Last nite we took a drive from the vicinity of the Fremont Street Experience and headed east on Fremont Street just to see what was down that-a-way only to discover that there are a lot of empty motels stretched out along that road all the way from the El Cortez and down to Eastern Avenue... and beyond across Charleston and up along Boulder Highway for a decent stretch.

Does anyone recall when and if those old motels were ever filled to capacity?
And when that was and the reason why?

And why are all those police cars driving all over that part of town?

I sort of remember "No Vacancy" signs lit up with bright letters but maybe I was only dreaming.

That part of Fremont Street is like a ghost town now-a-days,

I sure hope that those motels that remain in business are seeing customers on the weekends. I hope to check that out this coming Saturday but I betcha it's still a ghost town no matter when I look.s

I'd like to suggest that all you folks who normally book the Wynn or the Encore or Caesars or the Bellagio, reconsider those plans and think about booking a fine room at Joe's Apartments or Gambler's Inn on the Eastern part of Fremont Street. At least you'll be able to walk to a number of casinos and leave your car in the parking lot.

But don't blame me if it's not there when you come back.

BTW, check out the Atomic Bar while strolling down Fremont. It's just a block and a half east of that casino I mentioned earlier that serves a beer and a shot for $2.50. A great place to have a drink or two after someone robs you of your wallet on the way back to your Fremont Street providing you have some change left in your pockets or can bum a buck or two from one of the other pennyless folks you may discover along the way.

I often wondered WHO stays at those motels? They've always looked very scary.

I've been coming to Las Vegas since the late 50's and I never can recall staying at any motel here in town on or off Fremont Street.

But I am proud to say that I once stayed at the Gold Spike when it was definitely one of the worst hotel/casinos in existence, but I have to admit that the room and sheets were clean.

The Gold Spike casino was a wild experience of its own back then. Very scary people inhabited it both in front and behind the tables and one or two of the Pit Bosses would never hesitate to resort to physical action when it was required.

I actually believe that it was the last of the real hell raising joints in this town.

As for the worst room I've ever stayed in in this town - it has to be the old Stupak "Vegas World". He offered a great deal .... $300 for three nights, compt drinks, compt food, compt show, and $1,200 in gambling coupons!

No one in town could beat that so he did great business even though the hotel room beds were somewhat like sleeping in a bath-tub. A tub so deep that it was almost impossible to pull yourself out without exceptional effort.

I've often heard that some downtown motels are the places where dispondent folks go to commit suicide when they want some sort of privacy. One story goes that one poor soul hung himself from the ceiling fan and was found dead much later going round and round.

Consider me a pessimist if you will but I have a feeling that those old motels down there are gonna be vacant for many years to come.

They've seen their winning days and the losing streak just might be too long to start winning again.

Someday I hope to get photographs of those places. And some of them have signs that are probably worth more than the buildings. It's remainng artifacts of a time gone by. Finally, it probably makes a good case for why Las Vegas should tear down the old and build new stuff...a point that I disagree on.

Good idea, JMT! I'll try to shoot them and post them here. They just might be very valuable someday.

Maybe even tomorrow the was things are NOT going!

An excellent photo op for the day would be the neon museum moving signs to Cashman Field parking lot so they can make room for new neon park. I was there yesterday taking pics.

Last night I went down to Fremont Street - the old motel section just east of the El Cortez and a bit past the Western - and I didn't even get out of my car to shoot a picture because there was nothing happening to shoot a picture of.

Then when I got back home I realized that was the very reason I wanted to shoot a picture in the first place.

So I',m going back and I plan to shoot in B&W in my humble attempt to set a somber mood. No need to shoot in color because even the motel signs were out.

Once again I took a very fast tour of the eastern side of Fremont street but there were so many police cars with red lights flaring that I didn't have the courage to stop to take some photos.

Within two blocks just a bit east of the Western I counted three such cars on the side of the road handcuffing culprits of criminal intent.

At least I think that they were of criminal intent. It didn't look like they were buying/selling tickets to the Policemen's Ball.

It's amazing that so much activity occurs in such a quiet area.

Might want to be packing some heat when you go get them snap shots. Some people shoot with a camera, but down that way, some use guns! At least even the score! LOL