LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — With a decommissioned Boeing 747 at its center, Las Vegas’s AREA15 is nearing its final approach for its newest expansion.
Winston Fisher, CEO of AREA15, led a media tour of the 10-acre lot which is set to become an immersive retail art space. Earlier this year it was the final destination for a Burning Man festival art piece.
“Honestly, it’s not hard to get an airplane,” he said. “It’s hard to get an airplane from an airport to wherever. I will stress that.”
Beneath the airplane, Fisher said they plan to build a bar called “baggage claim” which will feature a DJ booth.
“The idea is you can lose your emotional baggage,” Fisher said.
Once opened, the site is expected to hire up to 6,000 employees and serve as a complimentary space to the Las Vegas Strip.
“We’re trying to add something to the entertainment landscape that doesn’t exist,” he said.
The other 20 acres of the property, currently being developed, is expected to add a 900-car garage and a year-round horror experience by Universal Studios, set to open in August. Las Vegas residents will still be able to park for free at the site, according to Fisher.
The unknown factor
The AREA15 brand is closely tied to unknown factors, following the opening of experiences like the mysterious Omega Mart, but the mystery appears to extend to a hard opening date and price tag as Fisher did not provide more details.
However, there is no shortage of info on who is moving in. Fisher pointed to new tenants such as Museum of Ice Cream, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, The Escape Game, Chilango’s Tacos, Saint Honoré Doughnuts & Beignets, and Nacho Daddy.
The new district is also set to have murals with an augmented reality overlay, a space elevator, and a psychedelic carousel.
“It’s not one thing, and it caters to families as well as to Gen Z that wants to come out until late at night,” Fisher said.
The Universal Horror Experience is expected to open August.
