There are no shortages of mega-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, but developers seem to think there aren't enough of them. A couple of new casinos are under construction with the next expected to be Fontainebleau Las Vegas. It is currently under construction and is one a 24.5 acre of land previously occupied by the El Rancho Hotel and Casino and the Algiers Hotel.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas already has a long and troubled history. While it is expected to finally open in 2 years' time, much is still not known about it. The newest (and most expensive) casino resort to open on the Strip is the Asian-themed Resorts World.
The Fraught Story of Fontainebleau Las Vegas
The construction of Fontainebleau Las Vegas has been a long and drawn-out affair. It was originally announced in 2005 and construction began in 2006 and had a planned opening in 2008. That of course never happened. While the hotel tower was topped off in 2008, the project ran over budget and the project went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. The project reportedly had cost an eye-watering $2 Billion.
- Tallest: Fontainebleau Las Vegas Has The Tallest Tower In Vegas
- Been Through: The Project Has Been Through Bankruptcy, Multiple Sell Offs, Recession, and The Pandemic (and Has Wound Up Back With The Original Investor)
The project was purchased in 2010, but not restarted. In 2017 it was sold off again and delayed again due to the pandemic. Plans and names for the project changed repeatedly through this period.
Full Circle And Back to The Original Owners And Plans
In 2021 it was brought back again by the original investor and it now has a planned opening date of late 2023. The plan is for it to open ahead of the 2024 Super Bowl coming to Vegas. The project is currently around 75% complete.
It has also had its name changed a couple of times to the "Drew Las Vegas" and then "JW Marriott Las Vegas Blvd" only to have its name revert again back to "Fontainbleau Las Vegas". The project is one of the largest full-circle stories in America.
- Opening: Planned Opening Date, 4th Quarter 2023
- Status: 75% Complete & Construction Has Resumed
The (Lasted) Murky Plans For Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Finally, after many stops and starts over a drawn-out 15 years, construction has resumed as of November 9, 2021. Due to the dry and arid climate of Las Vegas, there is no issue with rust or anything for the long time the project has been sitting idle.
Oddly enough it was the pandemic that represented the opportunity for the original investor - Soffer - to return to the project. He stated:
“People want to come to Vegas. They want to go to these hotels, they want to go to the conventions, they want to go gamble, they want to see the best shows in the world. It’s got all the pieces that you want when you own hotels.”
What We Know Of The Project
It is not clear what the theme of Fontainebleau Las Vegas is and what characteristic Las Vegas extravagance and opulence it will include. Soffer has stated that his vision for the luxury resort has changed somewhat from the original design to meet changing customer demands.
- Theme: Not Clear Yet
- Stories: 67 Story Luxury Hotel
- Rooms: Planned to Have 3,700 Hotel Rooms
While some of the original plans have now changed, Soffer intends to largely stick with the project's original plans with modern updates.
One of the big updates to the plans for the resort is over the planned shopping mall. Originally the resort was to have a retail shopping mall, but that won't happen now and the space will be used for other unspecified features.
These new additions are expected to be announced over the next year to year and a half. So we will have to wait to see what form this long-overdue resort finally takes - but when it does open it may just be the most modern of all the resorts on the Strip.
- Resorts World Las Vegas: The Newest And Most Expensive Casino-Resort To Open On The Strip and First In More Than a Decade
The opening of Resorts World Las Vegas and the completed expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center have significantly changed the environment around Fontainebleau since it was first begun 16 years ago. The convention center within walking distance presents some big opportunities for the resort.
On a side note, the hotel tower is the tallest building in Las Vegas (and all of Nevada - excluding the Strat observation tower).
But there is more to Las Vegas accommodation than just mega-resort casinos. Consider staying at this Las Vegas island-themed hotel if only for its lazy river.