The Anti-Las Vegas: This Nevada City Has Outlawed Gambling for Almost 100 Years

Boulder City’s No-Gambling Law

Boulder City, Nevada is just 26 miles from Las Vegas, but the two couldn’t be more different.

Today, this town of 15,500 people keeps its small-town character through strict building limits and a continued gambling ban, making it one of only two Nevada cities where you won’t find a single slot machine.

Founded in 1931 as a Government-Built Town for Hoover Dam Workers

Boulder City started with one clear goal – to house workers building the Hoover Dam. The Bureau of Reclamation and Six Companies, Inc. set up homes in 1931, bringing federal rangers to keep order. This marked the first completely planned town of the 1900s under direct government control.

Ban Was to Ensure Sober Dam Construction Crews

The city banned gambling right from the start to stop workers from getting pulled into Las Vegas’s growing vices. One local calls Boulder City a peaceful place where neighbors know each other and kids bike down Main Street – their own ‘Mayberry of Nevada’ next to bright, busy Las Vegas.

One of Only Two Nevada Towns Still Outlawing Gambling Today

Today, only Boulder City and Panaca (population 1,000) still ban gambling in Nevada.

The closest it came to changing happened in the 1980s when Mario Caruso bought the Travelers Mohave Motel and built the Boulder Inn. He got the top floor ready for gaming machines and told everyone in town about his plans.

When he brought his idea to the city council, everyone voted against it.

Alcohol Used to Be Banned Too

The city banned alcohol too, keeping this rule for almost 40 years even after Nevada made it legal.
In response, people found ways around it until 1969. Some snuck drinks into town, made illegal alcohol on-site, and opened secret bars along the road to Las Vegas. Police fought back by blocking drunk workers at the gates until they sobered up and taking any alcohol they found.

Designed as America’s First Fully Planned Federal City

The government planned Boulder City as the first full ‘garden city’ in America. Now it has five community parks, nine neighborhood parks, one regional park, 83.2 miles of trails, and over 100 acres of protected wildlife space.

Contains Nevada’s Largest Historic District with 500+ Preserved Buildings

The Boulder City Historic District tops Nevada’s National Register of Historic Places list with 514 buildings – 408 built between 1931 and 1942.

You’ll find the Boulder Dam Hotel here, plus shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Parks give visitors places to rest.

Limits Growth to 120 New Homes Annually

A rule from 45 years ago, when fewer than 10,000 people lived here, lets only 120 new homes go up yearly, counting both single homes and apartments.

This helps keep the city small and community-focused, unlike fast-growing cities nearby. Until 2018, Boulder City only allowed custom-built homes. The city also bans gated communities to keep the open, friendly feel.

Serves as Gateway to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead Water Activities

Finishing the dam in 1935 brought power and water to the area and created Lake Mead. Now the city helps tourists see these famous places. People can boat, hike, and play in Lake Mead’s 100-mile stretch.

Hosts Quirky Annual Events Like Art in the Park Festival

Boulder City hosts lots of popular events throughout the year. The Glenn Huntington Bandshell hosts Arts in the Park, showing off Boulder Ballet, Boulder Symphony, and Boulder Opera four times each summer.

Another popular event is the Colorado Music Festival which brings professional classical musicians from everywhere to play for six weeks at the historic Chautauqua Auditorium.

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival performs plays each summer at the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre and the University Theatre at the University of Colorado.