Why Old Vegas Is Still The Vegas You Should Visit
Old Las Vegas was not a place I’d heard of when I first toyed with the idea of a solo trip to Sin City. I’d done plenty of reading up on the Las Vegas Strip and surrounds, but when I came across some information on the original heart of Las Vegas and Fremont Street, I knew I had to see it.
There’s also plenty of stuff to do here for non-gamblers like myself, so it was nice to get out from the slot machines and roulette tables to experience something different.
My experience visiting Old Las Vegas
The Fremont Street Experience
As I cast my eyes over the unlikely crowd huddled around the Elvis impersonator wearing a wig worse that Donald Trump’s on the Fremont Street stage in Old Las Vegas, I see a mostly naked man in something skimpier than a mankini bopping along.
About five metres away from him, a man in a wheelchair holds a sign saying “Suck My Dick”. Next to him, another Elvis in an even worse wig than the first watches on as if he is supporting a colleague.
Welcome to Old Vegas on Fremont Street, where the truly quirky and bizarre come to play.
The glitz and glamour of the ever-famous Vegas Strip is not present here. Instead, a kitschy, retro vibe takes charge of what used to be the heart of this neon city that exploded out of the Mojave Desert.
Fremont Street is an incredible, colour infused insight into the weird and wonderful parts of Las Vegas that lie spirited away from the glitter of the Strip.
The Slotzilla Zipline
Overhead a 35m (114ft) high zoomline looms; the Slotzilla provides the opportunity for willing participants to lie on their stomach and glide across the length of the street at high speeds. Needless to say, this activity sits pretty high up on my equal parts “I really want to experience it” and “I’m flipping terrified” lists, so of course it’s the first thing I do when I get to Old Las Vegas.
It’s an exhilarating feeling, being pushed off a building that high up. The ride itself is pretty smooth with the exception of a rather alarmingly sudden brake system right at the end and it’s a pretty special feeling flying along the canopy of such an iconic area.
The Heart Attack Grill
Every bit as revolting as it sounds, the Heart Attack Grill is one of the area’s craziest dining experiences. Patrons have to put on a hospital gown and be weighed before they enter (people over 350lbs or 158kgs get to eat free). Meals include the horrendously titled ‘Double Bypass Burger’.
The restaurant’s last spokesperson actually died of a heart attack after eating at the restaurant every day!
The Neon Boneyard
A stop at the Neon Boneyard, about 15mins walk from Fremont St, is an incredible look into the history of Las Vegas. In a place that is infamous for being rather soulless, this fascinating walk through the neon signs of old and the stories behind them will amaze. The Neon Boneyard is in possession of the entire Stardust sign, which remains intact and the Sahara sign as well as portions of the impressive Aladdin Casino including the giant lamps.
More significantly, here is the large neon sign for the Moulin Rouge, broken up, but here. This sign is particularly symbolic for the venue’s part in de-segregating Las Vegas. When Frank Sinatra famously declared he would not perform in venues where Sammy Davis Jr was not permitted or had to go through a back door, the Moulin Rouge was the venue that opened its doors and allowed people of all races to mingle, perform and enjoy the casino together.
The Neon Boneyard is only accessible via a booked tour that lasts for around an hour. There is the option for a day or a night tour (I did the day because there are more signs to see), but the night tour involves some restored signs that are lit up to shine through the night so its dealers’ choice really.
Golden Gate Hotel and Casino
This is Las Vegas’ oldest casino, located in the Fremont Street area. It actually started as a tent hotel all the way back in 1905, before it became a fully fledged hotel and casino in 1906 operating as Hotel Nevada. After a short break due to Nevada’s gambling ban, the Golden Gate Casino opened in 1955 and has been running ever since.
The Mob Museum
Las Vegas has been a playground for the mob for as logn as it has been in existence. Gambling and organised crime tend to run hand in hand and you can learn all about it downtown in Old Las Vegas at the Mob Museum. General admission tickets cost around $35 USD and online bookings are recommended.
At the Mob Museum, there are activities such as an interactive Crime Lab, a Speakeasy and Distillery and Firearms Training as well as a heap of information about the mob’s history in old Las Vegas.
Where to stay to visit Old Vegas
Whilst the old Las Vegas area is fun for a day of exploring, I would recommend staying on the Las Vegas Strip itself and just visiting Fremont Street on a day trip. There are so many accommodation options on the Strip with their own unique characteristics and themes.
For a good time, I enjoyed living it up in Ancient Eygypt at the Luxor, but also found the Venetian to be full of good restaurants and an incredible indoor Grand Canal replica. Families will probably enjoy Treasure Island a lot.
Booking.comSumming up Old Las Vegas
Whilst the glamour of Las Vegas definitely exists closer to the moden day city, the fun of Fremont Street and Old Las Vegas has to be experienced on a trip to Sin City. It is here that you’ll get to experience the weird, wacky and wonderful – all in the same day.
Maybe if you get lucky, you’ll get to stand shoulder to shoulder with one or two Elvis impersonators while you’re down there.
Just watch out for the guy in the mankini!
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