome all who seek community, acceptance, and a damn good time—just as it has for more than half a century. And now, finally, it does so with the full recognition and protection that comes with being an official piece of Las Vegas history.

Image Source: https://www.ktnv.com/news/the-fruit-loop-receives-official-designation-as-historic-las-vegas-landmark

Category: Local News, Culture
Subcategory: Community News
Date: 07/01/2025