The long-awaited luxury hotel and casino Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened its doors Wednesday on the northern end of the Strip.
While the land of the property was purchased in 2000 and construction began in 2007, Fontainebleau went through several ownership changes and a decade of dormant activity.
“Bringing Fontainebleau Las Vegas to life has been an extraordinary journey,” Fontainebleau Development chairman Jeffrey Soffer told the Associated Press. “Opening a resort of this size and scope is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Stars come out
Six weeks after receiving license approval from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the $3.7 billion Miami-inspired resort made its debut on Las Vegas Boulevard with many stars in attendance.
Musician Justin Timberlake performed for the first time in four years, and the list of celebrities to see the Strip’s tallest hotel (67 stories) included Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Lenny Kravitz, and Cher.
Last night’s opening was the ultimate scene to see and be seen. ?
— Fontainebleau Las Vegas (@fblasvegas) December 15, 2023
Images courtesy of Seth Browarnik/World Red Eye for Fontainebleau Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/nTmyexsO4a
The resort offers 3,644 rooms, more than 30 dining experiences, and a 150,000-square casino. Rooms start around $300 per night, and there are 76 premium suites on-site.
“Art, architecture, and design are key components of our Fontainebleau culture and guest experience,” Fontainebleau Development president Brett Mufson said in a statement.
New sportsbook in Vegas
The Tavern at Fontainebleau is a 14,000-square-foot sportsbook awaiting bettors. The retail sports betting space offers panoramic TV screens, plush seating, and pub favorites for dining.
Bettors can wager via betting windows, kiosks, and a mobile app.
Odds are powered by Red Rock Resorts’ technology. Pregame and in-play betting is offered on football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, boxing/MMA, golf, and auto racing.
Wild history
Part of what makes Fontainebleau Las Vegas such an attraction is the history behind its opening. The resort sits on the side of the old El Ranchero hotel. The Soffer family, which owns the famed Miami resort of the same name, purchased the property with Turnberry Associates nearly 24 years ago.
In 2009, the owners sold the 70% completed development, which changed hands several times. New York developer Steven Witkoff purchased it and planned to change the name to The Drew, but the COVID-19 pandemic again halted progress.
Fontainebleau Development bought the property back in 2021, and Soffer said seeing the project through was “the fulfillment of a long-held dream and a testament to the spirit of our brand, which has stood for seven decades.”
