In the mid-1970s, Las Vegas was experiencing a period of explosive growth, driven by the development of new casinos, lavish resorts, and innovative entertainment. One of the most ambitious projects proposed during this time was the Xanadu Resort Casino, a $150-million, 1,755-room resort that promised to reshape the southern end of the famed Las Vegas Strip. Its groundbreaking design, visionary scale, and the sheer ambition behind the project made it one of the most eagerly anticipated developments of the era. Yet, despite its lofty goals and extensive planning, Xanadu never materialized. The site where it was supposed to rise would eventually become home to the Excalibur, but the echoes of the Xanadu project can still be seen in the designs of future Las Vegas landmarks.
The Vision: A Monumental Resort Casino
The Xanadu Resort Casino was conceived as a grand, cutting-edge development to be situated at the southwest corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard—prime real estate that was ripe for development in 1975. The location was pivotal in the context of the Strip’s expansion. At that time, the southern part of the Strip was seen as an underdeveloped area compared to the more bustling northern stretch. With vast, open spaces and the potential to attract major resort traffic, the Xanadu project was set to capitalize on this opportunity to redefine the Las Vegas experience.
The proposed resort was nothing short of extraordinary. With an estimated cost of $150 million, Xanadu was to feature a massive 1,755-room hotel and casino, a monumental size for its time. Its bold design concept set it apart from other resort developments, with visionary architects and designers aiming to create a space that was both modern and opulent, a fusion of high-end luxury and entertainment innovation.
The Role of Howard Downes and the Land Deal
The land on which Xanadu was to be built was owned by Howard Downes, a Florida-based real estate investor. Downes purchased the 48.6-acre parcel of land, which had previously been earmarked for a twin hotel to the Tropicana by county commissioners in 1973. The county’s approval for such a development helped to pave the way for Xanadu’s early ambitions, as it offered a ready-made opportunity to build something of significant scale.
Though the parcel of land had already been secured, the Xanadu project was far from guaranteed. The Las Vegas real estate market was competitive, and other developers were vying for prime spots on the Strip. However, the Xanadu developers were able to push ahead, thanks in part to the backing of Howard Downes and the strategic location of the property. The vision was set in motion, with detailed plans drawn up to begin construction as soon as possible.
The Architectural Design: The Pyramid and Atrium Concept
One of the most striking aspects of the Xanadu Resort Casino was its bold, futuristic architectural design. The project was led by architect Martin Stern Jr., a highly regarded figure in the world of casino and hotel design in Las Vegas. Stern’s work on the Xanadu project was inspired by some of the most cutting-edge design trends of the 1970s. The resort was to feature a distinctive pyramid-shaped structure and a grand atrium, combining futuristic, space-age aesthetics with the opulence that defined Las Vegas at the time.
The design was a marvel, with plans for a towering pyramid at the center of the resort. The pyramid concept was an early example of the grandeur and larger-than-life ambition that would characterize future Las Vegas landmarks. Stern envisioned the pyramid as a bold symbol for the resort, a dramatic statement of both luxury and entertainment that would draw visitors from around the world.
The atrium was another key feature of the design. It was planned to be a sprawling, open space that would serve as the central gathering point of the casino and hotel. The atrium concept was in keeping with the open, expansive designs that were gaining popularity during the 1970s. Stern’s design would have created an airy, inviting environment where guests could move freely from one area of the resort to another while taking in the lavish surroundings.
A Futuristic Dream with No Foundation
Despite the grand plans, the Xanadu Resort Casino project never broke ground. Multiple factors contributed to the project’s cancellation, but perhaps the most significant was the changing financial climate and the competitive nature of the Las Vegas real estate market. As the 1970s drew to a close, a series of economic pressures and shifts in market demand forced many ambitious development projects to be reevaluated or abandoned altogether.
For the Xanadu project, these challenges proved insurmountable. Although the land had been secured and the designs approved, the financial backing needed to bring such an ambitious resort to life was ultimately not realized. By the early 1980s, the project was officially scrapped, and the land remained vacant for years.
Legacy: Echoes of Xanadu in Las Vegas
Though Xanadu itself was never built, elements of its groundbreaking design would go on to inspire some of Las Vegas’s most iconic resorts. Many of the concepts first explored in the Xanadu project would later be adapted and realized in other major casino resorts that followed.
The pyramid shape, which was to be the centerpiece of Xanadu, found its home in the Luxor Hotel, which opened in 1993. The Luxor’s design, featuring a massive pyramid that houses the hotel’s rooms and casino, echoes the original vision of Xanadu. Additionally, the concept of a grand atrium, central to the Xanadu project, would be echoed in the design of The Mirage, which opened in 1989, and the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, which debuted in 1990.
The grand, open spaces and innovative architecture that were central to the Xanadu project influenced the way future resorts were designed in Las Vegas. Casinos and hotels in the decades that followed embraced similar large-scale, immersive design philosophies, combining visual grandeur with a sense of openness and accessibility.
The Xanadu Resort Casino stands as a testament to the ambitious spirit that has always defined Las Vegas. Though it never came to fruition, the project captured the imagination of developers, architects, and the public alike. The vision of a massive pyramid-shaped resort with a grand atrium was a bold statement about the direction the city was heading—one that was defined by larger-than-life projects and an ever-growing appetite for innovation.
While Xanadu itself may have never been built, its legacy lives on in the design of some of the most iconic resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. The cancellation of the Xanadu project did not mark the end of grand visions for Las Vegas—it simply served as a reminder of the city’s ability to dream big, whether those dreams ultimately come to life or not. The Xanadu project remains a fascinating chapter in the history of Las Vegas development, a reminder of the ambitions and possibilities of a city that is always looking forward to the next great adventure.
Leave a Reply