Las Vegas, known for its constant change with bright lights, huge casinos, and massive buildings, actually has a pretty rich and deep past as its foundation started very humbly.
The old hotels in this city aren’t just about a stay and lodging they also hold onto those crazy tales from when Vegas became a well-known and beloved tourist spot.
Visiting them is like taking a peek back in time all while enjoying the comforts that you see in hotels in present times with a mix of traditional vibes mixed with a few splashes of modern style as those just add an elegant aesthetic to these vintage monuments because after all if its well-maintained there would be people to admire and stay at these legendary joints.
Taking that into account, how about we take a trip down Vegas’ memory lane with those legendary hotel places?
1. A Flamingo Flies High
If anyone’s a mob enthusiast then you already know about Bugsy Siegel and The Flamingo with its bright neon lights as well as curvy art deco.
Since its construction way back in 1946 when Las Vegas was barely even there as the place wasn’t so famous, it made an impact in hotel designs since most folks at those times looked at hotel rooms with that basic setup with the bare minimum but Bugsy went a little out of the way in planning the entire hotel to look stylish which later on went to define how all hotel rooms will look for decades to come.
Although they’ve upgraded their building in the following years and added a bunch of rooms it’s still the go-to for any first-timer when planning trips.
2. Nuggets of Golden Tales
Built right back when Flamingo got fame the Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas in 1946 with its golden name holds a different sort of history that’s different from those flashy casinos because there’s an air of nostalgia when you walk through its lobbies and rooms and they have these vintage car exhibitions to do all those clicks which would work great to make Instagram stories to even reels because when we post them the background really does all the talking without those filters to get that vibe going.
They still retain the classic setup as it’s the focal point of visiting their location and the people generally pay premium for that vintage experience since the hotel room sizes as well as the swimming pool areas with limited space or amenities could easily make it a disappointment for visitors looking to make a fancy booking on budget.
Since newer and luxurious rooms are also nearby a fair bit of thought has to be considered when selecting since the cost they provide might be inflated because the hotel chain knows what it caters to.
3. Standing Tall in Vegas – El Cortez
You cannot possibly skip the oldest standing building in Las Vegas that’s also still taking bookings called the El Cortez right back from 1941!
You get what it promises, that old and elegant historic look with its special design on ceilings and walls from a different time era but they’ve made sure the experience itself doesn’t go outdated as all their furniture is also renewed frequently to keep its vintage and aesthetic feel without looking dull.
4. The Sahara’s Evolution
The Sahara opened back in the 50’s. They got a bunch of famous faces passing by, but in 2011 it closed.
But in 2014 it made quite a comeback, now it’s all sleek and modern, it is that awesome look with great casinos to all the swanky new vibe but that older magic from a time gone past isn’t gone as it’s pretty apparent at their grand Moroccan architecture as that pays homage to its roots for their design inspiration that started everything.
5. Tropicana – A Taste of the Tropics
Tropicana with a breezy cool sound that fits perfect in that super dry desert location came right as the jet travel became common which started a trend for vacations outside their country so this hotel boomed in that scene all the way through Hollywood with its glamorous setup in 1957. Fast forward to these times it still oozes charm that’s typical of this establishment.
6. From Sundance to Downtown Darling – The D Las Vegas
The D has been on a name-change spree. Once it was the Sundance, and then came Fitzgeralds Now, it’s the “D,” which works better.
This place sits at Fremont Street’s, in the thick of things with vibrant casinos as well as shows for adults, this one is about that party energy so do make sure it’s suitable before planning because with kids in a group, it’s just not worth visiting when all your alternatives are way better such as circus that also caters to kids for games all with prizes that you can take back as souvenirs from the strip that’ll make memories, so it’s totally a great way to bring them along.
7. Elvis and Beyond – The Westgate’s Journey
Starting as The International back in ’69 it quickly caught tons of buzz as its design at that time was simply iconic, like futuristic and luxurious.
They got Elvis who loved this hotel and it’s where tons of other artists performed in Las Vegas since it offered grandeur with style as all top stars have an expectation of how venues should be with a certain kind of hospitality standards since when they’re there its pretty much assumed its well-maintained, all thanks to high room costs as you also get the casinos with exclusive lounges and restaurants as these also serve as revenue streams with extra amenities all adding up in its price.
8. Caesar Rules! The Palatial Paradise
With a touch of Rome, Caesar’s Palace popped up in ’66 which was something unique because if you think of it casinos back then in other areas and countries didn’t really do those luxury builds and with this bold setup in theme.
Caesar’s changed it for the world! And this theme they planned really set the stage for Vegas hotels. You bet they have the most lavish villas, fancy sculptures and mosaics as well as statues from the Roman era to keep the spirit up for the theme.
9. Fremont – A Downtown Legend
This Freemont casino with hotels started all the way back in 1956 and it quickly rose up, and if you have seen it or have passed by the Fremont you would know what the vibe is.
The casinos are just lit with huge neon cowboy that goes perfect as it’s that iconic sight for that whole historic neon spectacle so do grab a shot of that since they also run discounts from time to time on buffets that are great.
10. Binion’s Horseshoe – Where Legends Were Made
Back when Vegas was still raw in its early years Benny Binion came and he launched Binion’s, they made some gambling moves that actually were widely adopted as these rules pretty much are implemented globally now at major casinos which made it one of the first, with World Series of Poker, a world class event. The spirit’s still there, for gambling fans.
The Legacy Remains – Remembering those Lost Hotels
Vegas constantly changes so you can bet not everything stays even after decades because they’re either revamped with different ownerships or just lose that business aspect.
Sand memories
This hotel with that awesome sign is a perfect visual if you visit this spot or had stayed back in its golden years and was one of the elite ones with famous crooners like Frank, and Dean Martin as well as Sammy who all hung around together in that infamous pack who even used to work in concerts at those places which you can easily find online now since old tv broadcast and shows are becoming available slowly in this digitized world with tons of those videos to watch.
It’s where Sinatra, would serenade as these individuals were icons from the musical world who inspired tons of individuals and you’re sure to spot pictures in their old ads for those cigarette companies to even for liquors at those lounge bars and these pictures of those hotels also pop out which have their iconic setup from an older age where the attire was formal unlike in present times, especially during weekends in a club that requires formal dress up for those black tie themes.
It’s now gone with those memories but what remains is the Venetian, a mega-resort and if you see it you will know those designers took tons of inspiration from it in a new age type way with all their columns as well as arches in that elegant architectural style!
The Rivera
Way back in 1955 with a classy name, The Riviera joined that Las Vegas scene, a mega-resort hotel, so they did bring those extravagant shows for entertainment.
But alas, things shifted, it was demolished in 2016 as the hotel faced increasing expenses related to maintenance, renovations, and adapting to evolving guest expectations.
Time Traveling Tips!
Those seeking that mix of old-world glam with those newer touches would like visiting Las Vegas. Just bear in mind though, those super old historic ones are way different than what newer construction offer which includes high tech equipment, tons of automated stuff and all that premium technology.
so do adjust your mindset and it should fit otherwise your expectations can easily break your mood and ruin the journey if not done in advance. And if you love architecture don’t shy away from that booking.
Summing Up The Timeless Appeal
Even with all those bright flashing lights of modern Vegas don’t forget those pioneers, as they laid the whole ground work so they always remain cool places for that nostalgic feel with stories to tell and it isn’t uncommon for me to visit those because when working with tons of travelers from multiple parts and different cultural background the old vintage usually attracts most people for a unique vibe which a new location might have trouble creating. Don’t miss them!
