Exploring 400+ miles of flood-control tunnels beneath Las Vegas

BoingBoing reader crazymonk says,


The alt-weekly Las Vegas CityLife has published excerpts from Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas, a new book by local journalist Matt O'Brien depicting his exploration of some of the 400+ miles of flood-control tunnels and storm drains that can be found beneath the glitzy lights of Las Vegas. Link.

"I follow the footsteps of a psycho killer. I two-step under the MGM Grand at 3 in the morning. I chase the ghosts of Benny Binion, Bugsy Siegel, Elvis, Frank Sinatra and Howard Hughes. I learn how to make meth, that art is most beautiful where it's least expected and that there are no pots of gold under the neon rainbow."

The second excerpt (located at a separate URL) describes his encounter with a homeless man living in dank tunnel near the airport, who has fashioned himself an elevated bed that manages to stay above the water line even during major flooding.

Photo by Bill Hughes, courtesy of Las Vegas CityLife.