The Golden Gate
Las Vegas’ oldest hotel is getting a makeover. The Golden Gate, at 1 Fremont St., is about to embark on a $12 million renovation.
Owner Derek Stevens said plans are under way to add a five-story building on the south end of the casino that will expand the property by 30,000 square feet and allow for the addition of 16 suites. (The Golden Gate currently has none.) A new lobby and registration area, bathrooms, conference rooms and a high-limit pit also will be built.
The larger footprint will spill into a parking lot that sits behind the property.
“It’s going to give us the ability to have a larger, nicer, newer product for our customers,” Stevens said.
The Golden Gate’s famous deli, home to the first shrimp cocktail, also will receive an upgrade to make it more spacious and efficient.
Stevens said construction is slated to begin in November. The Las Vegas Planning Commission already approved the project, and it goes before the City Council on Oct. 19. If all goes well, changes to the casino should be completed by March and the new hotel suites open by May.
The Golden Gate debuted in 1906 and despite minor updates has never received a renovation this extensive.
“We’ve always done a few things here and there, but this is the biggest expansion the Golden Gate has ever seen,” Stevens said.
Downtown’s improving business climate galvanized the project. The Golden Gate is only the latest downtown resort to renovate. The Plaza, El Cortez, Golden Nugget and Gold Spike revamped their properties recently.
“In general, I’m pretty gung-ho about what’s happening downtown,” Stevens said. “We’re really seeing a resurgence, and we’re seeing some good numbers. The economy is turning, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is.”