The Xanadu Hotel: A Las Vegas Dream That Never Came True

The Xanadu Hotel: A Las Vegas Dream That Never Came True

The Xanadu Hotel and Casino, a proposed resort in Las Vegas, stands as one of the most ambitious projects in the city’s history that never came to fruition. Though the project was never built, it has remained a significant piece of Las Vegas lore, embodying the city’s daring approach to large-scale developments and bold architectural concepts. The Xanadu, conceived in the 1970s, was intended to become a signature destination on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, but despite all its potential, it was abandoned before construction even began. In this article, we will dive into the story behind Xanadu, from its conception to its eventual cancellation, and its lingering influence on future developments in the city.

The Vision for XanaduAdd New Post

In 1975, the idea of Xanadu was born when developers sought to capitalize on a 48.6-acre plot of land at 3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South, a location that today is home to the Excalibur Hotel and Casino. The area was considered prime real estate, poised for major development at the time. The Xanadu project was set to feature a $150-million, 1,755-room hotel and casino, making it one of the largest resorts on the Strip at the time. Its design and scale signaled the ambition to push Las Vegas into a new era of grandeur and excess.

The architectural vision behind Xanadu was spearheaded by Berton Charles Severson and Brian Walter Webb, two architects who were tasked with creating something that would rival the Strip’s existing landmarks. Their design for the Xanadu was nothing short of spectacular, featuring a massive pyramid structure that would house the hotel rooms. At its core was a grand atrium, a concept that would later become a hallmark of many Las Vegas resorts. This open, expansive interior space was meant to be a visual and functional centerpiece, linking the hotel with the casino and other amenities, and creating a sense of openness and scale.

The Xanadu was to be more than just another hotel and casino—it was to be a statement of luxury and modernity. The resort was expected to cater to a wide variety of guests, including both high rollers and families, offering upscale accommodations, entertainment, and dining experiences. It was part of the growing trend in Las Vegas to move beyond its gambling roots and into a more diversified entertainment and hospitality hub, appealing to a broader audience.

The Architects and Design

The design of the Xanadu was groundbreaking. The pyramid shape was a symbol of grandeur, something that would later become a hallmark of other resorts on the Strip, most notably the Luxor Hotel and Casino, which opened in 1993. The use of an atrium as the central feature of the resort was another innovative concept. This design element aimed to create a sense of space, both functional and dramatic, with guests being able to walk through vast open areas, admiring the resort’s scale.

Severson and Webb’s vision also included detailed considerations for the site’s landscaping and the overall ambiance of the resort. It was designed to make a powerful statement about the future of Las Vegas, a city that was moving away from its gritty, old-school image to something more refined and forward-thinking. The project’s original material—parchment sketches and detailed renderings—highlighted the grandiosity and attention to detail that the architects envisioned for Xanadu.

Why Xanadu Was Never Built

Despite its bold design and the excitement surrounding the project, Xanadu was never built. A combination of economic and financial factors led to the project’s abandonment. In the mid-1970s, Las Vegas was still in the midst of a period of economic instability, influenced by the energy crisis and a slowdown in tourism. These economic conditions made it difficult to secure financing for large-scale developments, and the Xanadu project struggled to find the financial backing needed to move forward.

Another factor in the project’s demise was the changing landscape of the Las Vegas Strip. By the time Xanadu was proposed, the market was already saturated with large resorts that had been built in the previous decade. The MGM Grand Hotel and the Caesars Palace, both iconic properties, were already drawing significant crowds. Additionally, developers were focusing on different types of themes and concepts that resonated more with tourists, such as the fantasy world of Excalibur, the ancient Egyptian grandeur of the Luxor, and the tropical paradise of The Mirage. As a result, Xanadu’s vision seemed to be an idea ahead of its time, or perhaps simply not a commercially viable one, given the market’s direction.

By the late 1980s, the land on which Xanadu was supposed to rise had remained undeveloped. In 1990, the Excalibur Hotel and Casino, with its medieval castle theme, opened on the site, replacing Xanadu’s ambitious pyramid design with a more whimsical but still large-scale vision. The Excalibur, with its own extravagant architecture and massive size, became a defining landmark of the southern Strip, although it took a different thematic approach than what was originally planned for Xanadu.

The Influence of Xanadu

Though Xanadu never saw the light of day, its conceptual design had a profound influence on future developments in Las Vegas. The pyramid shape that was so central to Xanadu’s design would later become a key feature of the Luxor Hotel and Casino, which opened in 1993 and remains one of the most iconic structures on the Strip. The Luxor’s design directly echoed the Xanadu vision, with its soaring pyramid structure and bold use of space.

Moreover, the idea of the atrium as the central feature of a resort became a recurring theme in many subsequent Las Vegas developments. The Mirage, which opened in 1989, featured an expansive atrium as part of its design, further popularizing the concept of open, airy spaces that allowed guests to experience the full grandeur of a resort without feeling confined.

In many ways, while Xanadu never materialized, the design ideas proposed in its conceptual sketches—especially the dramatic use of architecture to create awe and wonder—found new life in the projects that followed. Its vision of a massive, open resort that would serve as both a hotel and entertainment center set the stage for Las Vegas to continue its evolution as a global resort destination.

The Xanadu Hotel and Casino is one of the great “what might have been” stories of Las Vegas development. Despite its failure to materialize, the project represents the daring spirit of the city’s architectural history and its constant drive for innovation. The boldness of its design, coupled with its ambition to redefine the Las Vegas Strip, left an indelible mark on the city’s development, influencing future resorts and shaping the direction of the Strip for years to come. Although Xanadu will forever be remembered as a vision that never reached its full potential, its legacy lives on in the iconic designs that followed it. The grandeur of the Xanadu, from its pyramid and atrium to its audacious scope, remains a fascinating part of the story of Las Vegas.

For those intrigued by the original vision for Xanadu, conceptual renderings and design documents are housed at the UNLV Special Collections, offering a glimpse into a Las Vegas dream that almost was.