A soft opening for the revamped casino took place earlier this month, offering the public an early preview of the reimagined El Cortez
El Cortez Hotel and Casino has more space and recreational facilities to offer its visitors as it unveiled a 10,000-square-foot modernized expansion.
El Cortez Hotel and Casino Officials Reveal Expansion
El Cortez Hotel and Casino is one of Las Vegas’ oldest and most iconic venues, being at its current place since 1941. However, this does not stop it from being modernized for the 21st century as the casino recently unveiled a huge refurbishment to the tune of $20 million.
Kenny Epstein, the 83-year-old chairman and chief executive officer of El Cortez, unveiled the renovations last week surrounded by friends and family. Epstein said he felt great after the pomp and circumstance had ended, grinning from ear to ear. He explained that he felt great because people liked it. He added that he would have been worried if they hadn’t liked it, but since everybody liked it, people were happy.
A soft opening for the revamped casino took place earlier this month, offering the public an early preview of the reimagined El Cortez. Joe Woody, the property’s chief financial officer, described the recent expansion as the best project they had undertaken, surpassing all others. He also mentioned that additional projects are already in the planning stages.
Meanwhile, Adam Wiesberg, the general manager of El Cortez, said that while the completed expansion turned out as expected, the boost of energy it brought to the property was somewhat unexpected. He also explained the renovation is very exciting and he feels “blown away” by the energy of the reopened section.
Wiesberg also admitted that there were moments during the design and construction phases when he was worried the project wouldn’t go as planned. However, he stated that the end result made the sleepless nights worthwhile. He explained that due to El Cortez’s reputation, authenticity, and history, people who already loved the place felt an emotional connection when they saw the new space
What Do the Renovations Offer?
El Cortez Hotel and Casino did quite a lot of work for their renovations. The venue now has nearly 200 extra slot machines, a high-limit room, and a new restaurant. A highlight of the update is the Show Bar, which boasts a 20-foot video screen for sports and music videos, along with a stage set up for live performances.
In addition, The Roulette Bar, located at the entrance to the expanded space from the main casino, has quickly become a standout feature. It occupies the former location of Ike’s. The renovation also included raising the ceiling significantly. Many older casinos have lower ceilings, which can pose challenges with slot machine placement. The new design, with its increased height, addresses this issue, allowing for more modern slot machines that compensate for a lack of originality with their elevated design.
The expansion and renovation add around 10,000 square feet to the casino footprint at El Cortez, most of which is decorated with a retro-inspired finish, bringing the aesthetic of the old into the 21st century.
