The $12 Billion Mega-Resort That Was Supposed to Replace the Strip — Now It's Abandoned
Old Vegas Legends
42,290 views
There is a sixty-seven story tower sitting on the Las Vegas Strip right now that cost more to build than the entire GDP of some small nations. At its peak, thirty-three hundred workers showed up every single day to pour concrete, hang glass, and wire the future. Then one morning, the cranes stopped. The workers went home. And for over a decade, that tower just stood there, empty, unfinished, staring down at the Strip like a ghost that didn't know it was dead. This is the story of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
19 Comments
@Bekindloveis 7 months ago
Thanks for interesting story 👍🏻 i feel sorry for the original boss who built it only to file for bankruptcy due to the economic crash that derailed his ambitious project 😳
@RichardCChandler 7 months ago
Why th hell was this posted two hours ago, when Fontaine Blue was finished two years ago?
@hrmQEII 7 months ago
It'd be nice if the commentator had taken the time to learn how to pronounce the name of the hotel correctly.
@llundber 7 months ago
So the Miami Beach one ribs you blind the minute you approach it with outrageous parking fees, drink prices and insane nightclub charges.
This can’t be any better given how hopeless Vegas has become.
This can’t be any better given how hopeless Vegas has become.
@chipliddiard4313 5 months ago (edited)
It’s the North side. Isolated …Long ways to go anywhere else…But the views are nice …😊 The casino and open areas are amazing. Food is the best.
@paulkranz6852 7 months ago
it was a 17 year scam by the banks, builders and money mongers, soon to file bankruptcy and create some more money for the lawyers...
@angelapitt5772 7 months ago
I was never a fan of Vegas, and never had desires to go there, and probably never will. Your well narrated and engrossing stories have drawn me in. I appreciate a well-told story. Thank you!
@jroar123 3 months ago
You missed a very important point. Or, should I say phase to this story. Actually two very important items to also consider. One is that it’s a boutique property sitting in an area not very desirable for the ultra rich costumer it’s trying to lure inside their doors. The place is close to the Las Vegas Convention Center but at $400 per night, even conventioneers and their host companies are reluctant to stay there. The rooms are unimpressive and I have also read that the property has cleaning issues, which means bad management or ownership. The property wants to fall in line to impress whales yet it looks more like catfish don’t feel welcome. This Moby Dick Casino Mentality killed Primm Nevada. It killed several Casinos around Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson. And now it has its hooks on the Strip with the Tropicana falling to fishy business. All New York Management can think about is sports in a town designed around gaming. Get them in the door with cheap rooms, cheap yet quality food, free and convenient parking, lively atmosphere where a $10 dollar win was celebrated with high fives, bells, whistles, and happy people casting their line in the water for tug on their pocketbook line. It didn’t matter if they didn’t win as long as they didn’t lose to fast and had a fun time doing it. Fontainebleau Las Vegas was built for big money yet that money isn’t stupid money. They too are looking for that middle class high energy fun place to gamble. Without that energy, you might as well be fishing in a drained pond. The property has the wrong business model as do all the new casinos up and down the strip. Before they figure it out, they will have destroyed enough properties that might have been able to turn everything around to save the day. That tipping point is very close and yet these New York City managers don’t know how to fish or cut bait. Instead they will keep thinking big during low tide and not catching anything. Look for Circus Circus to be next. New York Hotel and Casino, The Luxor, the Flamingo will go, Excalibur, are just a few that don’t work in the new casino sports complex model.
The other problem is trying to fish in a dessert. Lake Mead and the Colorado river system is dying at an incredible rate. Before you know it, water will cost as much as a bucket of live shrimp. Tier 2 water restrictions were reached last week and the Lake Level is down another foot and a half from that. It’s going to die leaving the Las Vegas entire valley with the choice of charging $24.00 for a bottle of water, (o wait, they already are doing that one) or shipping water in by rail. Sure there is the third straw (intake at the bottom of the lake) but as the water level falls, the remaining water will be contaminated with heavy metals and sludge that the current water filtration system can’t remove at this time. It would cost a few more hundred million dollars to upgrade the current plant capabilities. The bottom line is that there aren’t any tall pine trees in the dessert for a reason. The same reason why there shouldn’t be any 60 story buildings there either. Fontainebleau Las Vegas has many challenges that are and aren’t their fault. Yes they can change their business model and become a warm friendly casino that likes to see asses in the seats while feeding money into the machines. I would go as far as to bring back nickel and quarter machines for that down to earth feel on the casino floor. Stop resort fees, hidden charges, expensive food, parking fees, and over prices shows. Extend the monorail to join up with the airport and stop charging people for the ride. That will bring in thousands of players alone. And, send them back with wonderful memories even if they didn’t win. Happy memories are always a win.
The other problem is trying to fish in a dessert. Lake Mead and the Colorado river system is dying at an incredible rate. Before you know it, water will cost as much as a bucket of live shrimp. Tier 2 water restrictions were reached last week and the Lake Level is down another foot and a half from that. It’s going to die leaving the Las Vegas entire valley with the choice of charging $24.00 for a bottle of water, (o wait, they already are doing that one) or shipping water in by rail. Sure there is the third straw (intake at the bottom of the lake) but as the water level falls, the remaining water will be contaminated with heavy metals and sludge that the current water filtration system can’t remove at this time. It would cost a few more hundred million dollars to upgrade the current plant capabilities. The bottom line is that there aren’t any tall pine trees in the dessert for a reason. The same reason why there shouldn’t be any 60 story buildings there either. Fontainebleau Las Vegas has many challenges that are and aren’t their fault. Yes they can change their business model and become a warm friendly casino that likes to see asses in the seats while feeding money into the machines. I would go as far as to bring back nickel and quarter machines for that down to earth feel on the casino floor. Stop resort fees, hidden charges, expensive food, parking fees, and over prices shows. Extend the monorail to join up with the airport and stop charging people for the ride. That will bring in thousands of players alone. And, send them back with wonderful memories even if they didn’t win. Happy memories are always a win.
@sp4604 7 months ago
vegas destroye its history to piss everyone off with stipod pipe dreams that rip everyone off. that city is RUINED
@dgrn101 7 months ago
In America iron worker pull up on job. At Fontainebleau job pull up on iron worker
@KruzinKanuck 2 months ago
And now it loses $400,000.00 PER DAY.. Will soon be closed again, and sold for 5 cents on the dollar, AGAIN
The $12 Billion Mega-Resort That Was Supposed to Replace the Strip — Now It's Abandoned
Old Vegas Legends
42,290 views
There is a sixty-seven story tower sitting on the Las Vegas Strip right now that cost more to build than the entire GDP of some small nations. At its peak, thirty-three hundred workers showed up every single day to pour concrete, hang glass, and wire the future. Then one morning, the cranes stopped. The workers went home. And for over a decade, that tower just stood there, empty, unfinished, staring down at the Strip like a ghost that didn't know it was dead. This is the story of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.