Las Vegas’ Ellis Island Getting All Fancy

Posted on: October 21, 2024, 04:54h. 

Last updated on: October 21, 2024, 05:16h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

Ellis Island Casino Hotel & Brewery no longer wants to be known as a dive. The first official renderings were released Monday of how the family-owned property will look after emerging from its current $35 million cocoon of renovation. And, frankly, the vibe is more Wynn Resorts than it is cheap BBQ, dive bars and $5 blackjack and craps.

This is the largest renovation in the history of Ellis Island, which was opened by Frank Ellis Jr. as the Village Pub in 1968 before Frank’s son, Gary Ellis, expanding it to a full-fledged casino in 1973. (Image: Ellis Island)

“It’s no longer the little dump with cheap and good food,” commented Twitter/X user @lizzie3420552 below the first glimpse of the renderings provided by X account Las Vegas Locally this weekend.

“Long as steak and eggs stay at $9, they can do anything they want lol,” added @picazo_198.

The expansion will take the casino floor out to Koval Lane, adding over 250 slot machines, an additional pit area, a new casino center bar, and a new rooftop bar/event space. The existing building will have its casino floor, Village Pub & Café and ever-popular karaoke lounge all revamped.

“We are very excited to have this project under way,” VP of Development Christina Ellis, Gary Ellis’ daughter, said in a press release. “The city is growing, and we are eager to expand our offerings while staying true to what has kept us a staple on Koval Lane for 56 years, with great value dining, gaming, and amenities.”

No timeline for the renovation was provided.

The new casino center bar. (Image: Ellis Island)
The new casino center bar. (Image: Ellis Island)

Lapped by F1

All told, that’s 6,415 more square feet of space that the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix can block access to each November.

In that lawsuit, filed in April, Ellis Island’s attorneys have asked more than $50,000 in compensation from F1, Clark County and the State of Nevada. They claim that customer and employee access to Ellis Island was “intentionally obstructed” during the race and the six months of setup and teardown on either side of it. (Ellis Island sits just north of F1’s permanent $500 million paddock complex.)

A jury heard oral arguments from both parties in September, but neither a verdict nor a settlement is likely before the second Las Vegas Grand Prix transforms the area on Nov. 21-23.