Downtown Las Vegas - I Will Miss You

Casino Closings And Many Changes Happening In Downtown Las Vegas

I have said it many times before, I love downtown Las Vegas. It just has that classic and vintage feel  you cannot find on the strip. Many changes have been going on to the hotel and casinos downtown and on Fremont Street. Here are four photos I took sometime ago using film cameras. It only seems right to have used film to capture the images of these once popular, but now outdated and closed casinos. 
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A little over a year ago the Western Casino closed. This casino was a dump, but it was the ultimate place to go if you were a gambler or a boozer on a budget. $1 shots, $1 draft beer, $1 craps, and $2 blackjack. They offered $1 food items too, but I never could get the courage to eat there. Aside from the sketchy neighborhood, this place was really fun. I would spend a few hours there playing craps with only $20, and still leave with money in my pocket. ​

Second, is the Lady Luck. This eyesore has been sitting abandoned since 2006. It is scheduled to open later this year as, The Downtown Grand. The Lady Luck signage was removed some months ago, but it doesn't look like too much progress has been made on the outside to change the look of this old Vegas hotel and casino.

Next, we have the Gold Spike Hotel and Casino. This casino abruptly closed last week with little notice or fan fare. Another smokey downtown dump gone. The Gold Spike featured Downtown's Hottest Bar and Sexy Blackjack (their words not mine). I only have been to this casino a few times and found nothing special about it. I hate to see it go, but look forward to seeing something better in the future. 

Last up, The Las Vegas Club. This downtown hotel and casino is not fully closed, they are just closing the hotel part by the end of April. The casino is not what it used to be. Half of it sits empty and lifeless. I heard that the snack bar is re-opening soon, but the restaurant still remains closed. They are in the process of building a large gift shop in front of the casino near Fremont Street. Hopefully that will bring in more business, because the $1 beer and hotdog and sexy dancing dealers do not seem to be cutting it.