Clark County Commissioners Approve Heart-Shaped Casino Resort on Las Vegas Strip

Clark County commissioners granted unanimous approval in July 2026 for a 752-room, 29-story casino resort featuring a distinctive heart-shaped glass facade with LED displays, and the project will occupy the long-vacant south Las Vegas Strip site once intended for the failed SkyVue observation wheel, while developer Eli Applebaum through Kulik River Capital plans to integrate existing concrete support columns into an elevated sky venue restaurant.

Project Details and Site Location

The resort will include a casino floor along with restaurants, retail spaces, a pool deck, entertainment areas, convention facilities, and parking structures, and the design reuses remnants from the 2012-era unfinished wheel project after the developer secured FAA approval following height reductions that kept the structure within aviation safety parameters.

Those who reviewed the plans note that the heart-shaped facade will incorporate LED displays capable of dynamic visual programming, and the elevated sky venue restaurant will sit atop the repurposed concrete columns that have stood idle for over a decade on the prominent Strip location.

Background on the Vacant Site

The south Las Vegas Strip parcel remained undeveloped after the SkyVue observation wheel project stalled, and county records show multiple previous proposals failed to advance beyond initial planning stages, yet the current plan advances by leveraging the existing foundation elements to reduce new construction requirements.

Observers note that the site sits in a high-traffic corridor where several major resorts already operate, and the addition of this property could connect pedestrian pathways between established properties and new amenities.

Developer Plans and Components

Eli Applebaum of Kulik River Capital outlined a mixed-use approach that combines gaming with hospitality and leisure options, and the project will feature multiple dining venues, retail outlets, and entertainment programming designed to attract both tourists and local visitors throughout the year.

Convention space forms a key element of the proposal, allowing the resort to host meetings and events that complement the casino floor operations, while the pool area and additional entertainment zones provide outdoor and performance-based attractions that extend guest experiences beyond traditional gaming activities.

Regulatory Approvals and Modifications

The Federal Aviation Administration reviewed and approved the reduced height configuration, and Clark County officials confirmed that the modifications addressed all height-related concerns while preserving the distinctive architectural elements that define the heart-shaped facade.

County planning documents indicate that the reuse of the 2012 concrete columns satisfies structural and environmental review criteria, and the approach minimizes material waste by incorporating the unfinished remnants directly into the new sky venue restaurant design.

Timeline and Next Steps

Following the July 2026 approval, the developer will proceed with final engineering reviews and permitting processes, and construction timelines will depend on coordination between Kulik River Capital, county departments, and utility providers along the Strip corridor.

Project updates shared with county staff suggest phased development that begins with foundation work around the existing columns before vertical construction advances toward the 29-story height.

Conclusion

The approval marks a significant step for the long-dormant site, and the combination of gaming, dining, retail, and convention facilities positions the resort to contribute to the broader Las Vegas Strip ecosystem once construction concludes.