Encore Beach Club is the latest pool venture in Las Vegas. Encore already had an elegant pool area with a nightclub poolside. This new club was built right out front on the strip, taking up almost 90% of the front area of the Encore. Most visitors will notice the 3 story high wall with lattice trim and several balconies overlooking the strip. It is done in a nice shades of white and beige. It almost has a Roman colosseum look to it, except modernized. The center of the wall has no balconies and big Encore Beach Club sign. The sign on the wall has Encore in the flat logo script. The words Beach Club is raised and is full of light bulbs that blink on and off like an old '50s casino sign. It looks like regular household light bulbs blinking on and off. I'm sure there's more to it than that though.

I'm not opposed to the Beach Club, I'm not opposed to the location where guests can overlook the strip. Certainly the Encore deserves the best, and I'm guessing it's pretty nice for the guests. What doesn't sit well with me is that is so very, very non-Steve Wynn. It is also very, very non-Encore. What was once the symbol for grace and style and elegance now has sunbathers on the balcony and flashing incandescent light bulbs.

When Steve Wynn said he might move his Wynn operation overseas, I thought that maybe he was catering to his Asian crowd. When he and Trump became buddies during the Miss America pageant, I thought maybe his divorce opened up a new Steve Wynn. This new Beach Club doesn't say much for the old Encore theme, the elegance associated with Wynn, or a Steve and Elaine class decision. What it does say, is for the kids to bring all of their parents dollars to the Encore.

I think Steve Wynn is going through his second childhood because it does look fun. If I was twenty something and my parents were loaded, I'd love to spend their 401k there. It's just a departure from what I would have expected from the Encore. There still is an Encore pedestrian entrance from the strip down on the south side of the property. It is tiny compared to the Beach Club.


See the photo gallery for details

JMT, as you are more than likely aware - these daytime parties have gotten very profitable for the major casinos who have decent sized swimming areas.

Even The Palms with its relatively small pool area has a 'party' on Friday afternoons that is popular.

I believe it all started with the Hard Rock's Rehab Sunday. The younger crowd comes from all parts of the world to attend that 'function' and the other hotel/casinos have seen the benefits and are following suit.

And now even Steve Wynn has gotten involved.

A couple of years back a good friend of mine rented a cabana at the Rehab Pool Party and is set him back many thousand's of dollars. And from what I am hearing, the Wynn function is going to be even more expensive.

I was invited to the Hard Rock late last month to have lunch some HR guests who had just check in. It was a Friday afternoon and the hotel was just starting to get crowded but we were able to visit the pool area .... and I have to say ... "It was AMAZING!"

We walked out to the pool area via the Pink Taco and it was completely empty in preparation for the following day's opening.

The guests were somewhat disappointed because they had planned to take a dip later that afternoon, but one of the pool attendants said, "Keep on walking and you see a part of the pool that is open today."

So we kept on walking and passed some darn phenominal sights such as little private beaches, in pool blackjack tables, a Polynesian type shaded hut complete with a full service bar and gambling tables, jacuzzi's, cabannas, massage tables, snack stands, etc, etc, etc.

But all completely empty.

And then we came to a "hill' of sorts!

So we went to the top of that 'hill" and saw an amazing sight on the other side!

From the top (and this 'top' included a bar and a glass bottomed pool with overlooked the hotel lobby, tanning lounges, and all the etc's that can be imagined) ... So.. From that 'top' we looked down on the 'other side' and there was another tropical pool complex with thousands of heck raising party-goers haveing a great time in another of the prettiest pools in the entire universe.

I thought I'd seen it all until I got to the top of that 'hill' and discovered what I saw on the other side.

You many not want to go to the Rehab Party, but you definitely should visit the Hard Rock pool area when it's more accessible during a mid-week period.

It should be a 'must-see' for every LV visitor at one time or another.

BUT,, just make sure you climb that 'hill' and take a gander on what's on the other side.

And the 'top' may surprise ya too!

But if you're young or young at heart .... you gotta stay for the Rehab Party!