Heart-Shaped Resort Project Advances on South Las Vegas Strip After Clark County Approval

Clark County commissioners granted approval for a 29-story heart-shaped casino resort that will occupy the long-vacant SkyVue Ferris wheel parcel on the south Las Vegas Strip directly across from Mandalay Bay. The project calls for 752 guest rooms along with convention facilities, a gaming floor, restaurants and retail outlets while converting the original Ferris wheel support pillars into a suspended dining venue.

Site Background and Acquisition

The nearly 12-acre parcel sat undeveloped for years after the SkyVue Ferris wheel project stalled and the structure was dismantled. Developer Eli Applebaum through Kulik River Capital completed the purchase of the land for $70 million during the spring period. The transaction positioned the site for new construction after multiple earlier proposals failed to move forward.

Project Specifications

Plans outline a distinctive heart-shaped tower rising 29 stories and containing 752 rooms. The design incorporates the existing pillars from the abandoned Ferris wheel as the base for an elevated restaurant that will hang above the property. Additional elements include dedicated convention space, a gaming floor, multiple dining options and retail areas spread across the footprint. The layout orients the main structures toward the Strip frontage while maintaining access points along the rear boundaries.

Commission records indicate the approval followed standard review procedures for zoning adjustments and site plan compliance. Construction timelines remain under development with initial site work expected to begin once permitting details are finalized. The project adds to the inventory of large-scale resorts along the southern corridor of Las Vegas Boulevard.

Developer and Financing Details

Eli Applebaum has directed the effort through Kulik River Capital with the land acquisition serving as the first major step. The purchase price of $70 million reflects current market values for Strip-adjacent acreage that offers direct visibility and proximity to established properties such as Mandalay Bay. Financing structures and partnership arrangements continue to take shape as the project moves beyond the approval stage.

Approval Process and Regulatory Steps

Clark County officials reviewed the application during a session that included presentations on traffic flow, utility connections and architectural compliance. The heart-shaped silhouette required specific variance approvals because of its departure from conventional rectangular tower forms common on the Strip. Commissioners confirmed that the repurposed Ferris wheel pillars met structural safety standards for conversion into a public restaurant space suspended above ground level.

Documentation submitted with the application highlighted integration with existing infrastructure along Las Vegas Boulevard. The gaming floor component aligns with Nevada regulatory requirements for casino operations while the convention and retail spaces expand non-gaming revenue potential. Observers note that the project revives a parcel that had remained idle since the Ferris wheel removal several years earlier.

Integration With Surrounding Area

The location sits on the south end of the Strip where several major resorts already operate. Placement across from Mandalay Bay creates a direct visual and pedestrian connection between the new resort and established properties. Design elements incorporate pedestrian pathways that link to nearby sidewalks and transit stops along the boulevard.

Repurposing the Ferris wheel pillars adds a unique structural feature that preserves a remnant of the prior development attempt. The suspended restaurant concept utilizes the original foundation points to support an elevated platform visible from passing vehicles and pedestrians. This approach reduces the need for new foundation work in those specific areas while creating a distinctive landmark element.

Conclusion

The Clark County approval clears the primary regulatory hurdle for the heart-shaped resort and allows the developer to proceed with detailed engineering and construction planning. The 29-story structure with 752 rooms plus supporting amenities will occupy the former SkyVue site purchased for $70 million earlier this year. Project elements such as the gaming floor, convention space and the restaurant built on the existing pillars will take shape over the coming phases. Further updates on timelines and contractor selections are expected as the initiative advances through subsequent permitting stages.