Las Vegas Weekly

August 31, 2010 · 11:28 AM

Helicopter Photos, Part 1: An aerial view of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead

By Robin Leach

A bird's-eye view of Hoover Dam and the Hoover Dam Bypass.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

It was no ordinary sightseeing helicopter flight! Sure, the route was a traditional one that Maverick Helicopters flies over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.

But this was a practice run for an adventure that we’ll bring you tomorrow exclusively here at Vegas DeLuxe. Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue and his Maverick pilot had to use the flight path from the south end of the Strip at dawn out over Hoover Dam and back to The Strip, returning over Lake Las Vegas for their practice run.

“We took the opportunity to shoot the new road and bridge that will cut significant time on the journey over Hoover Dam when it opens later this year,” Tom told me.

“We also got some great aerials at dawn’s early light of The Strip skyline and sadly also the yellowing greens out at Lake Las Vegas.

“As Mr. Rogers used to say so eloquently, it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood for our test run, and I used it to full advantage for this great set of photos. But wait till you see the views at the Hualapai Tribe’s Grand Canyon West, home of the Skywalk.

“It's all turned out to be a really awesome, take-your-breath-away experience. I will never ever forget the experience. When you look at the photos tomorrow, you’ll understand why it’s now riveted in my soul!”

Vegas DeLuxe will proudly present the photos of the Eagle Point aerial views courtesy of Grand Canyon West right here tomorrow.

Meantime, the Colorado River Bridge is the central portion of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project. Construction on the nearly 2,000-foot-long bridge began in January 2005, and the bridge spans the Black Canyon (about 1,500 feet south of the Hoover Dam) connecting the Arizona and Nevada Approach highways nearly 900 feet above the Colorado River. Bridging America, a celebration of the completion of the Hoover Dam Bypass, is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 16.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Share This