By Johnny Kampis
The
Las Vegas Hilton was built in 1969 and is one of the older properties still standing in the city. With 3,175 rooms, it can hold many of the city's convention travelers, with the convention center next door.
History
The Hilton started life as the International Hotel, but the name was changed in 1971 after being sold to Hilton Hotels Corp. It has undergone five expansions to reach its current size. Eight people were killed by an arson fire in 1981.
Features
The sports book at the Hilton is one of the largest in Las Vegas. The 100,000-square-foot casino has all of the usual games of chance, including slots, video poker, blackjack, craps and roulette.
Geography
The Hilton is at 3000 Paradise Road, about a mile east of the Strip. Its phone number is (702) 732-5111.
Considerations
The Hilton's location means getting to and from the hot properties on the Strip require a taxi or a ride on the monorail. The rooms are nice and are often cheaper than many Strip casinos because of the inconvenient location.
Fun Fact
Elvis Presley played 58 consecutive sold-out shows at the Hilton in the 1970s.
About the Author:
A veteran of the newspaper industry, Johnny Kampis has worked as a freelance writer since 2005. His articles have appeared in various publications including "The New York Times," "Atlanta-Journal Constitution" and the "San Francisco Chronicle." He currently serves as an editor of poker-based "Rounder" magazine and writer for the Alabama football publication "Crimson" magazine.
