From the Strip to Pahrump
- 1941 — El Rancho Vegas opens as the Strip's first resort with bungalow cottages amid landscaped gardens.
- 1960 — A fire destroys the main building; the outlying cottages survive.
- 1960s–1990s — Several cottages are reused or moved; a guest bungalow is relocated to Pahrump.
- 1998 — Listed on the Nevada State Register of Historic Places as the "El Rancho Village Hotel Bungalows."
Sources: Nevada SHPO register; contemporary histories; UNLV Special Collections.
Why It Matters
El Rancho Vegas opened April 3, 1941, as the first full-scale resort on what became the Las Vegas Strip. Designed by Wayne McAllister, it introduced the concept of a self-contained resort—casino, lodging, dining, and entertainment all in one. Its Chuck Wagon buffet popularized all-you-can-eat dining in Las Vegas, and it hosted celebrity weddings, including Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward in 1958.
Although a fire destroyed the main complex in 1960, the guest cottages survived. One such bungalow was carefully moved to Pahrump in 1995 and restored. Today, it stands as a beloved historic site—listed on the Nevada State Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Learn more: Wikipedia – El Rancho Vegas | Historic Las Vegas Project
Joseph & Julie Ligotti, Owners
Contact: Joe & Julie Ligotti on Facebook
Our family owns this historic bungalow which has been fully restored as guest housing. The bungalow maintains its Western charm, craftsmanship, and Las Vegas lineage. The photos above show historic images from the 1950s Las Vegas Strip era.
What to look for
- Original wood framing and porch details
- Period hardware and windows
- Cozy interior proportions typical of 1940s cottages
Beautifully Remodeled
Current view of the preserved bungalow at 3461 North Barney Street, Pahrump, Nevada.
The property marker at the site reads: "Commissioned by the state of Nevada on June 5, 1998 as an historic landmark, this 'bungalow' style duplex built in 1941 was part of the El Rancho Vegas complex on Sahara and Las Vegas Boulevard, which was the first hotel casino to open on the now famous Las Vegas strip on April 3, 1941. Many famous Hollywood celebrities lived in the bungalows during Nevada's easy divorce laws. Restored to almost original likeness, this structure was moved to this site in 1995 and will once again serve as guest housing."
For additional modern day photos and documentation, visit The Historic Las Vegas Project (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Learn More About El Rancho Vegas
• Nevada State Register of Historic Places — "El Rancho Village Hotel Bungalows, 3461A & 3461B N Barney St (listed 6/5/1998)." • Historic Las Vegas Project — entry confirming the Pahrump address & images (CC BY-SA 4.0). • UNLV Special Collections & Archives — historic images and documentation. • "The Air-Conditioned Cowboy: A History of El Rancho Vegas" (MIT Reader). • Las Vegas Review-Journal coverage on El Rancho's opening and legacy. • Public-domain postcard image courtesy Wikimedia Commons (Frasher Foto, 1940s).
Note on rights: family photos © the owners; Wikimedia postcard is public domain; Historic Las Vegas Project photos are CC BY-SA 4.0—include attribution and share-alike if you add them.
Beautiful Historic Guest Housing
Address: 3461 N Barney St, Pahrump, NV
The bungalow has been fully restored and is currently rented by tenants. The property is not available for tours or visits - online viewing only.