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Since the 1950s, back when the mob built casino hotels, Las Vegas has claimed the title of the world’s entertainment capital. To this day, the first and oldest hotels in Las Vegas offer a chance to experience our glamorous and entertaining history.
Which Hotel is the Oldest in Vegas
The city’s first hotel stands today, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, and dates back to 1906. Most of Las Vegas’s oldest hotels are located Downtown, a portion of the city that retains the lights and glamor of “old Vegas.” You can visit any of these hotels and enjoy them both for their history and the modern additions. Many of the most popular and recognizable hotels now standing along the Las Vegas Strip are only about 30 years old. However, the oldest hotels, like the Golden Gate, reside in what’s now called Downtown Las Vegas.
Golden Gate Hotel and Casino
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Founded in 1906, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino was initially named the Miller Hotel, then the Hotel Nevada, and is the oldest hotel currently in operation in Las Vegas. It was both a hotel and casino until the 1909 ban in Nevada. The hotel continued to operate during the ban, and the casino reopened in 1931. The property was renamed the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in 1974. As implied by the name, the resort operated with a San Francisco theme. Golden Gate was the home of Las Vegas’ original shrimp cocktail. It was recently renovated in 2017 when the size of the casino doubled.
Some of the Oldest Hotels in Las Vegas?
Sahara Las Vegas
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Like many Vegas hotels, Sahara has a complicated history of ownership, remodeling, and name changes. The Sahara, located at the North end of the Las Vegas Strip, originally opened in 1952 with an African theme. It closed in 2011 after financial troubles but was remodeled, rebranded, and reopened as the SLS Las Vegas in 2014. New ownership changed the name back to Sahara Las Vegas in 2019 but kept the modern designs of the SLS instead of returning to a strictly African theme. As a nod to the old resort, some decorations from the original Sahara casino hotel were included; the resort’s newest pool also features a Moroccan theme.
Flamingo Las Vegas
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Hours: Open 24 hours
The Flamingo is the oldest casino-hotel currently in operation on the Las Vegas Strip and the fourth oldest hotel. It opened in 1946 under the ownership of Bugsy Siegel and other mobster investors. The hotel’s Presidential Suite once had a secret escape built into it for Siegel in case there was a need for an emergency getaway. The Flamingo lives up to its name by having a live flamingo habitat in the courtyard and various species of fish and turtles in the ponds. The Flamingo’s central location and proximity to attractions such as the LINQ make it an ideal place to stay on the Strip for guests looking for history and easy access to Las Vegas adventures.
Golden Nugget Las Vegas
Premier Tip: If you want the newest and nicest rooms, opt for the Rush Tower!
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Hours: Open 24 hours
Founded in 1946, the Golden Nugget was the first casino that a young Steve Wynn owned when he became the majority shareholder in 1973. Today, its attractions include two aquariums, a shark tank guests can slide through, and various gold nuggets, including the largest in the world “the Hand of Faith.”
El Cortez
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Hours: Open 24 hours
El Cortez Hotel and Casino is a block away from the Fremont Street Experience Downtown and Las Vegas Boulevard. Once owned by the infamous Bugsy Siegel, this Spanish western-themed casino-hotel opened its doors in 1941. The hotel is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places. Its exterior was redone in 1952, but the last modern renovation to the building was in 2019.
