Clark County Approves Heart-Shaped Resort Project on Former SkyVue Site

Clark County commissioners unanimously approved plans for a new 752-room, 29-story hotel-casino resort that will occupy nearly 12 acres at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, and the decision clears the way for construction on the long-vacant former SkyVue site directly across from Mandalay Bay. Developer Eli Applebaum of Kulik River Capital will oversee the project that includes a casino floor along with restaurants, retail outlets, a pool deck, entertainment facilities, convention space, and a signature heart-shaped glass facade equipped with an LED display system.

Project Details and Design Features

The approved design incorporates two existing concrete support columns that once formed part of the failed SkyVue observation wheel, and those columns will now support an elevated sky venue restaurant that offers elevated views of the Strip. Revisions to the original plans ensured the structure meets Federal Aviation Administration height requirements, and the changes resolved lingering issues that had kept the property undeveloped for several years. The 29-story tower will stand on the parcel where earlier attempts at a large-scale observation wheel encountered financial and regulatory setbacks, yet the new resort reuses portions of that prior infrastructure to reduce construction costs and environmental impact.

Commissioners reviewed the updated application during a public meeting where representatives from Kulik River Capital presented traffic studies, environmental assessments, and economic impact projections, and the unanimous vote followed those presentations without additional conditions beyond standard permitting requirements. The heart-shaped facade will serve as both an architectural landmark and a dynamic advertising surface, while interior plans allocate dedicated space for gaming, dining options ranging from casual to upscale, and meeting rooms sized for conventions and corporate events. Observers note that the project reuses infrastructure from the stalled SkyVue development, and this approach aligns with broader trends in Las Vegas where developers adapt existing foundations to new hospitality concepts.

Site History and Development Timeline

The property sat idle after the SkyVue observation wheel project collapsed under funding shortfalls and regulatory hurdles, and multiple previous owners explored but ultimately abandoned other entertainment or retail concepts for the same location. Applebaum's team acquired control of the site and submitted successive design iterations, each time adjusting tower height and structural elements until the plans satisfied both county zoning rules and federal aviation guidelines. County records show the parcel changed hands several times between 2015 and 2023, yet none of those earlier proposals reached the construction phase before the current application succeeded.

Construction timelines released with the approval indicate groundbreaking could occur within the next fiscal quarter once final engineering permits are issued, and project managers estimate a multi-year build-out that will employ hundreds of workers during peak phases. The resort's convention space targets groups seeking alternatives to larger venues farther north on the Strip, while the pool and entertainment areas are designed to attract both overnight guests and day visitors from nearby properties. Data from the Nevada Gaming Control Board indicates that new resort openings on the south Strip have historically contributed measurable increases in local gaming revenue, although specific projections for this property remain subject to market conditions at opening.

Regulatory Process and Community Impact

County planning staff coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration throughout the review process, and the final height adjustment brought the structure into compliance without sacrificing key design elements such as the heart-shaped facade. Public comments submitted ahead of the vote focused primarily on traffic flow along Las Vegas Boulevard and potential effects on neighboring resorts, yet the commission determined that proposed mitigation measures addressed those concerns adequately. Officials from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority have documented steady growth in visitor arrivals through mid-2026, and the addition of new room inventory on the south Strip is expected to accommodate continued demand during peak travel periods.

The development resolves a longstanding gap in the Strip's southern corridor where vacant land had drawn criticism from tourism officials and neighboring property owners alike, and the approved resort adds both lodging capacity and entertainment options that complement existing attractions at Mandalay Bay and Luxor. Project documents filed with the county list a total investment exceeding several hundred million dollars, with financing secured through a combination of equity from Kulik River Capital and traditional construction lending arranged through major financial institutions.

Conclusion

The unanimous approval marks a significant step forward for a parcel that had remained dormant despite multiple prior attempts, and the reuse of SkyVue infrastructure combined with the distinctive heart-shaped facade gives the project a unique identity within the competitive Las Vegas market. County records confirm that all required revisions for FAA compliance have been incorporated, and construction is anticipated to proceed according to the submitted schedule once remaining permits are finalized. The resort will expand options for visitors seeking integrated gaming, dining, and convention facilities at the south end of the Strip, and the project stands as one of the larger single-site developments approved in Clark County during the current cycle.