Las Vegas, Nevada, is well-known for its large hotel-casino facilities. However, the city also has historic hotels, some of which are still operating and welcoming guests.
The oldest hotel that is still operating in Las Vegas is the Golden Gate Casino. The facility opened its doors to the public on January 13, 1906, under the name Hotel Nevada. Back then, rooms at the hotel cost $1 per night. The hotel-casino was also the first to offer its customers shrimp cocktails.
The historic El Cortez Hotel was built in 1941 and located at the east end of downtown Las Vegas. The hotel was set in a Spanish-style building and was once owned by Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. Siegel sold the hotel to obtain funds to built the Flamingo Hotel. Today, the El Cortez Hotel has undergone numerous renovations and is still operating.
On April 3, 1941, El Rancho Vegas opened its doors to the public. The 63-room hotel could easily be recognized by its signature windmill situated on top of the building. After numerous changes of ownership, the hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1960. Billionaire Howard Hughes ended up buying the land where the hotel was once located.
