Clark County Commissioners Greenlight Heart-Shaped Casino Resort on Abandoned Ferris Wheel Site

Clark County commissioners approved plans for a 29-story heart-shaped casino resort that will rise on the long-abandoned SkyVue Ferris wheel site along the south Las Vegas Strip directly across from Mandalay Bay. The project calls for 752 rooms along with convention space, a gaming floor, restaurants, and retail outlets while repurposing the old Ferris wheel pillars into a suspended restaurant. The nearly 12-acre parcel changed hands this spring when developer Eli Applebaum through Kulik River Capital acquired the property for $70 million. Commissioners reviewed and passed the proposal during their regular session, clearing the way for construction on a parcel that has sat idle since the Ferris wheel project stalled years earlier.

Site Background and Acquisition

The south Strip location once hosted ambitious plans for the SkyVue Ferris wheel, a massive observation structure meant to draw visitors with panoramic views. Those plans collapsed, leaving the pillars standing as a visible reminder of unfinished development. Applebaum's purchase this spring revived activity at the address, and county records show the transaction closed at the $70 million mark for the full parcel.

Observers note that the site sits in a high-traffic corridor where several major resorts already operate. The heart-shaped tower design stands out because most Strip properties follow rectangular or curved footprints. County planning documents list the building height at 29 stories and the room count at 752, numbers that align with comparable mid-tier Strip resorts.

Project Components and Design Features

The approved blueprint includes a full gaming floor, multiple restaurants, retail space, and dedicated convention facilities. A distinctive element involves the existing Ferris wheel pillars, which will support a suspended restaurant rather than another observation wheel. Designers incorporated the pillars into the new structure to reduce demolition costs and create a unique dining venue elevated above the Strip level.

Engineers have confirmed that the pillars remain structurally sound enough for adaptive reuse, according to filings submitted to the county. The gaming floor will occupy a central position within the heart-shaped footprint, while hotel rooms stack above in the upper stories. Convention space sits adjacent to the main lobby, and retail corridors connect directly to the gaming and dining areas.

Developer Details and Timeline Context

Applebaum operates through Kulik River Capital, the entity listed on the purchase documents and permit applications. The firm has moved forward with design reviews and environmental assessments required by Clark County before any groundbreaking can occur. County staff processed the application through standard zoning and land-use channels, resulting in the commissioners' approval without noted delays.

Construction timelines remain subject to final permitting steps and financing arrangements. The project sits within a broader pattern of redevelopment along the south Strip corridor where several parcels have changed ownership in recent years. No specific groundbreaking date appears in the current approvals, yet the commission action moves the plan from concept to entitled status.

Regulatory Process and County Oversight

Clark County maintains jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of the Las Vegas Strip, including this parcel. The commission reviewed traffic impact studies, water usage projections, and architectural renderings as part of the standard approval package. County code requires such projects to meet height, setback, and parking requirements before permits issue.

Public records show the application cleared all departmental reviews prior to the commission vote. The heart-shaped exterior facade received approval after planners confirmed compliance with existing design guidelines for the area. No variances were requested beyond the adaptive reuse of the Ferris wheel pillars, which county engineers evaluated separately.

Conclusion

The approval marks a concrete step toward new development on a parcel that remained vacant for years after the original Ferris wheel project ended. With the purchase completed and permits now in hand, the 29-story resort moves into the pre-construction phase. The suspended restaurant atop the repurposed pillars will become a visible landmark once the tower rises, while the 752 rooms, gaming floor, convention space, restaurants, and retail outlets add to the south Strip inventory. County records and developer filings provide the factual basis for these project details as construction preparations begin.