Neon Museum Removes Treasure Island Pirate Skull

The 32-foot fiberglass skull is being restored after leaving the Neon Boneyard for YESCO.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Casino

A large weathered fiberglass skull hangs from a yellow crane over a desert lot of rusting neon sign frames under warm late-afternoon light. — The Neon Museum removed the 32-foot Treasure Island pirate skull from its Neon Boneyard on Tuesday, sending it to sign maker YESCO for restoration. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Neon Museum has removed the Treasure Island pirate skull from the Neon Boneyard for restoration. The skull is the only remaining one of two mounted on the resort sign when Treasure Island opened in 1993.

Why it matters

The skull is a surviving piece of Las Vegas Strip history tied to Treasure Island's original pirate theme, which the resort moved away from in 2003. Its return will reconnect a landmark from the city's resort era with the public.

The skull stands 32 feet tall and is made of molded fiberglass, and is composed of three components: the skull, the earring, and a bandana knot. Only one of the two skulls that originally topped the 1993 resort sign survives, and the Neon Museum has not announced a return date.

The players

Neon Museum

The Neon Museum is a Las Vegas institution that preserves and displays retired signs from the city's casinos and businesses in its Neon Boneyard.

Treasure Island

Treasure Island is a Las Vegas Strip resort that opened in 1993 with a pirate theme before shifting its identity in the early 2000s.

YESCO

YESCO is a sign-making company that handles the fabrication and restoration of large commercial signs.

The details

A crane lifted the skull from the Neon Boneyard and transported it to YESCO, where it will receive fiberglass patching, stabilization, and repainting. The Neon Museum plans to announce when the skull will return at a later date.

1993: Treasure Island opens with a resort sign mounting two pirate skulls.
2003: The skull is removed from Treasure Island as the resort shifts away from its pirate theme.
November 6, 2026: The skull is removed from the Neon Boneyard for restoration.

Legal Context

The Neon Boneyard has preserved retired Las Vegas Strip signs since the museum opened, and this skull's restoration continues that practice of keeping the city's resort-era icons intact. Its removal from Treasure Island in 2003 marks a turning point when the resort moved away from its original pirate identity.

The skull will not be visible to the public until the Neon Museum announces its return, which has not yet been scheduled. Visitors interested in seeing it will need to watch for that announcement before planning a trip to the Neon Boneyard.

The takeaway

Retired Las Vegas signs like this pirate skull are often lost when resorts change themes, so museums that preserve them keep a visible record of the city's casino history. Following the Neon Museum's announcements is the best way to learn when this one returns.