Treasure Island Pirate Skull Leaves Neon Boneyard
The 32-foot skull is headed to YESCO for repairs, and the museum has not yet announced when it will return.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Casino
Locals who drive past the Neon Boneyard will notice a missing piece: the Treasure Island pirate skull has been taken out of the museum's storage yard for restoration. The 32-foot fiberglass sculpture, one of two that once topped the resort's sign, is headed to YESCO for repairs.
Why it matters
The skull is a remnant of the Treasure Island sign that opened in 1993, removed in 2003 when the resort moved away from its pirate theme. Its restoration keeps a piece of the valley's neon-era signage from deteriorating in storage.
The sculpture is 32 feet tall and built from molded fiberglass, and it is one of two skulls that originally flanked the Treasure Island sign when it opened in 1993. The Neon Museum has not announced a date for its return.
The players
Neon Museum
The Las Vegas museum that stores and displays historic signs, and is restoring the Treasure Island skull.
YESCO
The sign company receiving the skull for fiberglass patching, stabilization and repainting.
Treasure Island
The resort whose pirate-themed sign included the skull until it was removed in 2003.
The details
The Neon Museum removed the skull from the Neon Boneyard this week, and a crane lifted it to transport it to YESCO. The piece is made of three components: the skull, the earring, and a bandana knot. Restoration will include fiberglass patching, stabilization and repainting before the skull is brought back.
Timeline
1993: The Treasure Island resort sign with two skulls opened.
2003: The skull was removed from Treasure Island as the resort shifted away from its pirate theme.
This week: The skull was removed from the Neon Boneyard for restoration.
Beyond the Strip
The skull's removal in 2003 marked Treasure Island's break from its original pirate theme, and this restoration returns that theme's most visible surviving artifact to the valley's neon history. It is one of the few remnants of the resort's first sign still in public circulation.
If you visit the Neon Boneyard, expect the Treasure Island skull to be absent while it is restored. The museum has not yet said when it will be back on display.
The takeaway
The skull's restoration keeps a piece of Las Vegas casino history intact after its years on the Treasure Island sign. Watch the Neon Museum for an announcement on when it returns.
What happens next
The Neon Museum plans to announce the skull's return date at a later time.
Further reading
For more on the resorts behind the valley's signage, browse Casino coverage in Las Vegas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSNV.
