The Secret Underground Community That Lives in the Tunnels Under Las Vegas is Not For the Faint of Heart

Las Vegas is famous for its glittering lights, lively nightlife, and grand casinos. However, only a few people visiting Sin City know about its underground area. Most tourists stroll up and down the sites, gambling, shopping, sightseeing, and eating all day. However, most of them never discover the labyrinth of underground tunnels beneath the city that has become a sanctuary for unhoused people.

How this underground city began remains a mystery. Some say the tunnels began as a way for bootleggers to escape during the prohibition era, but that’s a common misconception. The government first started digging these tunnels to redirect water from the city.

The maze of tunnels beneath Las Vegas is elaborate and fascinating. It encompasses hundreds of miles intending to capture and redirect water. There are several entrances to these tunnels all over the town.

While the tunnels are mostly dark and damp, thousands of people in the Las Vegas area call these tunnels home. Sadly, the people living in this underground city are America’s forgotten.

One wonders how there are so many unhoused people living in the city. It all began with the housing insecurity epidemic in the US. Over 200,000 Americans sleep in public places because they have nowhere else to call home.

Although America already had a housing crisis, the pandemic only seemed to exacerbate the issue. Many came to accept it, and most looked away and ignored the glaring problem.

The hidden community contrasts sharply with the bright signs glowing around the clock above the surface. There’s no fresh water below the city, and the only electricity comes from batteries.

Entering the tunnels isn’t always easy, as there’s little to no space left for new residents, and getting out can be even more difficult. Although many people would love to leave, most are afraid to explore the world beyond the tunnels.

The people living in the city have created a haven for themselves with whatever they can find. They have beds with bed frames, barbecue grills, coolers, tables, and chairs. Most of these items were pulled from curbs and dumpsters, but they’ve helped to set up a home for the residents.

The underground tunnels were created to redirect floods from the city. Therefore, when the water comes through, it usually comes fast and hard. Due to this, the water sweeps away everything it comes in contact with.

Although the underground city is considered a haven, it’s also filled with residents who struggle with addiction. It has also become a makeshift home for drug peddlers looking to stay under the radar of law enforcement officials.

The floods aren’t the only danger faced by tunnel residents. The underground city is also home to violence and crime, and it has become a hotbed of criminals taking advantage of vulnerable people.

Despite the dangers haunting the tunnels, there’s also a culture of sharing. This culture developed due to the belief that there are times your life will be entirely dependent on your neighbor. It is also a great way to survive the horrors beneath the city.

Due to the nature of life beneath the city, having a sort of law and order in the tunnels became imperative. Every community in the tunnels has elected officials and a mayor who keeps the peace.

Paul is a 34-year-old man with arm and neck tattoos always peeking out of his shirts. He is the executive director of Shine A Light, a non-profit outreach program designed to assist those who live in the tunnels.

Paul stayed in the tunnels for three years, and how he ended up there might surprise you. He grew up in Las Vegas with a mother who was an addict. However, Paul didn’t move to the tunnels to escape his mother.

It wasn’t until a year later that Paul began to live on the street. One day, he met a group of older men who invited him down to their tunnel, and Paul saw a new life beneath the city he had always lived in.

Being the newest resident in the underground city, Paul’s bed was the closest to the entrance. He had a special tunnel job reserved only for the newest residents. Paul was responsible for always informing other residents when someone was coming.

Paul soon learned that there were codes the tunnel residents lived by and mutually agreed upon rules that all residents, including himself, had to follow.

Paul settled into his new home and got acquainted with more residents in the underground city. He loved to explore the labyrinthine maze and develop new friendships. He even had a few relationships with other tunnel residents.

Soon, Paul started to deal drugs from his new home. He hatched an elaborate plan to ensure he thrived in his new business. He would meet buyers at various grates in town, take their money through the bars and pass the drugs.

As his business grew, so did the attention it drew. Soon, Paul ran off all the drug-dealing veterans who took him in. He became the best plug for drugs and recruited even more people. However, the good times weren’t without their dangers.

When Paul got arrested, he decided he was done with the old life. He entered drug court, got sober, and got a job at a car wash just above the tunnels where he once lived. Paul knew many people like him might also want to get out, so he took a step no one expected.

Paul has seen many people come and go from the underground community. Although the tunnels are dark and bleak, he can’t resist the pull to return to the underground city and help where possible. He saw many residents move to different cities, get arrested, and even get clean; he was always happy to help wherever possible.

Paul and his outreach program Shine A Light were instrumental in drawing attention to the underground city. The city is a symbol of hope and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It remains a reminder that even in the darkest places, there’s a potential for light.