Las Vegas: El Cortez gives tropical feel to remodeled ‘Original 47’ rooms

The original hotel rooms at El Cortez in downtown Las Vegas received a modern upgrade while still keeping its vintage feel, thanks to a $3 million renovation that was completed Tuesday.

Dubbed the “Original 47,” the rooms debuted when the casino first opened its doors in 1941 and were used as boarding and meeting rooms. Now, the 47 rooms feature seafoam green walls with green fawn wallpaper, brass bed frames and midcentury-style furniture with marble and brass accents — a nod to Havana, Cuba, where the Mob first ventured into gambling before buying El Cortez.

“We’re proud of our history at El Cortez Hotel & Casino,” General Manager Adam Wiesberg said in a news release.