Las Vegas Hidden History: The Secrets Beneath Fremont Street

When I ask people what they think of Fremont Street, what they often talk about is the canopy of lights, the street performers, old casinos, cheap(er) hotels, and food.  Beneath the canopy of flashing lights lies a much older, darker, and far more fascinating history. Hidden tunnels, prohibition loopholes, mob bosses, and red-light intrigue made Fremont the center of Sin City long before the Strip was ever built.

If you’re looking for hidden things to do in Las Vegas, uncovering the secrets of Fremont Street offers a rare chance to step back into a world of scandal, survival, and ambition that built the city.

 

The Underground Tunnels: A City Beneath the City

Beneath the sidewalks of Fremont, a network of tunnels once buzzed with activity. Originally designed for plumbing and power lines, these passageways quickly became an unofficial escape system for speakeasy owners and mobsters. 

When police raids threatened prohibition saloons or gambling dens, a quick dash underground meant slipping away unseen. Stories still circulate about cash being moved in and out of casinos through these tunnels, and about “secret doors” leading straight from hotel basements into the underground. Today, some entrances are still used — and  the legends only continue growing. 

 

Benny Binion’s Secret Tunnel and the first IBM Computer in Las Vegas 

One of the most famous Fremont tunnel stories involves casino legend Benny Binion, founder of Binion’s Horseshoe, now called Binion's Gambling Hall. Binion was a gambler and businessman with deep mob ties — but he was also ahead of his time when it came to technology.

Underneath the Horseshoe, a tunnel connected directly to the Fremont Hotel and Casino next door. This tunnel wasn’t just for slipping in and out quietly — it housed an IBM mainframe computer in the 1960s, a time when few casinos (or businesses at all) used advanced tech.

Binion reportedly used this computer to track every dollar coming in from slot machines, giving him an edge over competitors who were still relying on manual counts. The tunnel allowed staff to move money and information discreetly, out of sight of regulators and rivals.

This combination of old-school mob secrecy with cutting-edge technology is a perfect example of how Fremont Street shaped Las Vegas into the powerhouse it became.

The Horseshoe’s Cashier’s Cage: Where the Money Moved

Another piece of the Horseshoe legend was its unusual cashier’s cage. Unlike most casinos, where the cashier’s cage was tucked away at the back, Binion placed his cage right in the middle of the casino floor. Guests loved it — the sight of cash being counted created an image of transparency and wealth. But behind the scenes, it was also a clever system for moving money.

From that central cage, cash would be whisked upstairs to be separated:

• Hard currency (coins and cash) was tracked and stored.
• Soft currency (markers, credit, chips) was moved separately.

Once divided, it's speculated that much of the money made its way back down through the tunnels, where it could be laundered discreetly away from public view. What looked like a spectacle of openness on the casino floor was, in reality, a carefully orchestrated flow of money in and out of hidden spaces.

The combination of bold showmanship and underground secrecy became Binion’s hallmark — and it cemented Fremont Street as the place where Vegas’s money truly flowed.

 

Prohibition Loopholes and the Rise of Fremont Street

When prohibition swept the U.S. in 1920, Las Vegas was a tiny railroad town. But where most towns shrank, Fremont thrived. Why? Loopholes.

Businesses that operated as “hotels” could legally serve food, and food service meant liquor could be poured quietly behind the scenes. Block 16 — Fremont’s infamous red-light district — became the center of this underground nightlife. Prostitutes, bootleggers, and traveling salesmen turned it into a constant party, one that law enforcement often looked the other way on.

It was here that Las Vegas first earned its reputation as a place where the rules didn’t quite apply.

The Mob Moves In

By the 1930s and ’40s, organized crime saw the potential in Las Vegas. Fremont Street hotels like the Apache and El Cortez became central hubs for mob deals.

• The Apache Hotel: One of the first hotels with air conditioning, it also became a front for underground operations.
• The El Cortez: Purchased by Bugsy Siegel and his associates, this property was a stepping stone to the Flamingo — the casino that put the Strip on the map.

The mob’s fingerprints on Fremont Street are still visible today. Behind every flamboyant neon sign was a man in a tailored suit making sure the house always won.

 

Block 16: The City’s Forbidden Zone

No story of Fremont is complete without Block 16. For decades, this block was the only legalized red-light district in Las Vegas. Women “madams” ran the brothels, providing services to railroad workers, ranch hands, and later, tourists.

Though prostitution was outlawed in the city by the 1940s, the reputation of Block 16 lingered. It cemented Las Vegas as a place where taboos were not only tolerated but celebrated.

Fremont Today: Lights above, Secrets Below

Walk Fremont Street today and you’ll see cover bands, zip lines, casinos, and pop up bars. But beneath all THAT is a city filled with stories stranger than fiction. Behind every neon sign is a story of survival and scandal. Every alley a place where deals were made all hours of the day and night. 

This is what makes Fremont unique: it’s not just entertainment, it’s the birthplace of Las Vegas as we know it.

 

Experience It Yourself

If you’re searching for hidden things to do in Las Vegas, don’t settle with just the stories of the lights. Sure, Vegas Vic and Vickie are worth the time, but step into the past with a guided walking tour that takes you straight into the heart of these stories.

• On the Historic Red Light District Tour, you’ll walk the blocks of Block 16, hear about the madams who ran the city, and uncover prohibition tales that shaped Las Vegas nightlife.
• On the Sin City Soiree and the Red Light Self-Guided App Tour, you’ll see where mobsters counted cash, where prohibition loopholes thrived, and where tunnels still run beneath the surface.

These aren’t stories told from behind a museum glass — they’re lived experiences brought to life exactly where they happened.

👉 Ready to explore Fremont’s hidden past? Book your tour today with Las Vegas Guided Tours.