Q:
A reader-suggested survey: With no apparent progress in a year, but recent word that the remodel will commence "sometime this year," how do you feel about Resorts World vs.Echelon Place vs. the Stardust?
A:
1877 Total Votes
| I still miss the Stardust terribly and nothing can take its place. I think it’s a tragedy this classic slice of Vegas history was torn down, basically for no reason - the ’dust would still have been making money the whole time that Echelon skeleton has been sitting there. |
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| I actually wish Echelon had been completed. I like Boyd’s gaming product and was excited for a locals-oriented brand to have a presence on the Strip. Now the place will just be another corporate resort run by outsiders, instead of being operated by a locals brand that’s more sympathetic to the off-Strip market. Shame. |
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| I’m not sure if the Strip needs yet another megaresort (aren’t there too many rooms already?) and the renderings look so OTT, I’m somehow doubting that THIS project will happen, either, especially as the new owners did nothing for a year. I’ll believe it when I see it; I predict that lot will remain an ugly blight for a long time to come. |
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| I’m excited about a return to the concept of "theming" and welcome the arrival of this new Asian-inspired resort as soon as possible. It’s about time the Strip got a Great Wall of China and some pandas! |
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| I welcome the Resorts concept, not so much for the Chinese theme, but for the attractions they’re planning to add: a new indoor water park, plus movie theaters, bowling, an aquarium, and pandas, makes this sound like a welcome and needed high-end addition to the family-friendly hotel options on the Strip. |
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| OTHER - email us on the next page |
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Analysis
This was an interesting question and it was only at the last minute that it occurred to us how important it was to include the completion of Echelon Place as an option; we're very glad for that eleventh-hour lightning bolt, since it turned out to be the second-most popular vote!
We must've summed up your feelings pretty well across the range of answers offered, since we didn't receive the usual slew of email feedback for this survey, but here are some of the few responses you submitted to embellish your voting decision:
- "I agree with ALL those answers! We don't stay on the Strip anymore (still Boyd customers), but it's nice to have a reason to go there."
- "I liked the idea behind Echelon and was looking forward to its opening, but nothing will ever replace the grand old Stardust."
- "What I REALLY miss is the Westward Ho. It was my favorite little casino in town and they had cheap margaritas/daquari as well as a pretty good snack bar. It just all seems like such a waste. In addition I do not like the overall trend towards de-theming. For example, the Luxor is a pyramid but they have taken out almost every reference to Egypt (and I'll bet they would like to get rid of the pyramid, as well, if they could!) [Ed: See Friday's QoD in the Archives for more on that specific subject, where we made the exact same point.] There is gambling in almost every state in the country now. People used to come to Vegas to see hotels and sights that they could not see at home. The trend now in Vegas is toward luxury hotels without themes. Why would people make a special trip here if they can see and do that closer to home?"
- "Never got to see the Stardust, but as a history buff it would have been nice. Now as a Vegas 'regular,' I look forward to the Strip filling back up all the way to the Strat."
- "We started coming to Las Vegas from the U.K. in 2003 and have been over 25 times since. We loved the Stardust/Frontier, but that part of the Strip needs developing, so anything would be better than nothing."
- "I don't know if I miss Stardust 'terribly,' -- I haven't cried myself to sleep. But every piece of Old Vegas that disappears takes some real history with it, and it COULD have stayed until something new came along. I still make their chili, by the way, for special occasions." [Ed: LOL. That was one of the earliest QoDs we ever answered -- curious chefs may find the recipe in the Archives via the link above.]
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