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This $1,000-per-night Las Vegas suite takes you back to the 1980s

Leezel Tanglao
Leezel Tanglao is the Director of Audience Insights and Innovation at The Points Guy. Her previous stints include HuffPost, The Associated Press, CNN, CBSNews.com, VICE News, NowThis, ABCNews.com, KCBS/KCAL and The Press-Enterprise.

November 29, 2021 • 9 min read

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Editorial note: <em>Editor’s note: The El Cortez Hotel Las Vegas provided complimentary access to TPG for the Jackie Gaughan suite. The opinions expressed below are entirely from the author and weren’t subject to review by the El Cortez Hotel Las Vegas.</em>

Quick summary

The El Cortez Hotel in downtown Las Vegas offers a unique experience with its Jackie Gaughan suite, a preserved 1980s-era space available by special request.
The suite spans 2,800 square feet, featuring two master bedrooms, a vintage kitchen, multiple balconies and retro decor throughout.
Guests can expect original 1980s appliances, period furnishings and panoramic city views from the top floor of the historic hotel.
The El Cortez is recognized for its deep roots in Las Vegas history, being one of the city's oldest continuously operating hotels and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What to consider

The Jackie Gaughan suite is not bookable online and must be reserved by special request, with rates starting at $1,000 per night during the week.
Original features and appliances from the 1980s are preserved, but not all furnishings are original to the suite.
The suite is booked infrequently, typically about once a month, making availability limited.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed look at the suite's retro amenities, historical significance and what it's like to stay in a space that captures vintage Las Vegas luxury.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

You don't need Marty McFly's DeLorean to travel back in time to the 1980s.

You just need to book a stay at the El Cortez hotel's Jackie Gaughan suite – a $1,000-per-night space that's frozen in time.

Steeped in history

The El Cortez Hotel, located off iconic Fremont Street, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. It's one of the oldest and longest continuously operating hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and part of the historic downtown Las Vegas skyline.

The El Cortez's story began in 1941 when John Kell Houssels, John Grayson and Marion Hicks built the hotel with 59 rooms off Fremont Street.

These historic rooms have been renovated and are still available to book today.

(Photo by Leezel Tanglao/The Points Guy)

The El Cortez was sold four years later to a notorious group of mobsters that included Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and Meyer Lansksy, but the group's ownership of the hotel and casino was quite short, with Houssels buying back the hotel in 1946.

Houssels then kicked off an expansion featuring a barbershop, nightclub, swimming pool and a four-story wing.

Circa mid-May 1947, Helldorado Parade in front of the El Cortez. (Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

Circa 1950s El Cortez exterior, night. (Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

El Cortez exterior, day, May 28, 1953. (Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

Fremont Street East and 7th Street, Aug. 14, 1957. (Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

El Cortez on Jan. 27, 1958. (Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

Exterior of the El Cortez in downtown Las Vegas on July 11, 1966. (Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

El Cortez exterior Aug. 20, 1977. (Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

El Cortez exterior Dec. 22, 1992. (Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

El Cortez exterior December 22, 1992. (Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

In 1963, Las Vegas legend Jackie Gaughan took over the ownership of the hotel and casino. He lived at the hotel with his wife, Bertie, until his death in 2014.

Jackie Gaughan in front of his El Cortez Hotel/Casino on April 22, 1965. (Photo courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau)

Gaughan was a key force in downtown Las Vegas’s development and he actually owned one-third of the land in the area at one point. Under Gaughan's ownership, the El Cortez’s hotel room count was expanded to 297 with the building of Tower II in 1980.

Gaughan later sold the property to his business partner, Kenny Epstein, in 2008.

The Jackie Gaughan suite

In 2017, the El Cortez opened the Jackie Gaughan suite to guests as a bit of "one-of-a-kind vintage Las Vegas." However, you won’t be able to book this suite on the hotel’s website like you would their other rooms.

The suite is by special request only and goes for $1,000 a night during the week and $1,500 per night on the weekends. Despite the price, the suite gets booked about once a month, according to the hotel.

The 2,800-square-foot space features two master bedrooms, a "romper" room, four balconies, two and half bathrooms, a kitchen, a vintage wet bar and large dining and living room – all done up in fabulous retro style.

The suite has been featured in magazines like Billboard and music videos like Ellie Goulding’s “On My Mind.”

Getting there

The Jackie Gaughan suite is located on the 15th floor, which is the top floor of the main tower of the hotel.

It is located at the end of the hallway – you follow signs pointing to the "owner's suite."

When you get to the door, the first thing you'll notice is a call box to the left.

It is a still fully functioning, black and white, Unisonic video door phone system from the 1980s. It projects an eerily ghostly image of whoever is on the other side of the door when you answer a call from within the room.

Once inside, you are immediately greeted with the letters "J" and "G" on the handles leading into the suite's living and dining room area.

The living room

When you open the J and G doors, the room is filled with a lot of natural light due to the many windows in the space.

A pale pink color palette is consistent throughout, from the walls to the '80s-style light fixtures and curtains.

The hotel has tried to preserve as much of the original furniture in the suite as possible – although not all of it is original in this room.

The kitchen

In the kitchen, most of the working appliances are from the 1980s, including the refrigerator and oven.

The bedrooms

The suite features two master bedrooms, one for Jackie and one for Bertie, and each has a dedicated bathroom.

Both the bedrooms (and bathrooms) have windows offering spectacular views of the city.

Jackie's bedroom

Jackie's room features a large walk-in closet in this western-themed room.

Connecting the rooms is the so-called "romper" room that features colorful artwork, swag pillows and a balcony. It's an ideal place to relax and entertain guests.

Bertie's bedroom

Bertie's bedroom features two large queen beds and a walk-in closet in the adjacent hallway.

Bertie's bathroom

The suite features several bathrooms, but the one that screams "Las Vegas" is the one in Bertie's bedroom.

It has stunning views of the Las Vegas skyline and mirrors everywhere. There's clearly no detail that was overlooked – including the golden swan faucets in the marble bathtub.

And yes, the toilet is made of marble – and feels it like when you try to lift the cover.

Bottom line

If you're looking relive a little piece of Las Vegas history, the El Cortez Hotel may have what you're looking for.

One of the hallmarks of the El Cortez is how seriously it takes preserving and honoring its history. It's the only standing casino today that has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

El Cortez was also a place that was special to Tony Hsieh, the late Zappos CEO, who often used the Parlour Bar as a meeting spot throughout the years. The casino has dedicated a special corner to Hsieh, dubbed "Tony's corner."

For me, though, the crown jewel of the El Cortez is the Jackie Gaughan suite. Visiting it gave me the chance to relive the 1980s for a little bit – not to mention the chance to experience how a Las Vegas mogul lived for a day.

The view from one of its four balconies can't be beat, either.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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