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Caesars Entertainment
Round and round: An artist’s rendering of the High Roller observation wheel.
By Conor Shine (contact) 
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | 4:01 p.m.
As she prepared to vote on a zoning commission item Wednesday morning, Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani asked the presenter an innocuous final question.
“What is the London Thrill? It’s not another Ferris wheel is it?” she said with a hint of disdain in her voice.
Standing in front of the podium, Eric Smithers, who represents the site’s owners, responded with a sheepish laugh: “It’s an observation wheel.”
“But it’s more than just that,” he quickly followed. “That’s one component of an entire park.”
Indeed, a third observation wheel could be coming to the Las Vegas Strip, joining the under-construction 500-foot tall wheel near Mandalay Bay and the 550-foot tall wheel at Caesars Entertainment’s Linq project, which continues to grow skyward behind the Quad casino.
The third wheel would be built on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard south of Harmon Avenue, in a spot currently occupied by parking and several retail stores, including a McDonald’s, a liquor store and a Tasti D-Lite.
The wheel would be part of a “London-themed thrill park,” and the project would cost about $50 million, according to testimony given to commissioners by Smithers and his attorney.
After the hearing, Smithers declined to reveal further details about the project. Any plans for an observation wheel would have to first be approved by the county.
Giunchigliani seemed skeptical of the viability of three observation wheels on the Strip.
“We’ve got to get past this stuff where someone comes in and says ‘I’ve got an idea du jour and we have to have four stadiums competing with each other and four of these and three of these,’” she said.
Details about the attraction were revealed as part of a request to allow temporary outdoor retail structures at the site until construction begins.
Smithers said the owner has acquired a parcel stretching from the Smith & Wollensky’s to the corner of Harmon Avenue and plan to make improvements to the entire area.
The commission voted to allow the developer to put five retail structures in the parking lot in front of the existing building for up to six months.
Commissioner Mary Beth Scow, whose district covers the southern part of the Strip, said she’s normally opposed to outdoor retail sales because they impede traffic and create clutter. But she said she voted to approve Smithers’ request because of future plans at the site.
“The fact that it’s a new owner and that you’re really going to do something wonderful on this property, we want to reward good behavior,” Scow said.
I'm all for the new Observation Wheel project. It's bring some much needed construction jobs and a short term boost to employment. Having said that, Clark County should require an escrow account with enough cash set aside for the Ferris wheel's eventual dismantling. The city of Las Vegas has enough vacant and abandoned eyesores.
Now watch the huge campaign donations roll in to these County Commissioners from Caesars/Harrahs....trying to pressure the commissioners to not permit the competition.
The market decides if a project is viable or not. Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani should just do her job and listen and vote to move forward based on the qualifications already satisfied by the applicant.
The 3rd wheel has a problem. Location. Location. Location. The second wheel is questionable as well. Same problem. Caesar's will succeed.
Only one wheel will eventually get built. And it's the one that's halfway up now. Why does anyone even waste their time when it's clear that only one will work?
Honestly, this project they are wanting to do has the best location of the three. They have the highest traffic count and the most rooms around them.
Will it happen? No. Not this time around.
Ferris Wheels and nightclubs. This is what Vegas has become. Sad
Here's the attitude from one of our supposedly business "friendly" CC Commissioners that upsets me: "We've got to get past this stuff where someone comes in and says 'I've got an idea du jour and we have to have four stadiums competing with each other and four of these and three of these,'" Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said. Well, Mrs. Gray, if private investors are willing to take a chance with their money, why is it your business to throw cold water on their projects? Is it that these folks are not "favorites" of yours? Haven't sucked up to you with oodles of cash or don't know the "right" people? The object is to get as many businesses off the ground as possible so as there are jobs (remember those, Mrs. Gray?) for folks who desperately need them! We don't elect Emperors or Kings; we elect servants of the people. Try keeping that in mind, Mrs. Gray!
As long as they keep the liquor store I'm cool with it...
Absolutely no creative ideas!
I haven't met a County Commissioner other than Larry Brown who I would let run a 7-11 for me. The idea that any of them would lecture the casinos on what sort of amenities they should offer is beyond laughable.
Isn't this third wheel very close to the other one near Mandalay?
3 of these wheels at nearly the same end of the strip, i dunno. unless the economy rebounds and/or vegas creates more wallet-friendly venues for the average person, (seems like everything is now geared to the well-healed, or the ones who want to pretend to be rolling in dough), i see only the linq venue being ultimately sucessful. all will create jobs but overkill will eventually rule the day. i think it would be better to build one at the other end nearer to the failed echelon or fountainebleau sites.
Market oversaturation seems to be the real trend happening here in Nevada's Clark County!
Tell me please, are these projects SUSTAINABLE?
Answer THAT question first, then proceed. Thank you!
Blessings and Peace,
Star