(I have very little on this motel. If anyone has any history regarding this property that they would like to donate to this site please e-mail me. (We have it being around since 1964, but we don't know if this was the opening year. I only have one line from 1955 stating "Oscar Crozier planned to open his El Morocco, an inter-racial club on the westside, by July 1st" but I'm not sure if it is the same one.)
The El Morocco was a small motel and casino located at 2975 Las Vegas Boulevard South owned by Ed and Fred Domani.
In 1965, El Morocco advertised Ash Resnick's Cafe Morocco located in the motel. Entrees included Chicken Montpensier, Roast Long Island Duckling, Fresh Ground Sirloin Bouquetiere, Broiled Rock Island Lobster, Filet Mignon, Chicken Americana, Veal Francaise, Beef Stroganoff, Prime Tournedos of Beef, and Veal Oscar.
In a late 60s/early 70s brochure it stated that "Nevada Pool's award winning design, especially for the El Morocco. Relax to the warmth of our therapy pool a nd then refresh to the coolness of the cascading waters of the main swimming pool. For the children, their private fountain pool. By night, a fantasy of color.
The motel contained a beauty salon, coffee shop, cocktail lounge and casino. Also shown is the registration and lobby.
Here are a few pictures of the rooms.
The motel also contained The Copper Cart.
In 1970, David J. Robbins was the Executive Chef for the Copper Cart. Born on March 23, 1939, in Orange, CA, Robbins attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa and has an Associate Arts Degere. He moved to Vegas in 1963 and was a bachelor.
"I loved the Copper Cart, which was called Jack Denison's Copper Cart Restaurant. The food was wonderful. It was also called the "Home of the Copper Mule". When you ordered a "Copper Mule" (vodka and ginger beer), they served it in a copper mug which you could keep or buy (I don't remember). I have 10 of the mugs still hanging in my kitchen. One side of the mug is engraved "Smirnoff Mule", along with Smirnoff's shield. The other side of the mug has a paper label, applied by the restaurant, with the inscription:Jack Denison's, COPPER CART Restaurant, "Beef Fit for a King", Home of the COPPER MULE, El Morocco Motel, as Vegas, Nevada - Connie Taylor
"I remember staying there when I was just a kid in the 60s & 70s. My parents used to stay there all the time. All the rooms in the front had a patio or a balconys, they had red carpets in the lobby & hallways with a picture of the El Morocco inprinted on it, they had two pools (1 full size, 1 kiddie pool and a spa), they also had a really good restarant called The Copper Cart, they put a tower in the later years in the back, they also owned the LaConcha next door. I also remember they had a son (Fred Jr.?) that used to spend the summers in Las Vegas, I had met him & played together while not knowing he was the owners' son until later." - Gregg Suyenaga
It closed in 1983, and even though I don't know what happened during the years, I can tell you that presently it is the Ginseng Korean and Japanese Bar-B-Q Restaurant.
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