Las Vegas: Son of Strat developer recalls how towering icon came to be

Thursday, April 30, 2026 2:44 PM
Image aggregated from Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  • Richard N. Velotta, Las Vegas Review-Journal

As Las Vegas’ iconic observation tower that rises toward the stratosphere hits its 30th anniversary, there’s one local resident who had a front-row seat to the struggle Bob Stupak had in building the attraction now owned by Golden Entertainment Inc.

Nevada Stupak, 50, operates Stupak Las Vegas, an event-planning company that coordinates corporate and leisure travel to Las Vegas so that groups or individuals can pay one vendor for a multitude of experiences.

Stupak is best known as the son of “Polish Maverick” Bob Stupak, a professional poker player who grinded through dozens of challenges to build the resort and tower that first opened its doors April 30, 1996.