Just north of the strip in Downtown Las Vegas, there is a special gem on Fremont Street: a San Francisco-themed hotel and casino.
Jeff Victor’s official title may VP of operations at Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, but his unofficial title is steward of Las Vegas history.
The hotel and casino goes way back to the very beginnings of Las Vegas.
“The Golden Gate is the birthplace of tourism, hotel, and gaming as we know it today. It’s literally ground zero, the first of its kind,” Victor said.
It was originally the Hotel Nevada, founded in 1906. In the 1930s, it was renamed the Sal Segav, which is Las Vegas backwards. And then a few years later in the 50s, a group of investors from the Bay Area decided they’d bet on opening a casino.
“Over time, one bought out the other, and it came down to one person. This is Idilo Galfi. He ran the property for 40 years,” Victor said.
There are nods to San Francisco all over the hotel.