The only constant in Vegas is change. Here's to 10 casino that got blown up to make way for new places. Among the victims: The Riviera, the Landmark, the Boa. The Oldest Casino in Las Vegas. In the Roaring ‘20s, flappers were a brash, new breed of young women who wore short skirts, listened to hot music and partied until the neon lights gave way to the morning sun. They mocked socially acceptable behavior and, oh, how they loved to dance. The Trusted and Oldest Casinos While the internet casinos have only been around for 10 years or so, it is definitely worth your while to play online casino at the oldest casinos. These online casinos are the one whom you can trust with a reputation for excellence and a tradition of great games. The casino and hotel continued to expand over the years, under the leadership of Italo Ghelfi and then his sons and other business partners. So, there you go. The Golden Gate Casino is Las Vegas’ oldest casino, even if it has changed its name a couple of times and it has a long and storied history which is rare for Las Vegas, if you ask me.
In Clark County, Nevada, a 4.2-mile stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard has been and still is home to some of the most famous and popular casino resorts in the world.
Some of the casinos on the road even pre-date the name of the Strip, which has been home to over 60 casino hotels and resorts throughout its 90-year history. And many of these establishments have hosted some of the biggest entertainers at their venues.
Throughout its existence, many hotels have been torn down to make room for newer, bigger, state-of-the-art resorts. But some have remained. Many of the older hotels have gone through massive renovations and additions and look significantly different than they did when they first opened. But they’re still there operating.
Here are four of the oldest casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.
1 – The Flamingo Las Vegas
In 1945, notorious gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and his partners wanted to get in on the booming gambling business that Las Vegas was experiencing. This desire led to him and his associates purchasing the El Cortez in Downtown Las Vegas.
Siegel purchased the casino hotel with the intent of expanding it. Unfortunately, city officials wouldn’t issue the necessary permits due to Siegel’s criminal history and mob connections.
After hitting a proverbial brick wall, Siegel heard that the owner of The Hollywood Reporter, Billy Wilkerson, was building a casino resort outside the city limits and outside the reach of the Las Vegas city officials that were blocking Siegel’s El Cortez expansion.
Wilkerson had run into financial issues building the casino, so Siegel and his associates bought a two-thirds share of the project.
Siegel took over direct control of the construction, and the Flamingo opened on December 25th, 1946.
The initial opening was a flop, despite the array of stars who were present—Rose Marie, Jimmy Durante, Clark Gable, Lana Turner, Cesar Romero, Judy Garland, and Joan Crawford. The casino was also having issues with construction that were the result of Siegel’s pressure to open on the builder.
In January 1947, Siegel temporarily closed the Flamingo to correct the issues and reopened in March and renamed The Fabulous Flamingo, despite the hotel not being complete. By May, the Flamingo reported its first profit, $250,000 (nearly $3 million in 2019 dollars).
Siegel’s association with the Flamingo would be short-lived, as he was murdered in June. It was allegedly a mob hit for his mismanagement of casino funds, but this was never proven.
Over the years, ownership of the Flamingo has changed several times. The first sale was in 1960 to a group of Miami organized crime bosses that included Samuel Cohen, Morris Lansburgh, and Daniel Lifter. The next sale was to Kirk Kerkorian in 1967. Kerkorian then turned around and sold the Flamingo to the Hilton Corporation in 1972. Hilton renamed the property The Flamingo Hilton in 1974. In 2000, the Flamingo was renamed The Flamingo Las Vegas.
The Flamingo has gone under 11 major renovations. This includes four towers that were added onto the original structures. The last original structure was torn down in 1993.
Currently, the hotel has 3,626 rooms and has a 72,300 square-foot casino.
Casino Details:
- Slots and Gaming Machines: 1,690
- Table Games: 130
- Poker Tables: 6
- Separate Poker Room: Yes
- Address: 3555 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Phone: (702) 733-3111
- Website: www.caesars.com/flamingo-las-vegas
2 – Tropicana Las Vegas
In 1955, ground was first broken on the Tropicana Las Vegas. The project experienced cost overruns and several delays and finally opened on April 4, 1957.
The property has gone through three major renovations in 1979, 1986, and 2011.
The biggest entertainment venues at the Tropicana Las Vegas is the Legends in Concert theater, which seats 1,100 people. It has featured residencies of stars such as Gladys Knight and Wayne Newton.
It currently features a show called Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show, which includes tributes to the late Prince as well as the bands featured in the movie Purple Rain, Vanity 6 and Morris Day and the Time.
In addition, it has a comedy club called the Laugh Factory that features nightly performances by legendary impressionist and comedian Rich Little.
The resort casino features nine restaurants, including one by celebrity chef Robert Irvine of Restaurant Impossible fame. Currently, the Flamingo features 1,467 rooms and over 50,000 square feet of casino floor space.
Casino Details:
- Slots and Gaming Machines: 650
- Table Games: 15
- Poker Tables: None
- Separate Poker Room: No
- Address: 3801 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Phone: (702) 739-2222
- Website: www.troplv.com/
3 – The LINQ
The LINQ opened as the Flamingo Capri Motel in 1959. It was not owned by the same people who owned the Flamingo, but was built adjacent to the Flamingo and had an arranged with Flamingo management to have services provided to Flamingo Capri guests.
In 1971, the Flamingo Capri was sold and the next year, the new owner added a casino. By 1979, the property was acquired by Best Western and had done substantial renovations. Best Western renamed the Flamingo Capri as the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino on November 1, 1979.
In 2005, Harrah’s (renamed Caesar’s Entertainment in 2010) acquired the Imperial Palace and neighboring properties O’Sheas and the Flamingo.
In 2011, Caesars Entertainment Corporation announced that it would build Project LINQ, an entertainment complex in place of Imperial Palace and O’Sheas Casino.
After a $223 million renovation of the property, the property was renamed again. The new name took effect on October 30, 2014, the Linq Hotel and Casino.
The hotel contains nearly 20 restaurants, featuring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s Fish and Chips restaurant. It also has a shopping promenade with over a dozen stores to choose from.
Casino Details:
- Slots and Gaming Machines: 830
- Table Games: 55
- Poker Tables: None
- Separate Poker Room: No
- Address: 3535 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Phone: (800) 634-6441
- Website: www.caesars.com/linq
4 – Caesars Palace
Among the most famous casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip is Caesars Palace. The storied history of the casino includes a wealth of performers and unique events that no other venues in Las Vegas have provided.
One of the first major events that occurred at Caesars was the legendary Evel Knievel jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace. The event occurred on New Year’s Eve 1967. The jump, 141 feet, was the longest ever attempted at the time.
Knievel came up short on the jump and landed on the safety ramp, causing one of the most spectacular crashes in stunt bike history. Knievel suffered a crushed pelvis and femur, fractures to his hip, wrist, and both ankles, and a concussion that kept him in the hospital for over a month. He became the most famous stuntman in the world following the jump.
Many events took place there as well, including the Caesars Palace Grand Prix Formula One World Championships, the 1980 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes, and the 1993 event WrestleMania IX.
Caesar’s boasts several celebrity chef restaurants in the form of Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen, Pronto by Giada, Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill, Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen and Bar, Restaurant Guy Savoy, and even Nobu.
Caesar’s Palace has 3,976 rooms and nearly 125,000 square feet of casino floor space.
Casino Details:
- Slots and Gaming Machines: 1,324
- Table Games: 169
- Poker Tables: 16
- Separate Poker Room: Yes
- Address: 3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Phone: (866) 227-5938
- Website: www.caesars.com/caesars-palace
Conclusion
Las Vegas is steeped in history. As are the casino resorts that have been listed here. Many of the pop culture events that have happened over the last few decades have occurred in some of these venues. The Evel Knievel jump, boxing matches, concerts, wrestling matches, and even political events are all examples of the ways these casinos have shaped the American experience.
The Las Vegas Strip doesn’t exist in a bubble. It constantly evolves. Even the casino resorts listed here would be almost unrecognizable to someone who saw them in the 1960s. And the Strip will continue to evolve and change.
Someday, these properties will outlive their usefulness and need to be demolished and other structures will be built in their place. They may keep the names or they may change. But for now, they stand as a tribute to the many decades of gambling, entertainment, and excitement that millions have had the pleasure to experience.
It seems everyone is longing for “Old Vegas.” We totally get that hankering for a little “Old Vegas,” as downtown Las Vegas has about as much vintage Vegas as you’re going to find anywhere.
If you’re looking for the best spots in Sin City to get a taste of that old-school Vegas vibe, downtown Las Vegas is the place to be. Here are some nostalgic “Old Vegas” sights and attractions to check out in downtown:
1. Golden Gate Hotel & Casino
It doesn’t get any more vintage than the oldest casino in Las Vegas. Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is one of the hottest stops on Fremont Street with flair bartenders at OneBar, sexy dancing dealers in the casino and craft cocktails at Bar Prohibition.
While you’re at Golden Gate, make sure to check out a window to the past! When the casino’s high limit area was being renovated, a portal to view the wall of the original hotel structure was installed. It’s an amazing nod to the past if you know where to look.
You’ll get that retro feeling right away with art deco accents throughout the casino. The throwback, upbeat atmosphere in the casino is reminiscent of frequent visits from Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack back in the day. Be sure to swing by the next time you’re in downtown Las Vegas for an authentic experience short on pretense and long on pours.
2. The Neon Museum
If you thought Vegas just tossed out all those iconic neon signs that graced some of its most recognizable buildings, think again!
Downtown Las Vegas visitors can check out famous neon signs and restored displays going back decades at the Neon Museum.
Some things you won’t want to miss include the original Stardust, Riviera, Sahara and Hard Rock Cafe neon signage, as well as historic Golden Gate and Binion’s Horseshoe signs. Icing on the cake: The museum’s visitor center is housed in the original La Concha Motel lobby.
3. Vegas Vic
Speaking of neon, Vegas Vic is a little piece of “Old Vegas” history that sits next to the Golden Nugget on Fremont Street. The famous neon cowboy was made in the likeness of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce character from 1947, designed to help draw visitors to the city.
When Vegas Vic was first erected outside the Pioneer Club in 1951, he waved his arm and welcomed guests with a loud “Howdy, Podner” greeting. You can still snap a picture with Vegas Vic under the Viva Vision canopy today.
Worth noting: Vegas Vic’s wife, Vegas Vickie, is being refurbished and will be back on Fremont Street at the new Circa Las Vegas resort. The couple was “married” in 1994.
4. Hotel Apache at Binion’s
The original Hotel Apache on Fremont Street opened in 1932, so you can imagine how much history is tucked away within those walls. In fact, it’s rumored Hotel Apache is one of the most haunted spots in Las Vegas, with workers and guests claiming to have witnessed spirits from the past.
Apart from reports of paranormal activity, it’s noteworthy as the first Las Vegas hotel to have an air conditioner in its lobby, to have a fully carpeted casino and use an electric elevator.
You can find the restored Hotel Apache at Binion’s Gambling Hall today. Bonus: No resort fees. That’s about as “Old Vegas” as you can get!
5. Hugo’s Cellar at Four Queens
If you’re looking for a classic Vegas-style restaurant, Hugo’s Cellar at Four Queens brings you back to the old days of romantic lighting, deep booths, brick-lined walls, and signature steak and seafood dishes that won’t break the bank.
What really makes Hugo’s Cellar special, though, is the impeccable “Old Vegas” service you’ll get while you dine. From the waiters in bow ties who mix your salad tableside to the master sommelier recommending the perfect wine to complement your main course, we guarantee you haven’t seen service like this anywhere else.
6. Atomic Liquors
Atomic Liquors holds a very special place in Las Vegas history as the first bar to officially be issued a tavern liquor license (literally, license #00001).
Opening its doors in 1952, Atomic welcomed customers of all different backgrounds, including casino employees finishing their shifts and A-list celebrities avoiding the crowds on the Strip.
Drop in for a cold beer or cocktail as you admire some of the original decor and accents. There’s also a safe on display that was discovered under the floorboards during its 2012 restoration. The paperwork and other contents date all the way back to the 1950s.
7. The Mob Museum
Oldest Casino In Vegas Downtown
The Mob Museum is definitely not your typical museum, and not just because of the subject matter.
The Mob Museum is a unique Las Vegas attraction that explores the history of organized crime with interactive exhibits that deftly tackle Vegas’ gangster past. This is where you get all the dirt on Sin City’s mobster history.
Once you’ve gone through the museum, they also have a speakeasy-style bar and Prohibition-era distillery you have to check out. Where else can you get an “Old Vergas” buzz from bona fide outlaw moonshine?
8. Sigma Derby at The D
What is Sigma Derby, you ask? Well, it’s only a classic 1980s horseracing slot machine that features miniature horses and jockeys circling around a mechanical track. Place a minimum bet of $0.25 on which horses you think will win, then cheer them on as they bob their way down the racetrack. The game has 10 betting stations, so gather your friends for some real retro fun.
9. Top of Binion’s Steakhouse
You’ll get all the “Old Vegas” vibes you crave at Top of Binion’s Steakhouse, with the added bonus of awesome downtown Las Vegas views.
Located on the 24th floor of Binion’s Gambling Hall on Fremont Street, the menu features classic steakhouse dishes that make for the perfect date night.
After dinner, be sure to take a nostalgic stroll through Binion’s casino for a little more of that vintage Vegas charm. Don’t forget to get a photo with their famous $1 million cash pyramid while you’re there. You’ll also want to stop by a new addition to Binion’s, the Whiskey Licker Up bar and restaurant. It features the only revolving bar in Las Vegas.
10. Old Meets New at Circa in Downtown Las Vegas
The most anticipated project in the works downtown is Circa Las Vegas, a new resort opening in Dec. 2020. The new resort will have 777 rooms, feature a multi-tiered pool amphitheater and wow sports fans with the largest sports book in Las Vegas.
Why “Circa” as the name? Circa was designed to pay tribute to the colorful history of Las Vegas. By bringing vintage hospitality and luxury amenities together, downtown Las Vegas will offer an even more exciting experience that you can’t get anywhere else.
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Add that to the newly upgraded Viva Vision canopy, the thrilling Slotzilla Zipline and free live entertainment, Fremont Street Experience is where vintage Vegas and Sin City excitement come together.