The north end of the Vegas Strip has been up and down for a few years. There was once a lot happening in the area. Then there wasn’t. Then there was the beginning of something happening again. Well, it looks as if we’re about to see some real developments taking place at the north end of the Vegas Strip.
We’re finally beyond rumors and speculation for the north end of the Vegas Strip. There are actual plans and timelines for the casino-hotels in the area. Let’s take a look at the new plans for the casinos on the north end of the Vegas Strip and when we should see progress.
SLS Las Vegas (2018 and 2019)
It usually takes about nine months for the sale of a casino to close. That was the case with SLS Las Vegas. The sale of the casino built on the bones of the Sahara recently closed and new ownership will begin operating the property within a month.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the new owners will invest $100 million into the property over the next two years. They plan to upgrade the hotel rooms, redesign the pool area, and freshen up the casino floor.
The SLS name will remain on the casino for now. However, the giant statue in front of the casino will go away. Expect to see and hear a lot about this renovation as it has a comparatively short timeframe.
Stratosphere (2018 – 2021)
The Stratosphere was sold last year and the new owners recently presented a major three-year redevelopment plan. Half of the hotel rooms will be renovated with about 1/3rd happening each of the next three years.
A new bar and restaurant will connect to a renovated sportsbook. The casino players club will soon connect with other casinos operated by Golden Entertainment, the parent company. In addition to the new gastro-brewery that connects with the sportsbook, there will be multiple bars and restaurants will be added to the casino.
Further, the new owners will freshen up the popular Top of The World restaurant in the tower. The timeline and relatively small budget (less than $50 million per year) make this upgrade very likely.
Fontainebleau/The Drew (2020)
When we last checked in on the Fontainebleau there was no buyer in site. Well, there was a buyer and they have lofty plans for the big blue glass building. They will finish the casino-resort as it stands. The hotels will be operated by Marriott when it opens in 2020. The Drew will have 4,000 hotel rooms and connect to the new Las Vegas Convention Center expansion which will be next door.
Construction crews are already at work getting The Drew ready for that opening day in 2020.
Wynn West (2020?)
Wynn Resorts purchased the land across the street from the current casino-resort. This is a relatively small slither of land that was once earmarked to be Alon Las Vegas. The land next to the Fashion Show Mall and in front of Trump Las Vegas will now be home to a third Wynn hotel tower. Encore and Wynn are the current towers that make up Wynn Las Vegas. The working name was initially “Wynn West” but it’s currently just being called the “West Tower.”
The yet to be named hotel tower will connect with the main Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino via a bridge above the Vegas Strip. Construction on this hotel tower hasn’t started yet but it’s expected to begin this year and be complete by 2020. Two years shouldn’t be a long time for a hotel to be built but Resorts World Las Vegas broke ground in 2015 and there’s been no movement to date. This should happen but the timeline might be a little too tight.
