Things I've read or heard recently.

Project City Center is well undreway with an expected opening of late 2009 (I had heard Nov.)

Planet Hollywood's sign is complete. No more Plany H Planey Ho or Planet Holly jokes. It appears to me the casino is completed, most of the front has been changed but they still need to convert the rooms and the Desert Passage Mall over to the new Miracle Mile motif.

The New Palazo, Venetians sister resort is to open later this year. Still a long ways to go but it could happen.

Rumor has it that MGM if going to go more adult with the Luxor and NYNY by removing the Sphynx from in front of the Luxor and turning NYNY's arcarad into an(other) ultra lounge.

The Flamingo will have either 4 or 5 styles to their new GO suites. I've been reading mixed reviews on these. The big novelty seems to be the TV in the bathroom mirror. No more waiting for the comercial break if you really have to go.

Construction appears to have begun on the old El Rancho site with what is reported to be the new Fontibleu (sp?) resort. No official word that I've seen but there is definately some building/foundation work going on there.

The new Westgate timeshare that will be attached to (behind) Planet Hollywood is well on it's way as far as the foundation work is concerned.

Cosmopolitian seems to be taking it's time getting out of it's subterrainian garage but hey, it's not easy to dig a whole in the desert. Last I saw some foundation work was at least getting started.

The proposed Maxim casino/hotel for the north end of the strip appears to be history. MGM/Mirage purchased that land along with the vacant lot to the north that the Sahara used to own. Rumor is that a City Center type project will spring up from this site but, there's more for MGM/Mirage to work around. The Travel Lodge up there will probably bite the dust but they've just put in the Sky Condo's and the HGVC timeshare right in the middle of MGM's frontage. It will be interesting to see how they'll work around it. Initially they've stated the Circus Circus WON'T come down but will be renovated. The Circus Circus motor court rooms and the RV park are history though.

There is still the plans to build the Las Vegas Tower on the old Wet N Wild site but I'm a doubter. It's suppose to be considerably taller than the Stratosphere. Originally, the Strat was to be about twice as tall as well but the FAA put a stop to that. If the Strat was limited in height I'm not certain how the developers of the LV Tower plan to do better.

The New Frontier is now supposed to become the Montriux (sp?). A deal to buy the property recently fell apart. Personally, I think Phil Ruffin, owner of the New Frontier is just bluffing. This is his second announced plan and it doesn't appear to be going any further or faster than his City by the Bay plans. Supposedly that big ferris wheel thing is now slated to go on this developement. Yea, right. I'll believe it when I see it.

Of course the Stardust is dust and Eschelon Place should rise from the dust. I'll be glad when they're finally done as it's now just a big eyesore.

Thanks Doug, it's nice to know what's going on sometimes. I think that some of these proposed projects get financed by an owner floating an idea and seeing how the reponse goes. And if enough investors are interested, it moves forward.

I really don't know what Planet Hollywood is supposed to look like across the front. I know it is much much easier to enter the shopping mall from the north strip entrance, so that area is about finished. IMO, I can only hope that there is much more work to do across the rest of the strip facing area.

I haven't ever heard the rumor about removing the sphinx. I guess I better go get some pictures before it disappears.

I have noticed a lot of activity cleaning up the old Wet and Wild in the last few months. There is almost noting left of the place now. It appears cleaned up and ready for construction.

I don't know what is happening on the exact real estate that was the El Rancho property. I do know that the original sign on the strip has a soft covering over it that says Turnberry Place. Periodically, the wind will blow parts of the Turnberry addition off and it reveals El Rancho underneath.

Thanks again for the update summary. I found it interesting. Any word on what will happen to the Sahara with it's new buyers?

The only word I've heard is that they plan an extensive renovation. I'm not holding my breath. I look for them to make announcements, try to force the price up and sell out. That seems to be a trend these days. Many of these projects that are underway won't be compeleted or have the first phase open until 2009. Some are projected as late as 2011. MGM's initial statement on the new land they have indicates they "might" start work there before Project City Center opens it's first phase in 2009.

As with anything in Vegas, it's always best to take a wait and see approach.

I heard yesterday that the Tahiti Village TS sales staff is promoting a rumor that Disney is buying property south of the strip to build a 200 acre water amuesment park. I put absolutely NO stock in that rumor. TS sales staff likes to perpetuate the "Disney is coming" rumor in other area's as well. Seems to a standard plot in an attempt to boost sales.

Talk about Las Vegas going more adult?? I, like many of you, received by email today from the "Mirage" an invitation to stop by their new topless/bottomless pool next time there. They even will pay me to go naked...Whoops..... wrong, I have to pay!!!

Irish....How do they come to trems with pricing?
Let me guess, women are free?

Lee, women are never free. Reasonable yes, Free no.

I'm probably going to regret saying this but, where did you find a reasonable one?

ROTFLOL

That jokes older than me. I still can laugh at it.

reasonable????