Inside the Downtown Las Vegas Revitalization: A Guide to Circa, The D, and Golden Gate Hotels

In the early 2000s, downtown Las Vegas – specifically the Fremont Street area – was a less-than-desirable destination. Although the impressive Viva Vision light show – the massive, three-block-long LED canopy – had become a draw, it hovered over an unenviable mix of faded casino-hotels, strip clubs, kitschy gift shops and shady characters.

That started to change during the 2008 recession when Michigan transplant Derek Stevens acquired a 50% stake in the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas’ oldest, continually-operating casino-hotel, and immediately initiated major renovations. Next, Stevens took advantage of 2011’s depressed real estate market by acquiring another struggling downtown property, Fitzgerald’s Hotel & Casino, which he then proceeded to refresh and rebrand as The D (as in “Detroit”) Las Vegas. 

In 2014, Stevens acquired the former Clark County Courthouse building, using the land to create the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, an outdoor sports and entertainment venue that has since hosted sporting events, concerts, viewing parties and festivals. 

But the jewel in Steven’s downtown crown would come in 2020, when the businessman-turned- casino mogul tore down the tired Las Vegas Club,, the tacky Mermaids Casino (best known for its deep-fried Twinkies) and the Glitter Gulch strip club to construct Circa Resort & Casino, Fremont Street’s first brand-new resort in 40 years. Stevens’ vision of a downtown luxury hotel and casino that would attract an adults-only (21+) crowd eager for upscale accommodations, modern gaming, sports entertainment and a spectacular resort pool was finally realized.  

More recently, in a deft marketing move, Stevens generated a surge in Canadian visitation following the launch of the company’s “At Par” program, which treats the Canadian dollar at parity with the U.S. dollar. The program, which drew over 50,000 Canadian visitors in its first 3 months of operation, will continue through at least August 31 at all three properties. 

Golden Gate: Reinvented for the 21st Century 

In a city that routinely tears down – or implodes – its history, the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino’s recent 120th anniversary is an impressive achievement. The property originally opened as the Hotel Nevada with ten rooms, and those ten – out of 122 total accommodations – are still in inventory. Often starting at under $100/night, the room product here nicely balances a nostalgic nod to the property’s historic past with modern, convenient touches, especially in the newer Penthouse Suites. But Stevens’ old-school, casino-mogul mentality has drawn attention to the Golden Gate with a flashier promotion: The Night Starts Here, which offers free drinks and a slot-play voucher to anyone holding a player’s club card from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., 7 days a week. On a recent weeknight, TMR observed a large, engaged crowd taking advantage of the promo. And the historic property certainly isn’t done making its mark, as the casino became the first in Las Vegas to replace human dealers with all-electronic table games last year. To Stevens’ credit, no jobs were lost as dealers were offered transfer positions at Circa and The D. 

The D Las Vegas 

Featuring a unique, two-level casino layout, The D pays homage to Stevens’ hometown, Detroit, with a party vibe and food-and-beverage options to match. American Coney Island proudly offers specially-seasoned Dearborn sausage hot dogs smothered in chili sauce, while Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Steakhouse puts an Italian twist on standard steakhouse favorites. The venue’s newest outlet, Bacon Nation, features hand-seasoned variations on the smoked treat including black truffle, tajin, mango habanero and even a chocolate-dipped option. Nostalgic gamers will find an original Sigma Derby racing machine on the second level, with electro-mechanical horses trotting around the oval track for a 25-cent bet. Play it now, or catch it after it moves to the Golden Gate on June 16. Guest rooms here, upon completion of an ongoing renovation, will likely sell at a price point somewhere between those at Golden Gate and Circa.   

Circa Las Vegas 

Now nearly 6 years old, Circa is firmly situated as downtown’s go-to destination for luxe accommodations, myriad sports betting options, dining variety and an over-the-top resort pool. The entry-level King room skews into luxury territory at a spacious 450 sq. ft., featuring a seating area with couch, mini-fridge, luggage bench, quality linens, dual-vanity bathroom and spacious walk-in shower with bench, although it lacks premium toiletries/bathroom amenities.  

Circa’s guests can avail themselves of a wide range of fine-dining and casual eateries on property, including Barry’s Downtime Prime, the resort’s throwback steakhouse, while standout starters like the Duck Roll and Chicken & Ginger Dumplings make 8 East the destination for pan-Asian specialties. Meanwhile, Victory Burgers’ tasty, half-pound burgers satisfy that particular craving, and a good, old-fashioned bowl of matzo-ball soup with chicken is available 24/7 inside Saginaw’s Delicatessen, an offshoot of Ann Arbor’s renowned Zingerman’s deli. 

And this is Las Vegas, after all, so there are ample opportunities for lubrication spread throughout the property – all scaled up appropriately. The aptly-named Mega Bar runs nearly the length of the casino’s first level, while the Overhang Bar is positioned above Circa’s massive, multi-level Sportsbook and its accompanying 78-million pixel screen, which looks like something out of the movie “Bladerunner 2049.”  

And since nearly everything is super-sized at Circa, the venue’s colossal resort pool complex, Stadium Swim, fits right in as its own, only-in-Vegas destination, with six pools spread over three levels and countless lounges, daybeds and cabanas able to accommodate 4,000 patrons – all with a view of the 143-foot screen.  

With midweek rates currently starting at $169, including resort fee (plus tax), Circa’s room product represents a very good value proposition downtown while competing well vs. Las Vegas Strip properties, despite having no onsite spa facility. 

Appropriate Homage Paid to Vegas’ Past 

Classic Las Vegas iconography is imbued throughout all three properties, with images and references to the Rat Pack, showgirls, long-gone casinos and other familiar, local touchstones. Most prominent is Vegas Vickie, the sexy, neon cowgirl that once hovered over Fremont Street – now fully restored and safely ensconced within Circa’s two-level casino. Meanwhile, with a guest-first mentality, Stevens eschews in-room, touch-sensitive minibars that have become anathema to travelers, instead providing an empty fridge for guest use. And his reverence for the casino moguls who helped shape modern Las Vegas is evident in Circa’s handsome 60th-floor Legacy Club, a throwback venue that channels classic Vegas glamour while offering breathtaking views of downtown and beyond. And those aforementioned luminaries, whose bronze busts gaze down from the club’s gilded entryway, would surely approve of what Derek Stevens has accomplished here.