Clark County Commissioners Approve Heart-Shaped Casino Resort at Former SkyVue Site
Clark County commissioners gave unanimous approval to plans for a 752-room casino resort that will rise on the long-vacant SkyVue site along the south Las Vegas Strip and developers expect construction to begin later in 2026 after final permits clear.
Eli Applebaum through Kulik River Capital acquired the prominent parcel earlier in 2026 for 70 million dollars and the project now moves forward following reductions in tower height that secured Federal Aviation Administration clearance.
Project Overview and Key Features
The 29-story tower will feature a distinctive heart-shaped glass facade equipped with LED displays while the interior layout includes a full casino floor along with multiple restaurants, retail outlets, convention space, and an elevated sky venue restaurant that will incorporate the two remaining concrete support columns from the earlier SkyVue observation wheel project.
Those columns stand as the only physical remnants of the previous development attempt and the new design integrates them directly into the sky venue structure to create a visual link between past and present plans for the same location.
Site History and Acquisition
The south Las Vegas Strip parcel sat unfinished for years after the SkyVue observation wheel project stalled and left the two support columns standing as markers of the incomplete work; the new owners purchased the site in 2026 and immediately began redesign efforts that reduced overall height to meet aviation safety requirements.
Commissioners reviewed updated architectural drawings during their July 2026 meeting and voted without dissent to move the project ahead once the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the revised dimensions posed no interference with flight paths near Harry Reid International Airport.
Development Timeline and Regulatory Steps
After the purchase closed earlier in 2026 the development team submitted revised plans that lowered the tower profile and added the heart-shaped facade element along with the sky venue concept; the Clark County Commission then conducted its standard public hearing process before granting approval in a single session.
Observers note the FAA review concluded successfully once engineers documented the reduced height and lighting specifications while county staff confirmed the project aligns with existing zoning for gaming and hospitality uses on that stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard.
The approval clears the way for site preparation and foundation work to start before the end of the year although full opening remains several years away as construction crews address the existing concrete columns and integrate them into the new sky venue restaurant.
Planned Amenities and Design Elements
Inside the tower guests will find 752 guest rooms plus a casino floor sized for table games and slot machines along with restaurants offering varied cuisines, retail shops, and dedicated convention meeting rooms; the elevated sky venue will sit atop the structure and offer panoramic views while preserving the historic support columns as architectural features.
The heart-shaped glass exterior incorporates programmable LED panels that can display dynamic content visible from the Strip and from Mandalay Bay across the boulevard creating a signature visual element that distinguishes the property from neighboring resorts.
Conclusion
With unanimous county approval now in hand and FAA clearance secured the project led by Eli Applebaum and Kulik River Capital stands ready to transform the long-vacant SkyVue parcel into a 752-room resort that blends new construction with remnants of the earlier observation wheel attempt and the development team continues to finalize engineering details ahead of groundbreaking later in 2026.