Clark County Commissioners Approve Heart-Shaped Resort Project on Former SkyVue Land
Written by Vera Franke · Jul 24, 2026
Clark County Commissioners Approve Heart-Shaped Resort Project on Former SkyVue Land
Clark County commissioners gave unanimous approval to a 752-room hotel-casino resort planned for the long-vacant SkyVue site at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip across from Mandalay Bay, and the decision clears the way for developer Eli Applebaum through Kulik River Capital to move forward with construction on the roughly 12-acre parcel purchased this spring for 70 million dollars.
The 29-story project includes a casino floor along with restaurants, retail outlets, a pool deck, entertainment facilities, more than 42,000 square feet of convention space, and a parking garage, while the most distinctive element remains the heart-shaped glass facade fitted with a large LED display that will serve as a visual landmark for visitors traveling the Strip.
Site History and Design Adaptations
Developers chose to incorporate the unfinished concrete columns left from the failed SkyVue observation wheel erected in 2012 into an elevated sky venue restaurant, a move that reuses existing infrastructure while meeting new height limits imposed by Federal Aviation Administration requirements after earlier plans faced regulatory review.
The columns now form part of the structural framework for the restaurant level rather than supporting a massive wheel, and this adjustment allowed the overall building height to comply with airspace regulations without sacrificing the core amenities outlined in the approved plans.
Project Components and Location Advantages
The resort sits on a high-visibility stretch of the Strip where traffic patterns already support heavy visitor flow, and the combination of convention space with standard gaming and hospitality offerings positions the property to attract both leisure and business travelers throughout the year.
Restaurants and retail areas will occupy ground and lower levels while the pool and entertainment zones occupy upper decks, creating layered experiences that keep guests on site for extended periods and the parking garage addresses vehicle access directly from the main thoroughfare.
Observers note that the heart-shaped facade with its integrated LED display will provide dynamic visual content visible from multiple directions, and this feature aligns with other large-scale properties that use digital signage to draw attention during evening hours when Strip traffic peaks.
Approval Process and Developer Background
The unanimous vote by Clark County commissioners followed standard review procedures that examined traffic impact, zoning compliance, and FAA height restrictions, and the process concluded with formal approval that now allows Kulik River Capital to advance permitting and groundbreaking timelines.
Eli Applebaum has guided the project through site acquisition and design revisions, while the reuse of the 2012 columns demonstrates an effort to reduce new material requirements and integrate remnants of the prior development into the current concept.
Timeline and Next Steps
With approval secured, the developer can proceed to detailed engineering and construction scheduling, and the project is expected to contribute additional room inventory and entertainment options to the southern Strip corridor once completed.
Local planning documents indicate that construction activities will follow standard Las Vegas building codes, and the inclusion of convention space reflects ongoing demand from trade shows adn corporate events that seek proximity to major resorts like Mandalay Bay.
Conclusion
The approved plans outline a self-contained resort that combines lodging, gaming, dining, and meeting facilities on a single parcel, and the distinctive facade along with the repurposed observation wheel columns give the project a unique identity within the broader Las Vegas Strip landscape. Data from county records confirm the 70 million dollar site purchase and the 752-room count, while the 29-story height reflects adjustments made to satisfy aviation guidelines. The project now moves into the construction phase with all primary entitlements in place.