When you’re looking for vibrant nightlife and entertainment, Las Vegas is the place to go. But if you want to combine your Vegas holiday with history, the city also has a lot of it. Like many other US cities, Las Vegas has several sites and buildings marking its rich history and heritage. Exploring the city’s oldest operating hotels is a great idea.
Did you know that the oldest hotel in Las Vegas was built soon after the city’s establishment in the early 20th century? You’ll be amazed that it’s still in operation. Learn more about Las Vegas’s longest-running hotels in this article, from the least old to the oldest (along with the year of their establishment).
10. Harrah’s Las Vegas (1973)
Harrah’s Las Vegas opened its doors in 1973 as the Holiday Casino. It wasn’t the first Harrah’s hotel and casino in Nevada as founder Bill Harrah had established his first hotel in nearby Reno.
It started with a riverboat theme. In 1992, it changed its name to Harrah’s Las Vegas. The hotel later shifted its theme to a carnival and Mardi Gras style, which it keeps today.
In 2018, Harrah’s Las Vegas received a $140 million makeover. This update marked the hotel’s 80th anniversary.
It is located at 3475 South Las Vegas Boulevard and boasts 2,677 rooms. The hotel’s casino floor covers 91,833 square feet.
9. Circus Circus (1968)
Las Vegas is not all about adult entertainment. It also offers kid- and family-friendly attractions. Circus Circus might be the best place to stay when you plan a holiday in Las Vegas with your family. It sits at 2880 South Las Vegas Boulevard.
As you might expect, judging from its name, Circus Circus is famous for its carnival theme. It opened on October 18, 1968. Businessman Jay Sarno created this hotel as he wanted a place for families after his success with Caesars Palace. Thus, it was the first Las Vegas hotel aimed at families. It has 3,773 rooms and a vast 123,928-square-foot casino.
The hotel part was unfinished when it first opened, almost leading to its closure. The rooms were done by 1972. In 1993, they added the Adventuredome, an indoor amusement park still popular today.
8. Caesars Palace (1966)
Caesars Palace is one of the most famous resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, located at 3570 South Las Vegas Boulevard. The hotel has 3,976 rooms and a 124,181-square-foot casino.
It opened on April 5, 1966. Jay Sarno, who built Circus Circus, also created Caesars Palace as he wanted it to be grand and showy. The opening party cost $1 million and had many famous guests.
Caesars Palace is the only hotel in Las Vegas that has kept its name and Roman theme since day one. Many people see it as the first true-themed resort in Las Vegas. In 1992, the hotel added the Forum Shops, a big luxury mall.
Many famous singers have performed at Caesars Palace, including Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Elton John.
7. The LINQ Hotel and Casino (1959)
The LINQ Hotel & Casino opened in 1959 as a luxury motel, “Flamingo Capri.” Ralph Engelstad bought the motel in 1971 and expanded it until it became large enough to qualify as a hotel.
This hotel has changed names many times. In 1979, it became the Imperial Palace. Caesars Entertainment Corporation bought it in 2011. They briefly called it The Quad Resort and Casino. In 2014, it got its current name, the LINQ Hotel & Casino.
6. Tropicana Las Vegas (1957)
The Tropicana Las Vegas opened on April 4, 1957. Ben Jaffee, a Miami hotel owner, created the Tropicana. He wanted a fancy, classy hotel with a tropical theme. When it opened, it was the most expensive hotel ever built in Las Vegas.
Phillip “Dandy Phil” Kastel’s company, Conquistador Inc., built and ran the Tropicana. Kastel had ties to the mob through Frank Costello. Penn National Gaming bought the Tropicana and operated it until 2022, when Penn sold the hotel to its current owner, Bally’s Corporation.
You can find Tropicana Las Vegas at 3801 Las Vegas Boulevard South. The hotel has 1,467 rooms and a 50,000-square-foot casino.
5. Sahara Las Vegas (original in 1952, current in 2014)
The current Sahara Las Vegas opened on August 23, 2014. However, this hotel has a long history. The original Sahara Hotel and Casino opened on October 7, 1952. It closed in 2011 after nearly 60 years.
In 2014, it reopened as SLS Las Vegas. The Meruelo Group bought it in 2018, renamed it Sahara Las Vegas, and gave it a new look that hints at its old North African theme. Despite all these changes, the hotel still uses its original building and location.
It sits at 2535 Las Vegas Boulevard South. The hotel has 1,720 rooms and an 85,000-square-foot casino.
4. Flamingo Las Vegas (1946)
The Flamingo Las Vegas opened on December 26, 1946, making it the oldest hotel on the modern Las Vegas Strip. It has a vibrant tropical theme with lush gardens and even a wildlife habitat featuring flamingos. The laid-back and vintage ambiance is another reason for the hotel’s iconic status.
Billy Wilkerson, who started The Hollywood Reporter magazine, came up with the idea for the Flamingo. He worked with notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel. They wanted to build a hotel and casino that would keep gamblers playing for hours.
Flamingo Las Vegas is located at 3555 South Las Vegas Boulevard. The hotel has 3,626 rooms and a 72,299-square-foot casino.
3. The Golden Nugget Las Vegas (1946)
The Golden Nugget Las Vegas is a shining gem in downtown Las Vegas. It is one of the oldest casinos in the city. Since opening its doors in 1946, this hotel has grown significantly.
One of the coolest things about the Golden Nugget is its pool. The pool has a 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium. Guests can slide through the tank in a clear tube, with sharks swimming around them. The Golden Nugget is also home to the world’s largest gold nugget on display. It’s called the “Hand of Faith” and weighs over 61 pounds.
The hotel sits at 129 Fremont Street, right in the heart of the famous Fremont Street Experience. Today, it has over 2,400 rooms and a casino floor that’s about 38,000 square feet. This luxurious hotel and casino has won many prestigious awards, including the AAA Four Diamond Award and the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Award.
2. El Cortez (1941)
El Cortez is a veritable piece of Las Vegas history. It opened in 1941, making it the longest continuously running hotel and casino in Las Vegas. You can find it at 600 East Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.
In 1941, Marion Hicks and J.C. Grayson opened El Cortez for $245,000. Infamous mobsters Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum, Moe Sedway, and Dave Berman bought El Cortez in 1945. Over the years, the hotel changed hands. It is now owned by Kenny Epstein.
The hotel has continued modernizing its rooms and interiors while retaining some of its original Spanish Revival architecture from the 1940s.
El Cortez is smaller than many Vegas hotels, with about 364 rooms. However, it is a beloved landmark offering a genuinely old-school Las Vegas experience, distinct from the glitz of the modern Las Vegas Strip.
1. Golden Gate Hotel and Casino (1906)
The Golden Gate Hotel and Casino is the oldest operating hotel and casino in Las Vegas. It opened in 1906 as Hotel Nevada, becoming the city’s first hotel. Its establishment cl to Las Vegas’s early history and development, as well as Fremont Street’s transformation into a vibrant hub for gambling and entertainment.
Besides being the first hotel and casino, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino has a long history of other notable “firsts” in Las Vegas. It installed the city’s first telephone, put up a large outdoor sign (a precursor to the iconic Las Vegas lights), and introduced the shrimp cocktail.
In 2017, the Golden Gate underwent a major renovation and expansion. Despite the changes over the years, it retains much of its original charm, especially its vintage atmosphere that sharply contrasts with the Strip’s glitzy and colossal resorts.