You may not believe this, but long before the Cirque shows, the towering mega-resorts, and the 24/7 entertainment that characterize Sin City, there was actually life beyond the Strip. Fremont Street, situated north of the Las Vegas Strip, is the actual birthplace of Sin City. Most people don’t know this, but it’s the heartbeat of Las Vegas.
It is a six-block, pedestrian-rich thoroughfare lined with revived and retro casinos, cheap eats, and bars. There are oddball performers and it has the largest sound and light shows in the world. It’s famous for its iconic neon signs and the first casinos ever built in Las Vegas, including Binion’s Horseshoe and the Golden Gate.
Fremont Street has existed for over a century now, and it’s still home to some of the best attractions in Vegas.
Fremont Street is Central to the History of Las Vegas
Las Vegas was founded in 1905, but before that, Fremont Street used to one of the main streets in the area because it was close to the first train depot in the city. It was the first road to be paved in Vegas in 1925, and was also the first street to have a stoplight in 1931.
Senator William Clark bought an 1800-acre ranch to make Vegas a stop on the rail line that he was building. In 1905, the railroad sold 1,200 lots in the town site to investors for between $100 and $750. Business slots went for $1,750. The investors began to build immediately, and soon, Fremont Street became Downtown Las Vegas.
The Fremont Street of the 1900s
In the beginning of the 1900s, gambling was legal. Casinos first appeared on Fremont Street. But then gambling became illegal in 1910. Alcohol was also illegal for some time. This was especially during the Prohibition Era.
Several hotels began to be built along Fremont. The first one was Hotel Nevada, now called the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino.
Gambling became legal again in 1931. The first gambling hall in Fremont Street was Northern Club, which received six gambling licenses and became the first legal casino in the area.
A short while after, the Hoover Dam began to be constructed. Eventually, more people were brought to Downtown Las Vegas and more casinos sprouted up. The Birdcage, Monte Carlo, Pioneer Club, and Lucky Strike were just some of them. Although the population of Fremont was only 800 in 1909, the construction of Hoover Dam created more jobs and more people went to downtown area.
In the 1920s, the government began to build highways using some of the sections of Fremont. This brought more people and business. Eventually, the highways allowed people to skip over the Street completely as they travelled to Las Vegas. People began to visit Vegas more and did not go to Downtown. Eventually, the Strip experienced an explosive growth and Fremont Street began to encounter a slight downturn.
In order to attract more visitors, Fremont casinos erected the flashiest neon signs in the world. This included the 90-foot-tall neon cowboy by the name “Vegas Vic.” Silver slippers, martini glasses, and double dice were also erected.
Currently, some of the most retro neon signs in Nevada are found on or near Fremont Street.
Revitalizing Fremont
A decision was made to modernize Fremont Street in the 1990s so that it could attract more tourists. Officials spent over $70 million to create the Fremont Street Experience. It opened in 1995. It covered the first few blocks and included free shows, concerts, restaurant bars, and casinos every evening. It also involved the building of the largest video screen in the world. The gigantic zip line was also built during this time.
Fremont East Entertainment District
Fremont Street Experience was successful. This led officials to create the Fremont East Entertainment District, which began in 2004. It aimed at redeveloping the area. The streets were redesigned and made more pedestrian-friendly. There was also new landscaping and retro neon signs.
Fremont Street Today
Fremont has come a long way. As I said before, it is a Vegas gem!
You can gamble, party, listen to live music, and enjoy delicious food from the many nearby restaurants. Basically, you can have the perfect Vegas experience.
