Rush Tower was part of an expansion project at the Golden Nugget

The area's historic properties are investing millions of dollars in renovations and remodels including everything from contemporary, welcoming entrances to new towers with luxury guest suites, the addition of conference and meeting areas as well as new pools, revamped and expanded casino floors and, of course, bars, lounges and restaurants.

The movement to begin upgrading classic Las Vegas casinos on Fremont Street began with the Golden Nugget Las Vegas. Since 2005, the Golden Nugget has made more than $300 million in upgrades, renovations and expansions. In late 2009, the luxury resort opened its newest addition, a $150 million hotel tower adding more than 500 new guestrooms and suites to the property, as well as furthering its gaming, dining and entertainment options.

Many other downtown properties are in various stages of redevelopment, and all continue to embrace the area's "Old-Vegas" roots even as they take the lead in the area's renaissance, incorporating vintage touches such as neon signs and historic photographs.

One of the most innovative examples is the El Cortez, located on the corner of Fremont and Sixth streets and known as the gateway to the Fremont East Entertainment District. The El Cortez began restoration of the 70-year-old property five years ago with work on a Las Vegas Boulevard entrance, a new two-lane entrance that leads to its new porte cochere. One of many nods to its history, the new entrance features a classic neon sign with designs and colors almost identical to the property's original signage.

Other renovations include upgrading its 364 guest rooms and adding new restaurants, bars and lounges. The Ogden House Motel was renovated into the 64-room El Cortez Cabana suites, an initiative that successfully blended classic Vegas and the area's new creative class. In the Design a Suite Downtown competition, artists competed for the opportunity to remodel the suites with new furniture and hand-painted murals.

Alexandra Epstein, executive manager of the El Cortez and the El Cortez Cabana Suites, says, "For us, it has always been important to retain the integrity and rich history of our building while taking decidedly bold steps into our future."

The Plaza, located at 1 Fremont St., recently completed renovations, reopening as a modern and sophisticated hotel-casino while remaining a tribute to 40 years of downtown history. The $35 million renovation and remodel included a refurbished lobby with wood accents, crystal chandeliers and black and white historic Fremont Street photographs, 1,037 remodeled guestrooms and suites, and a new 80,000-square-foot casino floor and race and sports book. New casual and fine dining options include Zaba's Mexican Grill, Hash House a Go Go, GiGi's Cupcakes, Island Sushi and Hawaiian Grill and Cafelatte coffee bar. Oscar Goodman's new steakhouse and lounge, Oscar's, will open in November in The Plaza's famed glass dome overlooking Fremont Street.

As part of a $100 million-plus redevelopment undertaking on the north end of downtown, the Lady Luck on Third Street is undergoing a major retrofit and renovation including adding meeting space and a rooftop pool on the existing casino building, replacing 50 hotel rooms with a spa, fitness room and public spaces and renovating the 634 guest rooms as well as the casino. To provide a better view of the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, i.e., the Mob Museum, the Lady Luck is engineering some modifications that will minimize the pedestrian bridge that connects its east and west hotel towers.

The Golden Gate, at Fremont and Main streets, is the latest to catch the downtown renaissance fever. The 105-year-old property recently announced plans for a $12 million renovation project -- its largest-scale renovation since opening its doors in 1906. Plans call for a 30,000-square-foot expansion including the addition of a five-story structure, conjoined with the existing building, and featuring 14 500-square-foot hotel suites, two 1,600-square-foot penthouse suites and conference rooms. The casino floor will be expanded and the hotel lobby will be relocated to the new structure.

Majority owners and brothers Derek and Greg Stevens anticipate the casino phase may be completed in March 2012 and the hotel rooms open by May.

"This expansion will launch a new era for Las Vegas' most historic hotel and casino," says Mark Brandenburg, Golden Gate president. "While we intend to preserve our character as a boutique, historic property, this project will add high-quality suites and dramatically renovate both the interior and exterior with design elements that reflect Las Vegas' cutting-edge reputation. It's about more than shrimp cocktail."