Fergusons Motel Downtown Las Vegas: A Hidden Gem Off the Strip
This is Darrell and Erin on Travel with D & E. We both love going to Las Vegas, as there’s always so much to see and do. This trip takes us away from the Las Vegas strip though! We’re headed to check out attractions around Las Vegas but off the Strip. In this video, we are looking at the historic Ferguson Downtown Motel, and now a community center.
Join us as we explore the Ferguson Downtown Motel in Las Vegas!
Table of contents
What is the Ferguson Downtown Motel?
The Ferguson Hotel started its life in the 1940s as the Franklin Motel. The old motel’s name changed to Fergusons Motel in the 1960s, after the Ferguson family purchased it from the original owner. The Ferguson’s Motel preserved the U-shaped motel structure, along with 95% of the building’s bones including the original Ferguson’s Motel marquee that’s still in use today.
Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh committed around $350 million to help build “the most community-focused large city in the world.” Hsieh and business partner and creative strategist Jen Taler created Fergusons Downtown to draw people to Vegas to find the culture and arts scene in an urban setting filled with unique amenities. In essence, a downtown gather house or community. Taler feels that there’s much local amazing talent and people to draw from and is excited to share it.
Fergusons Downtown launched in December 2019. The 1940s-era motel has turned into a retail and community space in downtown Las Vegas. There are 13 shops of local makers and small businesses, a few eateries, and the Mothership Coffee Shop. The former motel rooms have been remodeled and provide space for small businesses. They provide workshops and partner with local maker markets. This revitalization of the historic Fergusons Motel is just what downtown Las Vegas needed.
The Big Rig Jig
The Big Rig Jig is a center point of the Fergusons Motel complex. This is an S-shaped 50-foot-tall, 25-ton sculpture created by Brooklyn-based artist Mike Ross utilizing two decommissioned 18-wheeler tanker trucks. The entire sculpture was anchored to a giant metal base with custom-built screws and other support gear.
The sculpture was erected at the 2007 Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada. Attendees were allowed to climb inside at the festival. Eventually, the 50-foot-tall Big Rig Jig sculpture was purchased and put on display in Las Vegas in August 2016 by Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project and now finds its home here at the Ferguson Downtown Motel complex.
Events
Part of the mantra of the new development is to attract the local community to come to visit and revitalize the downtown area. One way Fergusons Downtown does this is through special events they hold which may be shopping, local music, art, poetry, comedy, and just about any cultural and art workshop or event. Check out their website for their special event program for concerts, comedy, and other creators.
Where is the Ferguson Downtown Motel Located?
The Fergusons Downtown Motel complex is located on East Fremont Street east of the covered Fremont St. area where the Fremont Street Experience is located.
Key Takeaways
- Fergusons Motel Downtown Las Vegas originated in the 1940s and transformed into a community space in 2019.
- The complex features local shops, eateries, and the Mothership Coffee Shop, reviving the historic site.
- The Big Rig Jig sculpture, crafted from two tanker trucks, stands as a centerpiece in the complex.
- Fergusons Downtown hosts events to attract the community, including music, art, and cultural workshops.
- Located on East Fremont Street, Fergusons Motel blends history with modern local culture.
Conclusion
The Ferguson’s Downtown Motel was built as an old-school motel back in the 1940s. Today, it remains an iconic motel structure, including the marquee, but caters now to retail and community spaces, eateries, a coffee shop, and plenty of green space. It is a piece of Las Vegas history and will remain so under current ownership.
And look, if you like this content and you want to check out all our other videos covering the Valley of Fire, such as the Elephant Rock Trail, along with other attractions nearby Las Vegas including the Red Rock Canyon trails and overlooks, the Grand Canyon West, the Joshua Tree Forest, the old Historic Railroad Tunnel trail, murals, Fremont Street, and other cool and fun attractions not on the Strip.
Also, check out all our other videos covering the many fun and historical attractions on our epic Arizona trip. Do us a favor and subscribe, that way you know when we put a new video out. Like that video and share it with your family and friends. Remember to put a comment below if you’ve checked out the Ferguson Motel on Freemont Street in Vegas.
