documentary about the tunnels under las vegas documentary about the tunnels under las vegas

They live in concrete pits that are meant to drain rainwater from the city after a storm. These safety checks are one step in a path out, a way of making connections, building relationships with members of a population that's leery of normal, protective of what is theirs and often unpredictably violent. He had an elaborate scheme: Hed meet buyers at different grates all over town, take the money through the bars, pass the drugs back in return, then speed back off into the darkness below. The film follows Mike Sweeny, a former Marine and Police Officer who revisits the tunnels he spent a year living in. Thompson wrote with this very idiosyncratic and personal language about Vegas and this book, by paying tribute to Thompson, [is] more than a documentary, but also a beautiful object. France 24, The Huntington Press title is the freshest approach on the Vegas idea in a long time. Las Vegas Review-Journal, Through his exquisite reporting, OBrien paints a starkly different portrait of the city than the one you get while playing the $25 table at the Bellagio. mediabistro.com, Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas is nothing short of fascinating: OBrien captures the fragile and often heartbreaking stories of people who would like nothing more than to not stay in Vegas, to be taken somewhere else completely. Click here to upload yours. In total, there are some 200 miles of them. And that primal existence instant gratification in finding food, water, shelter or the next fix was taking its toll. So now shes into her second round of seeking normalcy. During one of these storms, it is not uncommon for the city to experience dangerous flooding, even with the extensive drainage system in place. Online, From retracing a murderers escape route and learning how to make meth from a tunnel dweller to partying with naked crackheads and dancing under the MGM Grand, this photo-filled account proves that the only place more surreal than the Vegas Strip is beneath it. Wired, Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegasis available at. For the volunteers, about 90% of whom were homeless or tunnel dwellers, Banghart urges the working of a program called IPATH (for Instant Placement with Access to Treatment and Housing). The tunnels beneath Las Vegas are real, though, and so are the people living there. Some are transient temporary occupants moving in and out every few weeks. He lived in the tunnels until about four years ago. He follows the footsteps of a psycho killer. ", Lacey, however, does see some progress: "We are making progress in finding realistic solutions for the homeless. The water runs through the system of storm drains and ends up in the Las Vegas Wash and other washes around town that are like artificial rivers. They are there to drain rainwater away after it storms. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) What drives the homeless into living in the tunnels of Las Vegas? Robert Banghart has some of the answers. They then covered some areas so they could build roads on top. To get there you need to go into Bellagio. Since opening to the public in June 2021, the Convention Center Loop has transported thousands of conventioneers through 0.8 miles of tunnel via battery-powered Teslas. If youre coming north in the tunnel, when you cross Sahara on Las Vegas Boulevard, there will be two tunnels, northbound and southbound, and it will remain a two-tunnel system right up until you approach the intersection of St. Louis, Main and Las Vegas Boulevard, Janssen says. The number of people taking refuge in this particular section varies not all are here permanently, she says, but sometimes it can be up to 50 men and women. Tommy laughs: "She's a bit of a softie,". A year later, he was living on the streets. These are Americas forgotten, those left behind in a country with an ever-growing gap between the haves and have nots. You then take that to the $5 blackjack tables and turn the $125 into $500. They had a fire pit, a cooler full of cold beer, a surprising amount of furniture. Exact date yellow weather warning for snow and ice forecast to hit UK - will you be affected? He came to the tunnels after he lost his job and his son died. These people live hidden from society beneath the city that . Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas chronicles his adventures in this uncharted underworld. UNLV spokesperson Keyonna Summers says the UNLV station hasnt been ruled out. Every Saturday for four years, he and about 60 to 80 volunteers in groups of six to eight slink into the tunnels, caves, flood channels and freeway underpasses, handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bottled water, first-aid kits and other items of survival. It would teach you everything about life, he says. Behind the glowing skyline of Las Vegas, thousands of people are living out the "American Dream". The Boring Company's Las Vegas tunnel system is nearly up and running, and initial videos of the . Since opening to the public in June 2021, the Convention Center Loop has transported thousands of conventioneers through 0.8 miles of tunnel via battery-powered Teslas. They've turned this way of living into their way of life, and they don't feel like it's necessary to change, when they aren't necessarily hurting anyone by living underneath the Las Vegas Strip. He two-steps under the MGM Grand at 3 in the morning. She knew from Shine A Light visits a crew was looking for her. But beneath the flashing lights . In triple-digit heat. They have beds with bed frames, tables with chairs, coolers and bicycles and barbecue grills all pulled from curbs or dumpsters. Jenni Lee was once one of the most famous porn stars in the world - but now she lives as a 'mole person' in the tunnels under Las Vegas. Eventually, the water makes its way through the washes and into Lake Mead, a large body of water that serves the area as a recreational attraction and provides water when the city needs it. The Paris catacomb is somewhat difficult to explain because of how old it is, but any decent-sized city will have a network of underground tunnels under it consisting of subway tunnels and parallel maintenance tunnels, maintenance tunnels for water mains and other utilities, maybe a few bunkers, and stuff dug by merchants as caches etc long ago . Louis Lacey, director of crisis teams at "Help Of Southern Nevada", explains the reason for this. She is absent and in her own world. The equipment that has been brought into the tunnels, like chairs, tables, plastic boxes, and mattresses, is also very costly to remove. Her used laundry lies in small buckets. They put living in the tunnel behind them, and they go on to live healthy, fulfilling lives. But now the 37-year-old lives underground and says she won't leave the caves. Today hes the executive director of Shine A Light, a nonprofit outreach program dedicated to helping the people who live in the tunnels. It's like they have their own world. The tunnels of Las Vegas rose to fame in 2002 when a man named Timmy Weber used them to hide from the authorities after he murdered his girlfriend. "Today, the police are just chasing us from one place to another.". Under Las Vegas, there are thousands of concrete pits. We pay for videos too. Were handing out free stuff. They are people whose "American Dream" unfortunately was never fulfilled, and instead, only became a nightmare. When he got arrested on some outstanding warrants, he decided to enter drug court, get sober and get a regular job at the car wash above the tunnel where he used to live. I lived here a long time but it never felt like home until I started giving back, he says. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. In Las Vegas, these people are literally hidden from sight; theyre sleeping under our feet. Hes the de facto mayor in a set of tunnels near Caesars. Not far from one of the many casinos along the famous Las Vegas Strip, Angell, 54, sits at one of the entrances to the tunnel. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Most people are busy getting by down here. I lived on welfare but my husband couldn't live with me anymore because of his past. The 43-year-old reveals that one of his friends recently died after taking a "hot shot", which is a mixture of drugs often spiked with poison. Not long after the building of the storm drains, homeless people began living in them. Tunneling of Downtown stations could be completed in under six months, Davis told city council members in June. Like socks. Now, the network will span 34 miles and have a total of 55 . The only light down there comes from grating that is meant to allow water in during a storm. Their "fridge" is an old cooler box. The film follows Mike Sweeny, a f Lost Vegas is a short documentary about the miles of little known flood tunnels that run under the famous Las Vegas strip and the people who call them home. ", Anthony doesn't feel the progress yet. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The result is flooded streets and also flooding in some casinos. Vautrinot lived in the tunnels for three years. Lee was once one of the world's top porn stars and still ranks 119th in the . He explored the labyrinthine maze on his bike, made friends, even had a few relationships. By Angie Bell / August 15, 2022. They gave him a thin mattress, a bed and a nightstand. It's the little things that really make a difference: "When someone asks us how we are or remembers us when they see us again that can actually save someone's day," he says passionately. In that respect, the tunnels resemble the casinos above, where the gamblers lose track of time, too. I went underground to learn about the community of homeless people who live in sewer tunnels beneath the Las Vegas strip. Because Americas most decadent city was built in a desert prone to occasional downpours and flash floods, Las Vegas has an elaborate maze of tunnels hundreds of miles in total to capture and redirect that water. I went underground to learn about the community of homeless people who live in sewer tunnels beneath the Las Vegas strip. The last time I took a shower, I cried. Deeper in the dark, squat-ceilinged space, 25ft below the Las Vegas strip, Kregg Nattrour rested on a pile . "It's hard to shake me, but the worst thing I saw down here was an artist who lived down here getting his fingers cut off by another homeless person. If you are or a loved one is suffering from substance abuse, give Landmark Recovery a call at 888-448-0302 to learn more about how our treatment services can help you unlock your potential. "There's 600 miles of tunnels in Las Vegas and 1,500 people living in them . There is a population of thousands of mole people living under the city of Las Vegas in tunnels meant to protect the town from flash floods. ", Rusty, 54, has lived with her husband and two dogs for five years in the Las Vegas tunnels. More than 1,000 homeless people have found refuge in the dark sewage tunnels underneath the megacity. He follows the footsteps of a psycho killer. Everybodys really respectful, she says. Certainly for volunteers. B roken glass crunched under shoes, alerting tunnel dwellers that outsiders had arrived. Then Vautrinot started volunteering at Shine A Light. For those who haven't heard about them, the "tunnels" are the storm drains that run under the Las Vegas Strip and much of the surrounding valley. These safety checks are one step in a path out, a way of making connections, building relationships with members of a population thats leery of normal, protective of what is theirs and often unpredictably violent. But when it doesn't rain, the tunnels remain dry and become a place for the self-described "Mole People" to live in. Well leave it for you. I had a pimp, and he completely controlled my life for 14 years. So Vautrinot has seen people come and go, good people, characters he came to appreciate over the years. Donate to the Shine A Light foundat. The wetland river systems helps to filter out harmful chemicals and sediment in the water in a more natural way. Some residents are hiding from the law. Today help might mean just surviving, but tomorrow, or a day years from now, it may mean climbing out of the darkness. Now, its part of my life.. The hotels guests and visitors can now bypass Las Vegas Boulevards crosswalk, and instead take an underground Tesla ride to get across the street to the Convention Center. Put $25 on red on the roulette table closest to the check in desk. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. The 5-foot-3-inch, 105-pound performer who has a sun tattoo above her privates last worked in front of a camera in 2015, the site says. . So, city officials decided the best way to alleviate the situation was to create hundreds of miles of storm drains. When visiting this beautiful location, it is hard to believe it is not a natural lake. Permits to complete the loop between the Convention Center and Resorts World have been submitted, says Steve Hill, LVCVA president and CEO. From ex-prisoners to drug addicts, many people living in the tunnels feel forgotten by society and claim that they are treated like "pieces of s***". Heres how its spending your money. Shine A Light volunteers wear T-shirts and bracelets and identify themselves by announcing the nonprofits name and a message of were here to help.. How 'deluded' Putin thought Ukraine invasion would break up Nato & have West bowing down to Russia, leaked docs show, Man had sex with his wife on bollard after fuming neighbour placed it in cul-de-sac in protest during parking row, Headteacher sacked 'after sending parents a list of striking teachers' as school launches probe, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Violence is part of the primal existence, Banghart says. Despite being one of the most dangerous places in Las Vegas, many artists travel into the tunnels to practice their art forms. Vautrinot visits the tunnels regularly to try to help residents find a way out.Support the Guardian https://support.theguardian.com/contributeToday in Focus podcast https://www.theguardian.com/news/series/todayinfocusSign up for the Guardian documentaries newsletter https://www.theguardian.com/info/2016/sep/02/sign-up-for-the-guardian-documentaries-updateThe Guardian https://www.theguardian.comThe Guardian YouTube network:Guardian News http://is.gd/guardianwiresGuardian Football http://is.gd/guardianfootballGuardian Sport http://bit.ly/GDNsportGuardian Culture http://is.gd/guardianculture#LasVegas #VegasTunnels #USA #Homeless #ShineALight #LasVegasTunnels If he needs to, he can speed through this labyrinth of connecting flood channels on a bike in pitch darkness. I call it the "Other Tunnel." The first sounds are usually the echoes of jumbling barrels and the clatter of random debris loosened by the surging flood. Two old carpets lie on the floor. by Joseph Guzman | Oct. 22, 2021 . A piece of cardboard in front of their section of a tunnel has "Aloha" written on it and the walls are adorned with Hawaiian prayers pieces of home. But among the regular inhabitants of these same tunnels, theres also an explicit culture of sharing, a notion that they are often in this situation together. 20 Secrets About The Tunnel Under The Las Vegas Strip, You Drive Over The Tunnels Without Even Knowing They Are There, Underground Portions Of The Tunnels Are Made Out Of Prefab Concrete Squares, Water From The Tunnels Flows Into The Las Vegas Wash, The Water From The Tunnels Eventually Ends Up In Lake Mead, The Storm Drains Consist Of Underground And Open Channels, City Officials Began Planning The System After Life-Threatening Floods, There Are Hundreds Of Miles Of Storm Drain Tunnels In Las Vegas, Las Vegas Is Not Done Building The Tunnels, The Tunnels Help To Revitalize The Infrastructure Of Las Vegas, A Section Of The Tunnel Had To Be Moved Before Construction Of The New Raiders Stadium Could Begin, Despite The Massive Tunnels The City Still Floods, Despite The Tunnels, It Still Floods In Some Casinos, Millions Of Gallons Of Water Can Fill The Tunnels When It Rains, Homeless People Started Living In The Tunnels Shortly After They Were Built, Now, There Are More Than 2,000 People Living In The Tunnels Under The Strip, The Tunnels Under The Vegas Strip Have Attracted National Attention, Artists Go Into The Tunnels To Do Graffiti, 2,000 people are living under the Las Vegas Strip, Small & Stylish: 10 Memphis Boutique Hotels That Add Charm To Your Travel Experience, 10 Best Marriott Bonvoy Family-Friendly Hotels For Spring Break, 10 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Canada This Spring, Colonial History Comes To Life: The Ultimate Guide To Williamsburg & Things To Do, Discover Alabama's Rocket City: The Ultimate Guide To Huntsville & Things To Do, Sailing Into Virginia: The Ultimate Guide To Norfolk & Things To Do, Upstate New York's Rich Heritage: A Creative Tour To Uncover Its 10 Best Festivals, Fairs, & Cultural Events, Sunshine State Savings: 10 Affordable Florida Hotels For Your Next Vacation, Where To Watch Alligators Expanding Into Tennessee (For The First Time). Tunnels run under or past Caesars Palace, the Rio, the Flamingo and the Orleans. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Water has rushed into the casino and the underground mall there several times. He thinks everyone should experience homelessness at some point. "When it rains, the people in the tunnels only have a few minutes until the tide washes away their homes," he says. What they did not expect was that homeless people would travel into the tunnels and build homes. NOW WATCH: How this dog became a comedy star with a Las Vegas residency. For hundreds of people, these tunnels are home. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. I was once one of them, and I want them to see it is possible to recover from such a hopeless state. The Vegas Loop plans call for a 34-mile tunnel network with 56 stations along with future service extensions. The Boring Companys website also notes the possibility of connecting to LA. [{"timestamp":"1677988800000","date":"2023-03-04 20:00:00","type":"Concert","title":"KATY PERRY: PLAY @ Resorts World Las Vegas","description":"","url":"/events/2023/mar/04/55442/"},{"timestamp":"1677988800000","date":"2023-03-04 20:00:00","type":"Concert","title":"Chicago @ Venetian Resort Hotel Casino","description":"","url":"/events/2023/mar/04/55397/"},{"timestamp":"1677952800000","date":"2023-03-04 10:00:00","type":"Gallery","title":"Leonardo Da Vinci: The Exhibition @ Grand Canal Shoppes","description":"","url":"/events/ongoing/32943/"}], Winston Fisher, CEO of Las Vegas attraction mecca Area15, invites you to jump down the rabbit hole, Las Vegas Life Is Beautiful festival offers locals-only presale, Prepare to Eat Your Heart Out at Durango Casinos incoming food hall, Techno Taco Tuesday returns to full strength at Downtown Las Vegas La Mona Rosa, DJ HoneyLuv shows she can do it all and then some, Eddie McDonalds MAC Agency flourishes in Las Vegas, Keith Urban builds new energy for his Zappos Theater residency in Las Vegas, Downtown Las Vegas new Beverly Theater arrives as an art house cinema lovers dream, The Las Vegas-based Jabbawockeez hit the road on a global tour with Rauw Alejandro, Crust & Roux brings comfy flavors to Las Vegas Town Square, Neighbors Cafe celebrates five years serving Las Vegas, Nevadans in Congress go to bat for resorts as Biden goes after 'junk fees', Video shows CCSD Police slamming Black teen to ground near school, U2 confirms 2023 MSG Sphere residency in Las Vegas, Father, son open their 17th McDonalds location in Las Vegas, Golden Knights win at Minnesota, but lose Thompson to injury. The film follows Mike Sweeny, a former Marine and Police Officer who revisits the tunnels he spent a year living in. When he was managing editor of alt . And yet weve come to accept it. And yet, no matter how dark and bleak things get, something pulls Vautrinot back underground, to lend a hand wherever he can. It is not uncommon for millions of gallons of water to fill the tunnels during a flash flood. They run through most of the city underneath all of the major streets. "It's a damn difficult situation but we make the best of it," explains Tommy, who became homeless after becoming addicted to drugs and gambling. In many tunnels under Las Vegas, the residents have built small makeshift apartments. Lee who appears to be missing teeth and picks at her fingers with black-rimmed nails also says that living in the drainpipe is not as difficult as you think.. High enough to drown someone if they dont wake up in time. After six months, they recruited someone new and Vautrinot moved deep into the tunnel, settling into his new life. Mark Frauenfelder 10:59 am Fri Oct 18, 2019. September 23, 2009, 10:59 AM. An estimated 300 people are living underground in the flood tunnels underneath Las Vegas, and many of them struggle with substance abuse and addiction.Subscr. The 200 mile-long labyrinth running beneath the city of sin is home to an estimated 300 people - many of whom suffer from drug addictions. Although the 37-year-old is now homeless, the former actress claims that underground people - many of whom are struggling with drug addictions - are "more accepting" and . Some he knows are dead, and some will be back down here soon enough. Paul Vautrinot lived in the tunnels for three years. Shine A Light helps dozens of people every year with housing, drug counseling and job training. When it rains heavily outside, the underground shafts collect the water and push it out of the city. His philosophy on service is simple: He will help those who need it most, and meet them where they are, judgment free. He warns the people in his tunnel not to stray too far from the entrance, because hes seen people get swept away in the dark-water waves that course through. ", But life in the tunnels used to be "more beautiful", according to Angell. It's dark everywhere, and the only light comes from flashlights if they can even afford batteries. Angell stresses that she decided to live there on her own will, but that she wants people to know one important rule: "Don't die in my tunnel," she says. Read more: Seattle wants to build a $3 million 'mega tent' for the homeless amid a crackdown on illegal camps. Las Vegas, NV, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. In a tunnel by the Flamingo, a man in his 50s named Philip is smoking a cigarette and sipping a Natural Light. Is there a tunnel system under Las Vegas? For years, the storm drain system in Las Vegas has attracted national attention, whether it is in the form of news articles, TV shows, documentaries, or outreach programs trying to put together relief for the many tunnel residents. ONE of the world's most successful porn stars is now homeless, and living in a nightmarish network of pitch-black tunnels beneath the glamorous Las Vegas Strip. Read more: A man on death row skipped his last meal and asked for the money to be donated to people experiencing homelessness. I thought everyone knew how to get to the secret tunnel. For those who want help leaving, there is one man who regularly descends into the tunnels. Addiction, mental illness, a broken family unit; these are some common themes in the lives of the Las Vegas tunnel dwellers. Aside from the funding models and types of contracts (Clark County has a franchise agreement with the Boring Company), the citys agreement with Boring is nearly identical to the countys, Janssen says. The closed portions enable the city to build roadways above the tunnels. He estimated a $12 fare and a nine-minute trip to ride the Loop from Fremont Street to the airport. Shannon Miller joined Las Vegas Weekly in early 2022 as a staff writer. He is still doing crystal meth. One of the most common places for flooding is Ceasar's Palace. And then maybe next time, they see what weve done, that were good, here to help. I actually got very famous. The Internet Adult Film Database credits her with appearances in 105 films, including Jenni Lees Office Fling, Horny Hosts of Heaven and several installments of the My Daddys Hot Girlfriend series. There is no lighting in the storm tunnels. Every night, roughly 200,000 Americans sleep in public places because they dont have a home. Not many people know these tunnels better than Vautrinot. Those who live there set up tents within the tunnels - with inhabitants claiming the best place to "camp" is far away from tunnel exits - as police tend not to search so far in. Since 2016, she has gathered a smorgasbord A Tesla electric vehicle heads from the Las Vegas Convention Center toward Resorts World through the VegasLoop. In 2019 some of the projects were completed, but there are more projects planned, and the city plans to add more to the system as needed. Day in and day out, visitors drink, party and gamble in countless casinos but most of them are totally unaware of the parallel world running just underneath their feet. Currently, only 1.7 miles underneath the Las Vegas Convention Center are operational. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? You got water? The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Boring President Steve Davis has called it the largest subsurface construction project in the country.. Before crews could begin building, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had to sign off to have the ducts that channels water from the Tropicana Detention Basin to Flamingo Wash moved. He chases the ghosts of Benny Binion, Bugsy Siegel, Elvis, Frank Sinatra and Howard Hughes. But his dealing drew more people, more attention, and within a few years hed run off all of the veterans who had taken him in. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? She now works in homeless services, as does Martinez. Read more: Silicon Valley's largest city wants to house the homeless in floating apartments. Construction crews broke ground on the massive project to save the city in the late 1980s after years of planning and consulting with experts and city engineers. It's heartening to see the number of . ", Read more: An astounding number of American college students are going hungry or homeless. He learned that there were codes, mutually agreed upon rules. The water gets this high, Victory says, lifting his hand to the middle of his abdomen. Jenni Lee, another big name in the porn industry, sent shock waves across the industry when she was found by a Dutch film crew sleeping in a rat-riddled tunnel under Las Vegas. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, AI is transforming porn industry: It 'will never be as interesting', Porn star suffers debilitating injury during shoot: 'It turned completely black', Porn star: This extremely well-endowed starfish is sparking a tidal wave of dirty jokes, 'Meryl Streep of porn' nearly died after shooting grueling scene: report, Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas. If some light comes in at the end of the tunnel, we know: It's daytime.". Jenni Lee, known by the screen name Stephanie Saddora, is still ranked the 119th best porn actress in the world. Bridget Bennett for HuffPost Since the 2008 recession, real estate developers have focused more on building luxury rental units than on housing for low-income people, according to county commissioner Tick Segerblom. Some have been arrested. I wanted to just lay down in the dirt and turn to dust. Originally, the goal was to build 1,000 miles of tunnels to whisk flood waters away from the casinos. He learns how to make meth, that art is most beautiful where its least expected and that there are no pots of gold under the neon rainbow. Her new life underground was discovered in recent years after a Dutch TV crew was filming a 2019 documentary about the hundreds of people who live in the tunnels under Las Vegas. She was dirty, alone, tired and lost. If you had looked down from the space between the Frontier's side parking lot and the side entrance to the Stardust, you could have watched cars entering the tunnel. Hopefully, for the homeless. The network of tunnels, called the Vegas Loop, is supposed to span 29 miles and have 51 stops when finished. Instead, construction crews dug out dirt from some areas to make room for giant prefab concrete cubes. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Its a reminder of where I can go. Keep reading to find out more about how these intricate tunnels work to protect the city and more. A lot of [the dwellers] are really good about communicating with each other about when its about to rain, so they can just grab their valuables and get out, and leave everything else behind.. Lost Vegas: Directed by Steve Birnbaum. How the death of this homeless man was dealt with was symbolic of their entire situation: "He was simply taken away a homeless death. The Saturday tunnel visits are part of the program. Beneath downtown Las Vegas is an extensive network of large storm drain tunnels, all of which help direct rainwater that would otherwise flood the city toward Lake Mead. An estimated 300 people are living underground in the flood tunnels underneath Las Vegas, and many of them struggle with substance abuse and addiction.Subscribe to The Guardian on YouTube http://is.gd/subscribeguardianPaul Vautrinot was one of them, but he now works for the community organisation Shine a Light, which offers services including housing and counselling to people living in the tunnels. He grew up in Las Vegas. After three years down here, it all just became too much. Most people dont call. The tunnels, and the alternate universe found within them, were brought to light by Huntington Press author Matt O'Brien. When Clark County Commissioners first approved the Vegas Loop, it was supposed to be a 29-mile tunnel network connecting 51 stations. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Pitch black and with no surveillance cameras, the tunnels are a breeding ground for crime and illegal activity. All forthcoming tunnels in Clark County and the City of Las Vegas will be paid for and operated by the Boring Company, which will collect ride fares.