Former Park Place executive leading Turnberry casino development effort

David Strow

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 | 11:44 a.m.

Paul Pusateri, one of the key men in the development of the Paris Las Vegas hotel-casino, has joined Florida-based Turnberry Associates in its efforts to develop a London-themed resort on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip.

"I've joined them to help with the development of a casino project on the El Rancho site," Pusateri said. "For other locations in town, I'm their point person, making introductions to help further their development plans."

Pusateri said he's also working with Turnberry on the development of its high-rise condominium projects, Turnberry Place and Madison Towers. Both are located on Paradise Road near the Las Vegas Hilton.

Pusateri declined to discuss the London plans filed with Clark County last month, saying "I'm hopeful that further announcements are imminent."

Pusateri was named president of Bally's Las Vegas in 1997. From this position, he was a leading figure in Park Place Entertainment Corp.'s development of the Paris Las Vegas, which opened in September 1999. Pusateri was president of both properties until he left Park Place in October.

Plans filed with the county indicate Turnberry is considering building a 2,047-room, 535-foot hotel and 90,000-square-foot casino at the El Rancho site. Themed after London, the resort would feature a replica of Big Ben larger than the actual landmark.

"Turnberry now has two legs of a four-leg stool ... land and management talent," said gaming analyst Andrew Zarnett of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown. "They still have to raise equity and expand the management team.

"He was a terrific developer and he did a great job working with Arthur Goldberg (late chief executive of Park Place) to take Paris from a concept to a well-run property. This will be a great challenge and a great new project for him to work on."