Solid Gold

The Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas is in a class of its own.

I still remember the first day I arrived in Las Vegas. Not knowing the city or where I would stay that night, I parked my car in the downtown area and just started walking.

There was Vegas Vic, the tall mechanical cowboy, standing near Binion's Horseshoe. Across the street was a glittering casino mecca called the Golden Nugget. It shone like gold and beckoned to me. I walked into the place and felt like I entered a vault filled with golden treasures, all waiting for me to win if I had the skills to beat the system.

The Golden Nugget is one of three casinos in downtown Las Vegas that still offers live poker, the others being the El Cortez and the Horseshoe.

You have to be impressed by the Golden Nugget. Just walking through the place excites you as you pass the swimming pool area, the shark tanks, and the games of chance.

The Golden Nugget was constructed in 1946 after the end of World War 11. It took up a prominent section of Fremont Street and its opulence was overwhelming.

The casino offers three major restaurants -- Vic and Anthony's Steakhouse, the Chart House and the Grotto Italian Restaurant. The food in all three is superb although a bit pricey. It represents Las Vegas at its best.

There are 10 tables in the poker room. While poker was not big in the Golden Nugget in the 1970s and '80s, it is starting to come back with the decline of poker at the Horseshoe located across the street from the Nugget.

Jackie Gaughan was one of the original owners of the Golden Nugget. He sold out his interest to Kirk Kerkorian in May 2000, who then sold the property to Landry's, a Dallas corporation in September 2005.

For many years the casino displayed the world's largest golden nugget, 'The Hand of Faith,' in a prominent place. While the nugget is no longer there, the blazing yellow neon signs and the layout of the place is still pure gold.

If you visit Las Vegas and you play poker, it's worthwhile to swing by the Golden Nugget. You'll feel a touch of old Las Vegas and it will be authentic.

When Benny Binion hosted the annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn. rodeo in Las Vegas, many of the cowboys would drift to the Golden Nugget to gamble. They felt at home at the casino and gave the games some good action. Binion was friends with the casino owners and didn't mind the competition.

I will be in Las Vegas in October and plan to pay the Golden Nugget a visit! I hope to see you there.