Las Vegas is located in an interesting point. Four hours by car to the east lies the Grand Canyon. Four hours to the west lies Los Angeles, the massive entertainment mecca of the world. These are both desirable destinations, and yet, within a 45 minute drive from Vegas lies a small, unassuming town called Boulder City, originally built to house the workers for the Hoover Dam. While Boulder City isn’t really a tourist destination on its own, its proximity to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam make the Boulder Dam Hotel an ideal place to stay.
Old-world elegance in the lobby
From the outside, the area looks very residential, with big homes in the hills, and a small downtown area where the Boulder Dam Hotel is located. On the first floor, a lovely lobby greets you, bustling with guests in the daytime, but quiet in the evening. The lobby teems with plush chairs and carpets, giving it an elegant look. The hotel blends in with the neighborhood, looking like a big manor house, and adding to the historic feel of the place. Oh, and did we mention you’ll get a traditional key to your room and not the modern key cards that most hotels give out nowadays? That is just another nice old-school touch.
Hoover Dam Museum at the hotel
Within the first floor, there’s a small museum that’s free of charge if you are a guest at the hotel. Just show your room key, otherwise it costs 2 USD for the entrance fee. It provides the history of how the Hoover Dam was built, as well as first-hand accounts of the people who worked there. This is a great introduction to Boulder and Hoover Dam, and is quite inexpensive compared to the museum at Hoover Dam itself.
You’ll also get a free daily breakfast every day at their popular restaurant, where local patrons and tourists alike grab their favorite fares. Note that the check-out time is earlier than other hotels, at 11:00AM, so best to grab breakfast at around 9:00 or earlier so you can spend the day at the Dam or Lake Mead.
The neighborhood is charming: locally-owned stores and restaurants line the block, but note that these businesses may have limited hours, or are even closed during Sundays. If you do catch them open, stay for a while and explore what they have to offer. There are a lot of sculptures that also dot the outside area, making for a great photo opportunity!
Private Manor room
The room is quite spacious, and makes you feel as if you are sleeping in a private manor owned by a wealthy British Lord. The furniture is vintage and lovely, but don’t worry, the hotel gives you creature comforts that you’re used to in the 21st century, such as your own air-conditioning, toiletries, towels, WiFi, and a TV with cable channels. The bed and sheets are very comfortable, and makes for a great night’s sleep. There’s also a desk where you can do your work if you are in town for business.
History, elegance, and education
The Boulder Dam Hotel is a fantastic place to stay if you wish to learn more about the workers and families who built the city as they were simultaneously building the great Hoover Dam. It has a museum, free of charge for hotel guests, with a lot of interesting and interactive exhibits.
The town it’s located in, Boulder City, is quaint and peaceful with charming shops and stores. The hotel itself is lovely, with an elegant mixture of old-world charm and modern comfort. The rooms are vintage and spacious, the breakfast is delicious and free of charge, and the staff members are exceedingly friendly.
If you wish to spend some time cruising Lake Mead and exploring the Hoover Dam, then Boulder Dam Hotel is an excellent choice that won’t kill your wallet anywhere near as much as a Las Vegas resort.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to