Heart-Shaped Casino Resort Earns Clark County Approval on Former SkyVue Site

Clark County commissioners granted approval for a 29-story heart-shaped casino resort that will occupy the long-abandoned SkyVue Ferris wheel site on the south Las Vegas Strip directly across from Mandalay Bay, and the project will feature 752 rooms along with convention space, a gaming floor, restaurants, and retail outlets while repurposing the original Ferris wheel pillars as the base for a suspended restaurant. The developer, Eli Applebaum acting through Kulik River Capital, completed the purchase of the nearly 12-acre parcel for $70 million during the spring, and commissioners reviewed the plans during a public meeting where they examined site layout, traffic flow, and structural integration with the existing pillars that once supported the Ferris wheel structure.

Project Specifications and Design Elements

The heart-shaped tower rises 29 stories above the parcel and contains 752 guest rooms distributed across multiple floors, while the overall footprint incorporates dedicated convention facilities sized to accommodate large-scale events, a central gaming floor with standard table and slot configurations, several restaurant outlets, and retail spaces positioned along ground-level promenades. Designers plan to retain the original Ferris wheel pillars and convert them into structural supports for a suspended restaurant that will hang above the main entrance plaza, creating a visual landmark that echoes the site's earlier use while adding a new dining experience. The parcel sits on the south end of the Strip, and the heart-shaped silhouette was chosen to differentiate the property from neighboring resorts while complying with Clark County height and setback requirements already in place for that zoning district.

Developer Acquisition and Timeline

Eli Applebaum secured the land through Kulik River Capital in a transaction finalized this spring at a purchase price of $70 million, and the company moved forward with detailed architectural submissions that Clark County staff reviewed before the commissioners' vote. County records show the site had remained vacant since the SkyVue Ferris wheel project ended years earlier, leaving the steel pillars standing as the primary visible remnant of that earlier development attempt. With approval now secured, the developer can proceed to final engineering reviews and permitting stages, although specific groundbreaking or opening dates have not yet been released in public documents.

Site Context and Surrounding Developments

The nearly 12-acre parcel lies on the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard directly opposite Mandalay Bay, placing it within an established corridor of large-scale resorts and entertainment venues that already draw heavy visitor traffic. Clark County planners noted that the proposed resort's convention space and gaming floor align with existing land-use designations for the area, and the suspended restaurant concept was presented as a way to preserve a portion of the site's history while adding a distinctive amenity. Observers who follow Strip development patterns have seen similar adaptive reuse of legacy structures on other parcels, and the current approval continues that approach by incorporating the Ferris wheel pillars rather than removing them entirely.

Regulatory Process and Next Steps

Commissioners examined traffic studies, parking allocations, and utility connection plans before granting the permit, and the approval allows the project to advance through subsequent Clark County building department reviews without requiring additional zoning changes. The process followed standard procedures for major resort developments on the Strip, where applicants submit detailed site plans and receive public comment before final votes occur. With the permit in hand, Kulik River Capital can now coordinate with contractors on foundation work and pillar reinforcement, although the company has not disclosed an estimated construction duration in materials released to date.

Conclusion

The Clark County approval marks a clear step forward for the heart-shaped resort on the former SkyVue site, and the project will bring 752 rooms, extensive convention facilities, gaming, dining, and retail to a long-vacant parcel while giving new purpose to the historic Ferris wheel pillars. Eli Applebaum and Kulik River Capital completed the $70 million land acquisition earlier this spring, positioning the development for further design finalization and eventual construction once remaining permits are secured. The south Strip location across from Mandalay Bay places the resort within a high-traffic corridor already served by major hospitality properties, and the heart-shaped design together with the suspended restaurant concept will create a recognizable addition to the Las Vegas skyline.