Did you know people once risked their lives to have their photograph taken with this iconic Vegas image? Designed in 1959 by Betty Willis, The “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” neon sign used to draw tourists into the middle of the road, risking their lives to take a picture. The city eventually decided dead or injured tourists would be bad publicity, so in 2008 Las Vegas paved a parking lot at the base of the sign, making it much easier to get your picture taken with it.