Ambitious Las Vegas Projects That Never Became Reality
The dazzling lights and majestic skyline of Las Vegas are the result of bold ideas and cutting-edge developments. Yet, for every hotel and casino that graces the Strip, there are many grand projects that never materialized. Here, we explore some of the most extraordinary Las Vegas developments that remained only blueprints and dreams.
The Unbuilt Voyager Big Wheel
Before the High Roller became a Las Vegas icon, Voyager had its sights set on giving the city its own massive Ferris wheel—rivaling the famous London Eye. In 2003, the first proposal was tied to the Rio and included not only the $86 million observation wheel but also a nightspot at its core. Although this idea failed, Voyager was undeterred and pitched a second, more elaborate plan for the 27-acre site of the former Wet n’ Wild water park. This wheel would anchor a new Palace of the Sea Resort and Casino. Despite the big vision, both concepts ultimately stalled before construction could begin.
Beverly Hillbillies-Inspired Resort in Reno
Among the most eccentric Vegas-adjacent plans was actor Max Baer’s dream resort, inspired by his character “Jethro” from the classic TV show, The Beverly Hillbillies. Baer aimed to construct a themed hotel in Reno complete with an oil derrick and a restaurant styled after Granny’s kitchen. While not fitting the typical Vegas glitz, the idea illustrated the city’s penchant for unique and imaginative concepts, though this one never came to life.
London Resort and Casino: Bringing Britain to the Strip
Las Vegas is renowned for its international-themed resorts, from the Egyptian opulence of Caesars to the Venetian canals. The city nearly added a London-inspired casino to its mix. If completed, the London Resort and Casino would have featured a replica of the Millennium Wheel, a version of the famous Harrods department store, and its own Piccadilly Circus. Proposals for a Strip location opposite the Luxor, and later at the old El Rancho site, both failed to take off beyond the planning stages.
The Unfulfilled Dream of Desert Kingdom
Following ITT/Sheraton’s purchase of the Desert Inn site in 1993, ambitious proposals emerged to revitalize the storied property. The centerpiece was a Bali-themed resort named Desert Kingdom, designed to envelop the historic inn and blend heritage with new attractions. Sadly, financial and operational challenges meant the Desert Kingdom vision never moved forward. Instead, the site found new life as Wynn Las Vegas.
The Planet Hollywood That Almost Was
Today, Planet Hollywood glitters on South Las Vegas Boulevard. However, before its 2007 reopening at its current spot, its future was very much in doubt. One particularly imaginative phase considered building Planet Hollywood on the former Desert Inn site, with architecture that looked more like a sci-fi movie scene than a Las Vegas landmark. Ultimately, those fantastical designs were shelved in favor of the familiar, entertainment-driven destination visitors see today.
The Titanic Resort: An Ambition Sunk Before It Set Sail
After Titanic’s box office triumph and critical acclaim in 1997, casino mogul Bob Stupak proposed an enormous RMS Titanic-themed resort in downtown Vegas. Plans envisioned a 1,200-room hotel, including time-share units as part of its funding structure. However, both city council opposition and subsequent rejections for a Strip location meant this ambitious tribute to the ill-fated ship failed to ever dock in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Plaza: The Lost Billion-Dollar Replacement
When Phil Ruffin sold the New Frontier in 2007 for $1.2 billion, it seemed a new era would dawn on the property. The planned $5 billion Las Vegas Plaza would have replaced the demolished hotel, but construction never commenced. The site later changed hands at a sharp loss, with Crown Resorts acquiring it for $280 million—leaving El-Ad Group with a $900 million deficit and another unfinished dream for the Strip’s north end.
Fountainbleau Las Vegas: The Tower That Still Waits
No other structure so starkly symbolizes Las Vegas’s cycle of hope and heartbreak as the Fountainbleau Las Vegas. Purchased by Turnberry Associates in 2000, the $2.9 billion development was under construction by 2007. Just two years later, an abrupt loss of $800 million in financing left the project 70% complete. Carl Icahn bought the unfinished building in 2010 but never moved to complete or demolish it, leaving Vegas visitors with a towering reminder of big risks and bigger losses.
BYD’s Echelon Palace: Stardust Site’s Lost Opportunity
Boyd Gaming’s vision for the site of the former Stardust Resort was a $4 billion luxury development named Echelon Palace. The classic Stardust was demolished to make way, but the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 quickly unraveled the financing behind the ambitious project. In the end, Boyd Gaming sold the property to Genting Group in 2013 for $350 million, resulting in a $994 million loss for the company. Like many others on this list, Echelon Palace never moved from concept to cornerstone.
Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving Las Vegas Skyline
Las Vegas has always thrived on innovation and spectacle, but as these stories show, not every dream project becomes a reality. From colossal observation wheels to lavish themed resorts, the city is as much about the visionaries who dare to dream as the grand hotels that rise from the desert floor. For every iconic structure, there’s a tale of what might have been—serving as a reminder that in Las Vegas, the greatest gamble is sometimes the one you don’t see.
