The Golden Gate opened 120 years ago this month, making it the oldest casino resort in Las Vegas. The property set the stage for a boom of activity on Fremont Street and the modern era of Downtown, but what do you really know about the place?
🚂 It Was Part of the Railroad
The original lot for what is now the Golden Gate was purchased for $1,750 by John F. Miller in a land auction held by the Union Pacific Railroad. The address was (and remains) 1 Fremont Street and it had Las Vegas’ first telephone line (with the phone number “1”). The business was first known as the Hotel Nevada. By 1932 it was renamed Sal Sagev, which is Las Vegas backwards. It wasn’t the Golden Gate until 1974.
🥃 Business Was Built On Booze
The business began as a hangout for railroad travelers. In an era of tight liquor laws, the City of Las Vegas gave hotels an exemption to serve alcohol, so Miller offered 10 upstairs rooms to rent on the second floor. That allowed him to sell booze on the main level.
🧳 You Can Still Book a Night at One of the Original Rooms
Those first 10 rooms have been upgraded, but are relatively small by modern standards. They’re identified by a plaque outside each door and a dividing line painted on the wall that separates “1906” from “now.”
🎰 Originally, There Was No Casino
There was no documented gaming in the building until 1955, but slot machines and a roulette wheel were seen in the lobby before — and probably used on the sly.
👀 The Glass Panel Across the Ceiling Isn’t Decorative
It’s the “eye in the sky” to catch cheaters in action — long before surveillance cameras existed. A member of the security team would lie face down on a moving platform and roll back and forth on a track to view gamblers through the glass.
🎶 Michael Jackson Was a Regular
Now known as Bar Prohibition, the main drinking spot at the Golden Gate was a favorite of Rat Packers Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin. Years later, Michael Jackson became a fan too, showing up in disguises so effective, the bartenders didn’t even recognize him.
🦐 The Shrimp Cocktail Was a Steal
The shrimp cocktail, chilled in a tulip glass with a lemon wedge, was a house favorite for just 50 cents. Over the years, the price jumped from 69 cents to 99 cents (causing an uproar among regulars) and beyond. It’s now $12 across the street at Saginaw's Delicatessen inside Circa (under the same ownership as the Golden Gate), although every now and then, it’s offered for 99 cents in throwback promotions.
🍸 The Basement Was a Party Spot
The basement, built with concrete to fend off the threat of fires, was used as liquor storage, a bar, and even a secret speakeasy during Prohibition. A room that was once part of the kitchen is being renovated for future use — perhaps as an event space or bar. (I suspect a speakeasy to match the historic vibes — but stay tuned for an announcement.)
🔎 Searchable Secrets
The high limit room has a few historic Easter eggs, so to speak. A gold wall leads to a decorative mosaic fountain that dates back to 1909, while the knob of a small window reveals the hotel’s original brick wall.
- City Cast Las Vegas has more on the legacy of the shrimp cocktail in Vegas and how the Golden Gate dropped live table games last year.
