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Construction workers pour the foundation for the SkyVue observation wheel across the Strip from Mandalay Bay on Thursday, March 1, 2012.
By Jackie Valley (contact) 
Published Thursday, March 1, 2012 | 9:28 a.m.
Updated Thursday, March 1, 2012 | 3:14 p.m.
VEGAS INC: Sky Vue Development
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On Thursday the foundation is scheduled to be poured on what's being billed as the largest observation wheel in the Western hemisphere. Soaring 500 feet in the air and scheduled to open in July 2013, Sky Vue is slated to be the first component of an amusement park across the street from the Mandalay Bay.
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Noise from 130 concrete trucks filled the predawn air Thursday as construction workers poured the foundation for the 500-foot SkyVue observation wheel across from Mandalay Bay.
The five-hour process, which began at 2 a.m., sets the stage for building the $200 million project that will change the landscape of the southern Las Vegas Strip.
Developer Howard Bulloch said passersby would see the wheel take shape this summer but the venue won’t open until July 2013.
“We have to build the wheel first before we build the retail building below,” he said.
The retail portion will include seven food-court options, five sit-down restaurants and a dozen stores ranging from clothing outfitters to electronics, Bulloch said. Developers declined to identify the establishments but said they would be recognizable names.
“If (tourists) come from the Midwest, they will know they want to eat here,” Bulloch said, hinting at the restaurants’ price point.
When the wheel is completed, it will be difficult for anyone to miss. The towering structure will feature 32 gondolas that each seat 24 people; a 50,000-square-foot LED sign will project from the wheel’s center.
A 30-minute ride will take visitors 50 feet higher than Mandalay Bay with views facing north on the Strip.
“That’s really what we’re offering to the visiting public — the most spectacular view of the Las Vegas Strip,” Bulloch said.
It won’t be the only view in town, though. Caesars Entertainment Corp. broke ground last year on its own construction site dubbed project “Linq,” which will include a 550-foot observation wheel in an entertainment district between the Imperial Palace and Flamingo resorts. It’s slated to open in the first half of 2013.
Bulloch and co-developer David Gaffin, however, aren’t concerned about the competition rising from the ground up the street.
“We’re directly on the Strip,” Bulloch said. “Everyone flying into and out of Las Vegas will see our wheel.”
Bulloch said he was working with “substantial sources,” which he didn’t identify, to secure financing for the project. He added he was “absolutely confident” the project would be financed. Bulloch and his co-developer are prepared to self-finance several phases of the project until they secure the remaining money, he said.
“That is why we started construction and made this commitment,” he said. “Ours will get financed, and it will get done.”
Admission to ride the SkyVue observation wheel — not to be confused with a carnival Ferris wheel — will be about $25 per person, with discounts for locals and military members, Bulloch said.
The project will employ roughly 700 people during the construction phase, followed by 500 full-time jobs once the venue is operational, said Keith Robertson, an engineering consultant with JKR & Associates.
The developers are “trying to use as many local contractors and subcontractors as possible,” Robertson said.
In the meantime, developers are busy planning future festivities at SkyVue, including a still-under-wraps New Year’s Eve bash.
“There will be special events designed for everything you can think of,” Robertson said.
Jeeez- Concrete trucks, not cement trucks.
How can they build this monstrosity so close to the airport?
It really has no impact on the airport landings or takeoffs. It's not far from the airport but is far removed from the sight lines of landing and takeoff. Nice projects. Hope they are successful.
i don't think this place will be a success.i visit vegas for recreation 3 times per year and a giant wheel and MORE unnecessary shopping will not attract me to come all the way down there. they should build a full water park with it, its a no brainer to bring back something the strip needs again,hot -Vegas -duh!wow a big wheel? it doesn't make any sense there of all places and they will probably charge 20 dollars per person anyway.
I don't get it. We have the Stratosphere, Caesars has begun construction on the Ling project which will have a ferris wheel, ( Ooops ), observation wheel, and now another observation gizzmo will be built on the south end, with more shops and dining. Doesn't make sense to me.
This is really bizarre. So not only will this thing be frighteningly close to the airport but we're going to have TWO of these things? Didn't Harrah's start work on their giant wheel this week?
Does the County just rubber stamp everything?
A water park is shuttered for at least 6-7 months out of the year. A water park is dumb. Even today, March 1, waaaay too cold to be at a water park. It was already tried on the strip and failed.
Tom,
Wet and Wild didn't fail. From what I understand, it was very successful, but the owner of the land refused to renew their lease so they could sell the land for a megaresort (which was never built). It had nothing to do with the profitability of the water park, just the greed of the landowners.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2...
They will not secure land at a reasonable price on the strip for a water park that is only open 5-6 months a year. Wet n wild was a "success" because it arrived before the boom of the mega resort (The Mirage). There already is a waterpark under construction near Boulder Highway...where land is a fraction of the Strip pricing. It's just not viable on the strip...shuttered for at least 6 months of the year. That's the reality. These developers on the strip need year round access. A water Park simply does not afford that. Plus, with the mega resort pools...parents now have a reason to stay at the pool with their children. All the strip resorts pools have become an entity of entertainment to themselves. In 1985 when wet n wild was built there was no such thing.
Wow, the Brainiacs posting here are concerned about the HEIGHT of the wheel??
Duhhhhh, how about Mandalay just across the street? Height not a problem there, is it?
Why would you pay $25 to ride this thing....when you could go to the top of Mandalay @ MIX for free. You can decide when to go and when to leave.
Who is going to want to ride that thing when it's 100+ out ?
If people will buy those ugly rocking fitness shoes they will buy anything. Have you seen the PumpPushUp on infomercial?. I'm sure that garbage is flying off the shelves and its $60 bucks.
I may be tripping, but with a 500ft colored wheel on each end the strip is going to look like a giant multicolored Indy car.
That is going to be one cool Veiw (or should I say Vue) of the strip and the airport with planes taking off.
That will also be be one heck of a welcome to Vegas statement with that big led sign also.
As for anyone wondering who will ride the thing, let me answer it for you. ME! This is Vegas Baby!
Not worth spending 25 dollars a ticket, better views can be had from the Strat and you can take as long as you like.
I think the one thing in this story that tells me this project is doomed is the developer's statement that "people from the midwest will recoginze the names of the restaurants and want to eat there". The first sign of arrogance is "people from the midwest", as if they are some kind of rubes. My belief is that people don't go to vacation destinations so they can do the same things they do at home or eat the same food they can get at home.
I live in Oklahoma, we have over 70 casinos here, more than any state except Nevada. I go to Las Vegas 4 times a year because the casinos are DIFFERENT! I don't want the stuff I can get at home in Las Vegas. I don't think I want to eat at Dave & Buster's, Chili's or Sonic. I want In-N-Out and Hash House A Go-Go.
I helped build the foundation for the balloon ride at the same exact location. That was susposed to be a money maker until the wind problems came along. Hopefully the winds don't play havoc with this also. I remember the big swing at the MGM Theme Park. That was a bust. I don't think locals will pay too much to ride this amusement park ride with the economy so bad. Definitely not $25.
OK people. lets look at the numbers. 34 cars with 24 people at 25 bucks a head equals 19,200 for a 30 minute ride. thats 38,400 per hour & 921,600 bucks a day at full capacity which brings in 336 million a year. even if runs at an average of 50% thats still over 160 mil/a year. now you know how they secured the financing for a 200 mil project. this doesnt even take into account the monies they get for rent on the retail space. (this should be a $15 ride)
i'm sure, like most businesses in vegas, they wont pay their employees over 10 bucks an hour with NO health care or benefits as they will be 'part time' jobs(right to work state) and if all else fails they will just file bankruptcy & make a pretty penny on the what they already paid themselves.
just a hunch.
I don't know how many visitors are first time visitors, however I expect that most are repeat visitors. I look at this as a Once and Your Done type of thing. So over time the attraction will loose value. Unless you want to go on it on one of those 50MPH wind gust days for a totally different experience. However I wish them well they are employing people,
I'm also tired of seeing the Hospitality Industry switching to Part Time No Benefits Employees. It's time to get rid of The Right To Work Laws and Unionize for Decent Paying Jobs with Benefits. When the Casino Owners have Billions and give Tens of Millions to Politicians, I really don't want to hear their POOR stories anymore. Pay the Employees who are making You Rich.
What are the names of the restaurants? Dont fill it up with more franchises please! Be original. Offer it to locally created food choices or even our new catering trucks would be better. Bring Vegas back, dont chase it away. Dont put a walgreens on the corner.
Why do we have two giant Ferris wheels at the south end of the strip?
Ben Lambert brought up a good question.....WIND GUSTS. Did they look back on previous years where wind gusts were 50mph or higher? Would that cause the wheel to shut down more then its open ? Someone else here asked if it was in the way of the airport...GOD !! I hope they did that study....or those people on the top of the wheel are going to get their MONIES WORTH !! They'll have to change the name to FRIGHT WHEEL.