The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa in Catoosa, Oklahoma, unveiled the lighting of a 65-foot-tall Gibson Les Paul electric guitar on Tuesday night.
The big guitar is on the east side of the casino, along Route 66.
Though the big unveiling was this week, the Hard Rock had been hinting at this for a few weeks. After all, it’s hard to hide a guitar that’s more than five stories tall.
According to KOTV-TV in Tulsa:
The new landmark is a tribute to the original Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s and weighs 19,500 pounds.
The guitar, designed by Stephen Shortell of Yesco Las Vegas, was shipped in four parts to Oklahoma.
“This guitar represents the music that connects us all,” Martin Madewell, general manager for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, said. “It’s a tribute to the hard work of our staff over the years to build an entertainment destination and a Route 66 stop that Oklahoma can be proud of.”
The programmable lights on the Les Paul will feature sight and sound shows that are synced to music.
The casino, owned by the Cherokee Nation, has been operating there since 2004. However, it’s apparent the operation isn’t resting on its laurels and wanted to get in on having the oversized roadside attraction along the Mother Road.
—