When Was The Wynn Built In Vegas
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed much of the world down and changed the course of long-awaited plans. Yet construction in Las Vegas, Nevada, is soldiering on.
Sin City is marching forward, with not one but three new properties opening within the next year.
The Trump International Hotel Las Vegas is a 64-story hotel, condominium, and timeshare located on Fashion Show Drive in Paradise, Nevada, named for Donald Trump. It is located down the street from Wynn Las Vegas, behind the former site of the New Frontier Hotel and Casino on 3.46 acres, near the Fashion Show Mall, and features both non-residential hotel condominiums and residential. Wynn - Tower Suite: $1,339. Palazzo - Luxury Suite: $1,226. The Wynn is ranked #11 of Las Vegas hotels and the Palazzo is #12. And the forum conversations seem to confirm that they are neck-and-neck. But, I want to get some more detailed desciption as to why one is better than the other (i.e., service, pool, restaurants, room decor, view, etc.).
Casino resorts may change hands and get a refresh and rebranding, but it’s much rarer to get places that are brand-new and from scratch, as two of these three are.
Wynn Las Vegas is a luxury hotel that offers fine-dining options, lounges, nightlife experiences, and entertainment shows. Guests may indulge in vegetarian, vegan, American, and Japanese cuisine at Wynn. Popular restaurant choices include the Allegro, Charlie's Bar and Grill, Sinatra, and Lakeside. The pristine fairways and greens Fazio created in 2005 were to be bulldozed in favor of Wynn Paradise Park, a $3 billion project with plans that included a 38-acre lagoon and white-sand beach for water activities, a 1,000-room hotel tower, a new convention center, and multiple dining and nightlife options.
Construction is an essential job in Nevada. So while casinos were closed to help slow the spread of coronavirus, many construction projects (thankfully) continued to move forward. Many tourists who traditionally visit Vegas a few times a year will now have something new and fresh to look forward to.
Those who love both Las Vegas and football may already be aware of the city’s biggest construction project this year that didn’t involve a casino: Allegiant Stadium, home to Vegas’ first NFL team, the Las Vegas Raiders. It was finished over the summer and recently made its television debut, opening without fans for the team’s first home game.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as work continues on new casinos set to open within a year in Las Vegas. Delays may have shifted opening times around, but progress continues on Circa Resort & Casino, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and Resorts World Las Vegas.
There is a little something for everyone, as all three new properties are in different parts of Las Vegas:
- Downtown Las Vegas: Circa Resort & Casino is downtown at the Fremont Street Experience.
- Off-Strip: Virgin Hotels Las Vegas occupies the land where the Hard Rock once stood just off the Vegas Strip.
- Vegas Strip: Resorts World Las Vegas is on the north end of the Vegas Strip, across the street from Wynn and Encore.
The opening timelines have shifted a little, in part due to the pandemic. Circa will open in phases, while Virgin will now open in January after previously being scheduled for sometime just after Election Day.
Meanwhile, Resorts World has changed its opening date since breaking ground in 2015. Summer 2021 seems to still be on target for the opening date range.
Circa Resort & Casino
Opening: Oct. 28 and Dec. 28, 2020
Circa Resort & Casino is the first ground-up resort development in downtown Las Vegas since 1980. The massive new property will occupy an entire block of the Fremont Street Experience. The land where Circa is being built used to be home to the Las Vegas Club Casino, Mermaids Casino and a variety of businesses like Glitter Gulch.
Downtown Las Vegas casino developer Derek Stevens is the brains behind Circa. He also owns The D Las Vegas and Golden Gate casinos on Fremont Street. In fact, Circa is across the street from the Golden Gate. All three properties will be connected by the Club One rewards program.
Construction on Circa started in early 2019, but the property faced challenges to opening before the end of 2020 as scheduled. Since there were capacity limits due to the spread of coronavirus, the focus on finishing the entire property at once changed.
Circa’s casino, its restaurants and most amenities within the property will open on Oct. 28. The hotel is taking reservations for rooms beginning Dec. 28, just in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
It’s also significant to note that when the property opens, it will be the only Las Vegas casino that requires guests to be 21 years or older. Typically, casinos allow patrons of any age to visit with the stipulation that they must be 21 to gamble.
Circa is an especially impressive property for its location, which is home to mostly smaller and older casinos. The hotel will be the tallest structure north of the Vegas Strip.
Circa plans on having 777 rooms eventually (only a limited number of floors will open in Dec.) and a massive 4,000-person-capacity rooftop pool deck called Stadium Swim. Plans for the number of hotel rooms could change, but plans for the pool area should remain intact.
Stadium Swim is more than just a pool area. This amphitheater and pool complex will feature six pools, cabanas, outdoor gaming, dining and a massive 135 x 41-foot video screen. Guests will be able to enjoy a relaxing time by the pool or an outstanding outdoor viewing area for sports and other entertainment.
The casino will have more than 1,300 video poker and slot machines, including 135 bartop machines. Circa will have 55 traditional table games and another 18 electronic table games. Machines and table games will be spread out over two levels.
The Circa Sports sportsbook will occupy three levels and should be the centerpiece of the casino. The sportsbook will have general admission seating, 350 stadium seats, couches with bottle service, a broadcast studio for VSiN and a massive 98 million-pixel viewing screen.
From the sportsbook to the “21 and up” rule, Stevens will showcase yet again how he’s one of a new generation of Vegas visionaries, shaking up the status quo and offering a new format of Vegas hospitality for both tourists and locals alike.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Opening: TBA in 2021
Sir Richard Branson and a group of investors purchased Hard Rock Casino in 2018 with plans to make it the first Virgin Hotels property in Las Vegas. While Branson is only a small stakeholder in the property, it will bear his Virgin brand.
The building might look similar from the outside but will have a new look and feel inside when it opens within the first few weeks of 2021.
Virgin will operate the Hilton Curio Collection hotel, while Mohegan Sun will operate the casino. A new company in Las Vegas, Betfred, will operate the sportsbook. The property will use three loyalty programs altogether. The hotel will use Virgin’s “The Know” and Hilton Rewards. The casino will use Mohegan Sun’s Momentum rewards program.
The Mohegan Sun casino will be the first in Las Vegas for the Native American tribe. The casino floor at Virgin will have 60,000 square feet of gaming space. Specifics about the casino layout aren’t available yet, but it could be different than the Hard Rock.
Renderings of the lobby show that the iconic Center Bar will no longer exist. At least part of the casino floor will exist in this area of the property. It appears as though games will offer enough spacing for guests to move around more easily than previous incarnations of the property. The early renderings don’t offer much more information.
Much of the property will have a new look, but a few venues will remain intact. For example, the first Las Vegas outlet for Nobu will remain. The renovated sushi restaurant will include new furnishings and a larger bar area.
Virgin will also bring new brands and dining concepts to Las Vegas. Night + Market is a popular Thai eatery from Los Angeles making its Las Vegas debut at Virgin. Money, Baby! is a unique adult playground for sports fans.
The new sports and entertainment venue will include dining, drinking, viewing, games and of course sports betting. Money, Baby! will include indoor and outdoor spaces for fun in the sun or inside in the air conditioning.
Resorts World Las Vegas
Opening: summer 2021
Resorts World Las Vegas is the first venture in Sin City for international resort and casino operator Genting Group. The property across the street from Wynn Las Vegas has been in development off and on since first breaking ground as Echelon Place in 2007.
Genting broke ground on the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas in 2015. Construction on the project is in high gear this year, and it is on schedule to open in the summer of 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic did little to slow down the project, which is holding to its opening time frame next year.
Resorts World will be similar to other massive casino-resorts on the Vegas Strip. The property will have multiple tall hotel towers and a casino full of world-class amenities including a 5,000-person-capacity theater that should be home to big-name show residencies.
The massive 111,000-square-foot casino floor will be a little different than other properties in the area. For example, the sportsbook will be unlike any others. There will be a 14,000-square-foot entertainment zone instead of a traditional sportsbook. This will be home to a race and sportsbook with space that will feature live entertainment.
Resorts World Las Vegas will have three hotel towers, each sporting a different Hilton brand. The majority of the 3,500 hotel rooms will be in the tall Hilton and Conrad hotel towers. High rollers will find just over 200 rooms and suites in the specialty Crockfords Las Vegas hotel tower from LXR Hotels & Resorts.
Renderings courtesy of:
Circa Resort & Casino
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Resorts World Las Vegas
Encore At Wynn Las Vegas
Excitement is in the air as Las Vegas prepares to welcome a strong lineup of new hotels in the near future.
It’s safe to say Las Vegas has left the economic slump behind. We’re seeing a boom in tourism and new developments, including the Park MGM resort, T-Mobile Arena, and the currently under-construction Raiders stadium. Visitors are coming to town by the millions and they’re going to need a place to stay. So check out these new properties that will begin taking reservations in the next year or two.
Dream gives new life to the south end of the Strip
It’s been a while since a new development emerged in the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, which already includes Mandalay Bay, the Luxor and the MGM Grand. That’s changing with the arrival of the Dream Hotel Group. The company’s new property is scheduled to begin construction in 2021 in a now-vacant 5.25-acre lot across from the Bali Hai Golf Club and just steps away from the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. It’s also in walking distance to the soon-to-open Allegiant Stadium. The 21-story Dream Las Vegas will have more than 400 rooms, a casino, dining, nightlife, meeting space and a rooftop pool. The resort is set to open in 2023.
Atari expands into the hotel business
Video games are big business these days, and now the hospitality industry is getting in on the action. Atari is merging its iconic brand with the GSD Group to open a series of gaming-themed hotels in at least eight U.S. cities, including Las Vegas. The hotels are promising to incorporate virtual reality and augmented reality concepts, and at least some will have on-site venues and studios for esports. The first Atari Hotel is set to break ground in Phoenix in mid-2020. No details, including a date or location, have been released for the Las Vegas hotel, although one could expect it will be one of the most high-profile properties in the portfolio. Atari is known for creating classic video games like Pong, Asteroids and Centipede.
Majestic brings luxury to the convention crowd
Forget slot machines. Majestic Las Vegas is a non-gaming luxury hotel set to open in 2023. The 45-story tower is being built on the site of the old Clarion, which was imploded years ago, giving it a location just steps away from the expanding Las Vegas Convention Center. The hotel will have 720 rooms plus 30 corporate sky suites that will no doubt attract overflow from trade show events. In a break from the typical Vegas layout, Majestic will have a courtyard with six free-standing restaurants positioned around in a circular footprint. If it proves to be successful (and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be), Majestic could inspire Las Vegas hotels of the future — with less focus on casinos and greater focus on luxury and outdoor spaces. Groundbreaking is set for 2020.
SLS reverts to Being the Sahara
Is The Wynn Open In Las Vegas
Something old is new again. After being rebranded the SLS and undergoing a renovation in 2014, the North Strip property has returned to its old name of the Sahara. The decision was made after the resort was sold to the Meruelo Group, which successfully transformed the property once known as the MGM Grand in Reno to the impressive Grand Sierra Resort. Founder Alex Meruelo is committing $100 million to the project, which has already revealed upgraded hotel rooms and casino space. Expect a revamped restaurant, entertainment, and nightlife lineup to be announced now that the official name change has taken effect. Recent additions include Uno Mas Street Tacos, Casbar Lounge and the arrival of a new high limit gaming room.
Circa to Redefine the Image of Fremont Street
Set to open in late 2020, Circa will be the first Downtown resort built from the ground-up since 1980 and the tallest tower north of the Strip. Developers Derek and Greg Stevens (who also own and operate The D, Golden Gate, and the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center) are opening the project on the far west end of the Fremont Street Experience. As the name suggests, Circa will tip its hat to Vegas history while looking to the future with the latest technology and amenities. A two-level stadium-style sportsbook will have a massive video screen and an in-house broadcasting studio. Another large video wall will be found outdoors at the rooftop pool complex. The parking garage, on the other side of Main Street, will be connected by a pedestrian bridge and built with ride-sharing integration in mind. The classic “Vegas Vickie” marquee, formerly outside the now-closed Girls of Glitter Gulch strip club, will return in the hotel lobby. In the middle of all this will be 777 rooms and suites, designed to be the most luxurious in Downtown.
Downtown Grand to Dramatically Expand
In another sign the Fremont Street area is growing and thriving, the Downtown Grand will expand its imprint with a new 250,000-square-foot hotel tower. The addition will dramatically reshape the property’s main entrance and bring nearly 500 new contemporary-style rooms to seven floors. Among them will be three luxury-focused presidential suites. The new tower will also connect directly to the Citrus rooftop pool. It’s set to open in mid-2020.
Hard Rock to Become a Virgin Hotel
After buying the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, billionaire businessman Richard Branson is remodeling the property as the first Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas. Branson said he plans to spend millions on the rebranding while keeping the hotel’s party-hard image intact. The most obvious change — the famous giant neon guitar out front will be replaced with a “V.” The property is closing for four months in 2019 as the new designs take shape. Expect a new lounge, nightclub and restaurant lineup to emerge, although it’s possible current favorites like MB Steak could stick around.
Fontainebleau to Finally Open as The Drew
The 63-story Fontainebleau has long been the most glaring eyesore on the Strip. The hotel was nearly finished when the Great Recession put a halt to its grand opening — and fell into bankruptcy in 2009. The property was short sold twice before landing in the hands of Steve Witkoff in 2017. The New York investor is teaming up with Marriott International to rename the 4,000-room tower The Drew in honor of his late son. Renewed work on the property got underway in early 2018 with plans to open in 2020, although that date was pushed back to 2022, possibly due in part to smoke damage from an arson incident in 2018. When it’s all said and done, The Drew will include a 500,000-square-foot convention center and incorporate Marriot’s next-generation brand Edition.
Resort World Slowly Moves Along
It’s “Wait-and-See” for Wynn West
Although the Wynn is one of the most successful properties on the Strip, the resort, which includes the twin Encore tower, has faced a few recent struggles. CEO Steve Wynn stepped down in the wake of a #MeToo scandal and plans for a new massive lagoon to replace the golf course were dramatically downgraded. Moving forward, the golf course will return, a new convention center will be built and more hotel rooms are being added. That includes Wynn West, a new tower on the west side of the Strip that will be connected by an overpass pedestrian bridge. Originally, Steve Wynn planned to “move quickly” on the project, although the current leadership team appears to be taking a more reserved and cautious approach. Wynn bought the land from Australian billionaire James Packer. The parcel was formerly planned for the Alon casino and resort near the Trump International Hotel and Fashion Show Mall.
When the Lucky Dragon opened in late 2016, it was the first major Vegas resort built from the ground up since the Cosmopolitan in 2011. It was heavily promoted to the growing Asian tourism market, but the North Strip location turned out to be a problem, generating little traffic and interest. The resort closed only a year after opening and now sits empty. The above video shows Lavish Vegas checking out the Lucky Dragon when it first opened.
Clarion
The Clarion Hotel and Casino, formerly known as the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Hotel and Greek Isles Hotel & Casino, was imploded in 2015. A new owner envisioned the construction of a new 60-story hotel in its place but so far, plans have yet to take shape. The site sits empty and is used for temporary event parking at the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Wynn Las Vegas
The Riviera
When Was The Wynn Hotel In Las Vegas Built
It’s hard to call the Riviera a “failure,” since it managed to stick around for 60 years. But hotels don’t age well on the Strip. Vegas is always looking for the hot new thing and the Riviera was imploded in 2016 after being bought by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The location is empty space at the moment but will play a role in the dramatic expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center to the edge of the Strip.