Tam O’Shanter Motel, Las Vegas, Triblend Tee

Description

The Tam O’Shanter Motel was a classic mid‑century motor court that once graced the Las Vegas Strip at 3317 South Las Vegas Boulevard, nestled between the Sands and Desert Inn hotels. Built in 1958 and opened in 1959 by family‑owner Bernie Zeldin, the 100‑room motel drew its name from his favorite Chicago golf course and quickly became an iconic “Friendly Inn” known for amenities such as free TVs, phones in every room, steam heat, cooled refrigeration, show‑reservation service, and a heated swimming pool—stylish extras for its time. The property stood out not just for its comforts but also for its neon marquee: a colossal rotating tam o’shan­ter cap that glinted over the Las Vegas Strip glitz. Local lore recalls quirky room features maintained until the end—some rooms even retained shag carpet and coin‑operated “1,000‑fingers” bed‑massage machines. Operated as a family business for 45 years, the Tam O’Shanter remained open under the management of Zeldin’s daughter, Leah, until January 12, 2004, when it shuttered to make way for the new Palazzo resort. Prior to its demolition in early 2004, Las Vegas Sands had acquired the site in 1998, with construction of the Palazzo beginning shortly afterward. When the motel’s neon cap was taken down, it was preserved by the Las Vegas Neon Museum—an enduring tribute to Vegas’s neon‑rich past. While the buildings are long gone, the spirit of the Tam O’Shanter lives on in postcards, photos, and oral histories that celebrate a uniquely Vegas chapter: a humble 100‑room inn whose sign marquee proudly hailed “Friendly Inn, Pool Open, Free Coffee” to all who drove by on the Strip.