From Gambling Hall to Downtown's Crown Jewel
The Golden Nugget opened on August 30, 1946, as a gambling hall on Fremont Street — no hotel rooms, just gaming tables and slot machines in the heart of what was then the center of Las Vegas. For nearly three decades it operated as a respectable but unremarkable downtown casino, overshadowed by the glamorous resorts rising on the Strip to the south.
Everything changed in 1973 when a 31-year-old Steve Wynn purchased a controlling interest in the property. Wynn had a vision that no one else in Las Vegas shared: he believed downtown could support a genuine luxury resort. He poured millions into renovations, added hotel towers, brought in white marble and gold leaf, and transformed the Golden Nugget into something Fremont Street had never seen. The gamble paid off spectacularly. The Golden Nugget became the most profitable casino in Nevada, and Steve Wynn became the most important developer in Las Vegas history.
The Wynn Legacy and the Sinatra Connection
The Golden Nugget was not just a casino — it was Steve Wynn's proving ground. His success downtown gave him the credibility and capital to build the Mirage on the Strip in 1989, which triggered the modern era of Las Vegas mega-resorts. Without the Golden Nugget, there would be no Bellagio, no Wynn Las Vegas, no modern Strip as we know it. Every billion-dollar resort on Las Vegas Boulevard traces its DNA back to what Wynn accomplished on Fremont Street.
Frank Sinatra performed regularly at the Golden Nugget during the Wynn era, lending the downtown property a star power that had previously been reserved for Strip venues. The property also became a television star in its own right — the Golden Nugget's commercials featuring Wynn himself became some of the most recognizable casino ads in history.
Key Facts
The Hand of Faith
The world's largest gold nugget, weighing 61 pounds and 11 ounces, is displayed in the Golden Nugget's lobby. Found in Australia in 1980, it was purchased by the casino for over $1 million and has been on display ever since.
The Shark Tank Pool
The Golden Nugget's pool features a three-story waterslide called The Tank that sends riders through a clear tube inside a 200,000-gallon shark aquarium. It is one of the most photographed attractions in Las Vegas.
Steve Wynn's Launch Pad
Wynn bought the Golden Nugget in 1973 at age 31. His transformation of the property launched a career that produced the Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio, and Wynn Las Vegas — reshaping the Strip forever.
Fremont Street's Anchor
For 80 years the Golden Nugget has anchored Fremont Street. It survived the rise of the Strip, the Fremont Street Experience canopy project, and multiple ownership changes while remaining one of downtown's premier properties.
Visiting Today
Golden Nugget Las Vegas
Address: 129 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Status: Still open and operating since 1946 — nearly 80 years on Fremont Street.
What to See: The Hand of Faith gold nugget display in the lobby is free to view. The Tank pool and shark aquarium are available to hotel guests. The Fremont Street Experience light show canopy runs directly overhead.
Nearby: Binion's Horseshoe, El Cortez Hotel, Four Queens, and the Fremont Hotel are all within a short walk on the Fremont Street Experience.
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