By Evan Leake — fox5vegas.com

YESCO has shaped the Las Vegas skyline since the 1920s, from the iconic Welcome sign to the Sphere

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Las Vegas wouldn’t be what it is today without the giant flashing signs that catch the eye.

One of the biggest attractions is the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. The work to make these signs dates back almost 100 years. A hustle turned into a family business that is alive and well today, nowhere bigger than in Las Vegas.

From neon tubes to Vegas landmarks

“This tube here that you see is actually the color of neon gas,” said Jeff Young, executive vice president of YESCO.

An element instrumental to bringing attention to Las Vegas.

“There is neon everywhere. The Welcome to Las Vegas sign is probably one of the most famous signs,” Young said.

YESCO’s impact on the city spans almost a century.

“This is the cabinet going on Vanderpump right there on The Strip,” Young said.

Young is the grandson of the company’s founder, Thomas Young Sr.

“He started the company when he was 25,” Young said.

“Tom just set up his shop, he was hand lettering mostly. We’re a sign company that started by him going door to door with a paintbrush, hand lettering signs,” Young said.

Expansion to Las Vegas

While Tom Sr. started the company in Utah in 1920, it didn’t take long to break into the Vegas market.

The Young family’s fingerprints are all over the city and the Strip, from Vegas Vicky at Circa and the Neon Museum to Allegiant Stadium and the Sphere.

“580 thousand square feet. The lighting itself comes on 12 foot tracks. If you lay all those 12 foot tracks end to end, it’s 160 miles of track,” Young said.

The business is bigger than just the family by now, dealing with projects around the country, big and small.

While they have advanced with technology, including the use of LED lights, Young is confident the need for neon will not fade any time soon.

“Las Vegas would not be Las Vegas without the signs and we’re so grateful my grandfather caught Las Vegas on the front end so that we could be here as a family more than 100 years later,” Young said.

Generations to come

The family business aspect is still going strong. Jeff is the third generation in the YESCO family and the fourth and fifth generation are well on their way to taking the keys to the work, making sure that keeping these signs going for generations to come will be taken care of by the generations to come.

Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.

Read Article at fox5vegas.com