The history of the Fountainebleau Las Vegas is much more interesting than the resort itself. I read Wikipedia’s history before making my first visit to the Fontainebleau and was fascinated.

I knew of the Fontainebleau, of course. I remember driving down the strip where the El Rancho and Algiers hotels used to be and seeing construction. I remember some of the folks at Turnberry Place objecting to the construction at the Fountainebleau obstructing their view. I remember when construction on the hotel/casino stopped and furniture was sold, some of it to one of the new downtown hotels. I remember reading about new owners of the property and more new owners and voila on December 14 of this year, the finished Fontainebleau Las Vegas opened to the public.

I was not personally invited to the Fontainebleau Las Vegas’s grand opening where I would enjoy a surprise concert from Justin Timberlake and could mingle with other celebrities. I simply got in my car last Thursday and drove down the Strip to the Fontainebleau. The place does not have garish signs as does Resorts World, but I found it and a sign to public parking. Apparently I could get four hours of free parking.

From where I parked I had to ask directions. Finding the elevators from the parking garage requires a bit of ingenuity. There are signs, but they are not very helpful.

The Fontainebleau is massive. Thee ceilings are very high and every lobby area is distinctive with special art pieces.

The Thursday crowd was sparse. I walked around, secured a gambling card, took photos, stopped to gamble on a couple slot machines (didn’t win, but didn’t too badly). And I had a good time. I will go back to finish my walk-around in the next couple weeks or when a convention is at the Fontainebleau, an favorite entertainer is is appearing at their large theater or I just was to continue sampling their new slot machines.

My photos of a few of the spaces I visited are below. (When it’s pool weather, I will return,)