What will happen to the North end of the strip?

Now that we all know that Sahara will be closing I am curious to hear what will eventually happen to the North end of the strip in the coming years? I don't see Stratosphere being able to last all by itself. A few years ago many thought the future of the strip may be in the area of the North part of the strip, but now it may become a graveyard. It's sad to see that what was once the start of the strip and possibly the future of the strip may in reality just become nothing.

Sahara- Closing May 2011
Landmark- Imploded in 1995 and is now a parking lot for the Convention Center
Stardust- Imploded in 2007 and was going to become The Echelon which is now TBD
Frontier/New Frontier- Imploded in 2007 and is now nothing
Westward-Ho- Closed in 2005 to make room for condos.
El Rancho- Demolished in 2000 and was suppose to become Fontainebleau which I guess now is TBD


What does everyone else think will happen?

Demolish everything and turn it into an artificial lake.

CC and Riviera will go before the Stratosphere. Neither of those properties are investing much money into any kinf of refreshening. They seem content to let the properties rot away (Sahara embraced that model too).

The Stratosphere makes an effort to keep its rooms and restaurants worthwhile and it gets alot of business from the downtown crowd.

Apparently, Carl Ichan is thinking of taking apart the Fountainbleau and selling the steel for current market value. He's already sold the furniture and other items to other hotels. He'll get his money back one way or the other.

I've read Circus circus is a total cash cow for MGM. Its long ago paid for and has little overhead. I doubt its going anywhere.

billryan is right about CC. You may not like the way it looks or the company it keeps, but I bet it's hard to beat their bottom line and that's what Vegas needs right now. Boyd would love to have the Stardust back as would Elad with the Frontier. They may have been dumps to a lot of people, but they made money without costing your firstborn.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

There has to be at least one place for low rollers. I couldn't believe the last time I spent two nights there. I roomed with a friend in their newer tower. The room was actually fairly nice. The decor of the casino is so aged. When we came back in for the night and walked through the casino, I noted several people with their children sleeping on the floor, while they played slot machines. I thought this was totally illegal, but the casino wasn't doing anything to them.

Furniture was sold to The Plaza. I heard it was sold dirty cheap too. I also don't see Circus Circus closing down. They are one of the few places that still cater to families with kids and is still close to several casinos. I just see Stratosphere now being all by itself with little reason for many people to go there. I like it for the observation deck and some of the rides, but hardly ever gamble there. Most people wont walk there, and the monorail will no longer stop at Sahara which was an easy walk to Stratosphere. Riviera also put money into rooms, the casino, and opened their buffet back up. It's close enough to places where I think it will stay open.

Doesn't the Strat tower fall in 2012?