Wynn Las Vegas Revealed

The mystery surrounding billionaire developer Steve Wynn’s latest creation was revealed April 28th with the opening of the $2.7 billion Wynn Las Vegas hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Wynn kept mum on the details as he received his gaming license during a Nevada Gaming Commission meeting, saying only, “I think people are going to be surprised.”

Hundreds of people eagerly waited in line from as early as 4 p.m. for the public opening just after midnight. More than 2,000 guests paid either $7,500 or $1,500 for a private grand opening charity gala, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

And the city’s newest attraction in five years didn’t disappoint.

“There is nobody in the world who creates such entertaining and beautiful casinos,” said British billionaire Richard Branson. “I would say every other casino must be nervous. He’s lifted the bar dramatically.”

The 50-story, 2,716-room bronze-colored glass palace, adjacent to an 18-hole golf course, will compete with Wynn’s former Vegas properties — including Bellagio, Mirage and Treasure Island — which were sold to Kirk Kerkorian’s MGM Grand Inc. five years ago.

Wynn’s latest concept has his personal stamp on it instead of a theme. The design includes atriums and floor-to-ceiling windows; vibrant colors including red, purple, green and chocolate brown; an authentic Japanese garden; an art collection with works by Picasso, Gauguin, Vermeer and Rembrandt; high-end restaurants and shops; and a Ferrari-Maserati dealership among its amenities.

For his guests’ entertainment, Wynn created “Le Reve,” a water-themed production by Franco Dragone that was previewed during the gala opening. He’s also lured a version of the Broadway hit “Avenue Q,” which will open in September in a $40 million theatre.

The next phase of the project is Encore, a $1.4 billion, 2,000-room resort next door to Wynn Las Vegas that is slated to open in 2008.