Clark County Commissioners Clear Path for Heart-Shaped Casino Resort on Former SkyVue Site

Clark County commissioners granted approval for a 29-story heart-shaped casino resort that will feature 752 rooms on the long-abandoned SkyVue Ferris wheel site along the south Las Vegas Strip directly across from Mandalay Bay, and this decision marks a significant step forward for the nearly 12-acre parcel that had remained undeveloped for years.

The developer Eli Applebaum through Kulik River Capital acquired the property for $70 million during the spring, while the project scope encompasses convention space alongside a gaming floor, multiple restaurants and retail outlets, and the plan calls for repurposing the existing Ferris wheel pillars into a suspended restaurant that will hang above the site.

Project Specifications and Design Elements

Plans detail a structure that rises 29 stories in a distinctive heart formation, which integrates 752 guest rooms with extensive convention facilities, a full gaming floor, dining venues, and retail spaces, and the design incorporates the original Ferris wheel pillars to create the suspended restaurant that will serve as a signature feature visible from surrounding areas on the Strip.

Commissioners reviewed the proposal and issued the necessary permits after evaluating zoning requirements and development guidelines, while the location benefits from its position on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip where foot traffic and visitor access remain consistent throughout the year.

Site Background and Acquisition Details

The parcel sat unused following the failure of the SkyVue Ferris wheel project that once occupied the space, and the purchase by Kulik River Capital through Eli Applebaum established the foundation for the new resort that will transform the long-vacant land into an active hospitality and entertainment destination.

Records show the transaction closed at $70 million for the nearly 12 acres, and the approval process advanced through Clark County channels during the summer period that included activity in July 2026 when final permitting steps received confirmation.

Development Components and Integration Plans

The resort will combine lodging with convention capabilities and gaming operations under one roof, while restaurants and retail areas are positioned to serve both overnight guests and day visitors, and the reuse of the Ferris wheel pillars adds a unique structural element that connects the new build to the site's prior history without requiring additional foundation work.

Construction timelines remain subject to standard permitting follow-ups, yet the county approval clears the primary regulatory hurdle that had delayed progress on the property since the Ferris wheel project ended, and observers note the strategic placement across from Mandalay Bay positions the resort within an established corridor of major Strip properties.

Regulatory Path and County Review

Clark County officials conducted reviews that addressed traffic patterns, building height restrictions and land use compatibility before issuing approval, and the process aligned with existing frameworks that govern large-scale developments along the Las Vegas Strip corridor, and the outcome allows the developer to proceed with detailed engineering and design finalization.

According to information from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, licensing requirements for the gaming floor will follow separate state-level procedures that typically run parallel to county permitting, and this dual-track approach ensures both local zoning and gaming regulations receive full compliance before operations begin.

Conclusion

The approved plans outline a comprehensive resort that will occupy the former SkyVue location with a 29-story heart-shaped tower containing 752 rooms plus supporting amenities including convention space, gaming facilities, restaurants and retail, while the suspended restaurant concept reuses the original Ferris wheel pillars as a central design feature, and the $70 million acquisition by Eli Applebaum through Kulik River Capital sets the stage for redevelopment of the 12-acre south Strip parcel across from Mandalay Bay following the July 2026 permitting milestone from Clark County commissioners.