Opened in 1941, the iconic El Cortez Hotel & Casino has maintained its vintage charm with original hotel rooms located above the casino floor, only accessible by a wooden staircase. Today, the Downtown Las Vegas landmark—and the only casino listed on the National Register of Historic Places—announces the completed renovation of these 47 rooms, dubbed the Original 47. The final piece of the hotel’s $28 million property renovation that began in 2020, this $3 million refresh elevates the guest experience with modern conveniences while still preserving the vintage appeal that visitors have come to expect from the city’s longest continuously running hotel and casino.

“We’re proud of our history at El Cortez Hotel & Casino,” says Adam Wiesberg, general manager. “With this renovation, we’ve elevated the Original 47 rooms to meet the needs of today’s modern traveler while keeping the timeless, vintage charm our guests expect and appreciate.”

El Cortez is also launching a Vegas History Hallway onsite, letting visitors take a step back in time. In partnership with the Mob Museum, the hallway will feature authentic images and information plaques, giving guests another glimpse into the history of Las Vegas, El Cortez and those who helped shape it.

[SEAFOAM] GREEN WITH ENVY

El Cortez was once famously owned by notorious mobsters Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Gus Greenbaum and Moe Sedway, and still features the same façade it had in 1952, retaining much of its Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture and keeping the spirit of classic Vegas alive. The Original 47 rooms were originally used for boarding and meeting rooms, and these iconic rooms now serve as a step back in time to Vegas’ vintage glamour days. Stylized after Havana, Cuba, as a nod to the Mob’s first major venture into gambling before buying El Cortez, the rooms feature seafoam green walls with green fawn wallpaper and brass bedframes that seamlessly match their surroundings while offering modern comfort. Blue tufted pillows and mid-century couches are paired with marble and brass accent furniture to round out the space that transports guests back to the thriving times of the 1940s, when the Mob ruled the Las Vegas Strip.

SLEEP LIKE A BOSS

With over 364 rooms designed to give vintage glamour, contemporary luxury or a boutique experience, El Cortez offers extensive accommodations for every style and budget from its Tower Premium Rooms to the Cabana Suites. Hotel guests can enjoy access to the fitness center and a complimentary El Cortez funbook with discounts and savings to use throughout the hotel and casino.

Those looking for a more over-the-top stay are in for a treat with the Jackie Gaughan Suite. Named after the casino legend and longtime El Cortez owner, the penthouse suite features luxurious, ‘80s-style features like an iconic pink-and-gold interior and golden swan faucets. The 2,700-square-foot space includes a dining room with a white marble table, full kitchen and wet bar area, two master bedrooms and bathrooms, a “romper” room filled with shag pillows, four balconies and original hand-carved wooden doors with brass handles molded into Gaughan’s initials. 

For more information or to book a stay, visit https://elcortezhotelcasino.com or call 702.385.5200. Connect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.