Explore Retro El Cortez Hotel and Casino on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, Nevada

Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler

Since 1941, the El Cortez Hotel and Casino has been the place to be in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada located on the infamous Fremont Street. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and has black and white photos of all the big names running down each wall, boasting days of bygone glitz and glamour. From celebrities to mobsters, it definitely has history – and smoking inside which is a rare find these days. In a happy coincidence, I was going to Las Vegas, Nevada to work with a photographer as a model and he had accidentally booked two nights – the first at the Hilton Polo Towers and the second at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino. I was more excited about the latter but soon learned I should have been more psyched about the first!

This was my third time to Las Vegas officially or so says my memory… the first being a girls trip from Philly for a centennial birthday celebration we dubbed the Vagtastic Voyage more than 10 years ago. We stayed at The Luxor, the one with the Egyptian statues shaped like a pyramid because that was exotic to us back then. I hear it’s quite the shit hole now… It was quite a whirlwind not even a week where one gal got food poisoning from escargots (hint: don’t eat snails in the desert unless you know where they are coming from), I had connected with a Vegas promoter where they will get you into the best and hottest clubs – especially as a group of women – usually with drinks included. I recall a topless pool, many dance clubs, a nice French restaurant dinner and the rest is a blur… so yeah what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas but only because you don’t remember it! I do recall my flight leaving earlier than the rest of the gals and the airline offering to pay me cash for another flight, hotel overnight and lots of food and drink credit but I was running ragged and getting sick so I said no, thanks. The second time was for work and this third time was mostly as well so back to the 2025 Vegas story…

I drove in before the crack of dawn, went to the Teatime in Wonderland experience at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace for like three hours and checked into the first hotel where I literally lay down and did not get up again until the next morning. It seems I have found my travel limit for driving – 5 hours plus almost 4 hours at The Shops equals dead Cassie. This is actually very important information to know since I travel for work so much and work with tourism boards. I now also know my flight limit too – more than 12 hours makes my body malfunction! If you don’t know, I had a scoliosis fusion back in 2016 and will have another in hopefully more than 10 years now but alas, my neurosurgeon said 20 years for a full fusion so that puts me at 2036 or later hopefully where I will be fused to my hipbones and have no clue what that means mobility wise. I realize I need to do a scoliosis awareness update post soon because it seems everyone thinks I’ve had a fairytale life. Ha, I wish!

When I checked out the next morning, I learned multiple secrets about this vintage space. One, do NOT book on a third party website like Expedia there is a $30 Amenity Fee per night not included and booking through the website is cheaper. Two, do NOT stay in the Suites, try to stay in the tower away from the street noise and human vomit. Three, get a players card so you can rack up upgrades and points for even eating at the restaurant. Live and learn yo, that’s the way of life! Bonus for me, I was contacted by a Vegas Promoter so looks like I’ll be exploring more soon. Funny how life works out sometimes, eh? Overall I would stay again just in the towers away from it all like at the Hilton. It’s low key Las Vegas but I’m sure a hot mess once things heat up again. Until next time Sin City!