A brief history of...15 E. Fremont

I'm sure you've walked down Fremont Street, past the old Pioneer (who now sells t-shirts), the ABC store, La Bayou and The Golden Gate.

Wait, back up. That's where we need to be. La Bayou, 15 E. Fremont.

Have you ever popped into this place, or is it just a loud obnoxious thing you passed by? You should pop on in because this is one of the most Historic properties in Downtown Vegas!

In the 1920s this building once held the "Northern". In the 20s, "northern" was a speakeasy word for booze. There were many "Northern Clubs" during prohibition.

Gambling was banned from 1910 until 1931.

Alcohol was banned from 1919 until 1933.

When gambling was re-legalized on the 19th of March, 1931, the Northern Club was the first place in Las Vegas to get a Nevada gaming license.

In 1943 The Northern Club becomes The Turf Club, when Wilbur Clark takes over the casino. (Although the Stocker family still run the hotel above the Turf Club.)

Just two years later the Turf Club becomes the Monte Carlo Club. It remains the Monte Carlo Club until 1966.
In 1969 it became the Coin Castle casino.

The owner of the Coin Castle was Herb Pastor, who would go on to open Mermaids and the Glitter Gulch strip club.
In 1996, Pastor demolished the Coin Castle and opened the La Bayou in its place.

The casino is 3,250 square-feet in size, and has around 125 slot machines.

Oh! They also offer a wide variety of 2ft frozen drinks!

A very wise CCTN editor once told me "you can't have too many pictures..."

Northern Club & License...

Turf Club...in 1943

Monte Carlo...in 1946

Coin Castle Casino...

And La Bayou...