Clark County Approves Heart-Shaped Casino Resort Plans for Abandoned SkyVue Site

Clark County commissioners granted approval for a 29-story heart-shaped casino resort that will occupy the long-vacant SkyVue Ferris wheel site on the south Las Vegas Strip across from Mandalay Bay, and the decision clears the way for a project that includes 752 rooms plus 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, operating through Kulik River Capital, completed the $70 million purchase, and that transaction set the stage for the new construction that will transform a site left idle after the Ferris wheel project stalled years ago.

Project Specifications and Design Elements

Plans call for a distinctive heart-shaped tower rising 29 stories above the Strip corridor, and the structure will house 752 guest rooms distributed across multiple floors while integrating public areas designed to attract both tourists and convention visitors. Observers note the architectural choice stands out against the more conventional rectangular towers that dominate the Las Vegas skyline, yet the design still incorporates standard gaming and hospitality components required for Strip properties.

Additional facilities include dedicated convention space capable of hosting large meetings, a full gaming floor with table games and slots, multiple restaurants offering varied cuisines, and retail outlets positioned to serve guests and passersby, and these elements combine to create a self-contained resort experience on the 12-acre footprint.

Site History and Previous Development Attempts

The parcel sat unused for years after the SkyVue Ferris wheel project failed to advance beyond its initial pillars, which remain visible on the property and will now be incorporated into the new resort as support for a suspended restaurant, and that reuse of existing infrastructure reduces some construction costs while preserving a visual landmark familiar to Strip visitors.

Previous attempts to develop the location encountered financing and regulatory hurdles that left the site dormant, but the current approval by Clark County commissioners removes the primary obstacle and allows Kulik River Capital to proceed with detailed engineering and permitting steps.

Developer Background and Acquisition Details

Eli Applebaum, through his firm Kulik River Capital, secured the land in a transaction finalized this spring for $70 million, and that purchase price reflects the strategic value of a large, centrally located parcel on the south Strip where available development sites have become increasingly scarce. Industry reports indicate the acquisition followed extended negotiations with previous owners who had held the property since the Ferris wheel plans collapsed.

County records show the commissioners reviewed traffic studies, environmental assessments and architectural renderings before granting the go-ahead, and those reviews confirmed the project meets zoning requirements for gaming and hospitality uses in the designated entertainment corridor.

Timeline Considerations and Regional Context

Construction timelines have not been publicly detailed beyond the initial approval phase, yet observers expect groundbreaking could occur once final engineering permits are secured, potentially aligning with broader Strip redevelopment activity that continues into 2026. The project joins several other hospitality initiatives moving forward along the corridor, and local officials have noted the addition of new room inventory and entertainment options supports ongoing tourism growth in the Las Vegas market.

Regulatory filings list the heart-shaped tower among the primary visual features that will distinguish the property, while the repurposed Ferris wheel pillars will serve both structural and thematic roles as the base for the elevated restaurant, and that element preserves a piece of the site's history within the new development.

Conclusion

The Clark County approval marks a concrete step forward for the long-dormant SkyVue parcel, and the combination of the heart-shaped tower design, integrated amenities and adaptive reuse of existing pillars positions the resort as a notable addition to the south Strip landscape once construction advances. According to detailed coverage of the permitting process, the project now moves into subsequent planning stages, while industry updates confirm the acquisition and design elements remain on track following the commissioners' decision.