Confirmed at Last: The Strat to Build Dizzying New Observation Deck

By Scott Roeben, on February 07 2019
3 min read 27 comments
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It’s been more than two years since we first shared rumors The Strat (formerly Stratosphere) would get a thrilling new attraction, and now it’s come to pass.

Stratosphere Gaming LLC has filed for permits to build “a new observation deck for the Stratosphere,” one we believe will boast some of the same qualities as the wildly popular Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Here’s an exclusive first look at plans for this new attraction at The Strat.

Stratosphere skywalk
The observation deck will be clear. “Aiee,” as the kids say.

Back in 2016, we slapped together an amateurish rendering of what we felt the new observation deck would look like.

Come to find out, we weren’t that far off!

Strat glass walkway
We are a blog, not a renderer. Clearly.

The new observation deck will protrude over the edge of The Strat, much as its existing thrill rides do, Insanity and X-Scream.

A third ride, the Big Shot goes straight up. Skyjump (with a controlled free fall) goes straight down.

Skyjump sign
We feel woozy just sharing this photo.

The permit mentions “glass platforms and connection to supports,” “glass exterior walls and barrier walls” and “cable ties and actual connections to plates/supports.”

That leads us to conclude something will definitely be dangling at The Strat.

This image from the plans shows the platform will be supported by cables.

Strat skywalk attraction
Is it weird our palms are sweating just looking at a blueprint?

The observation deck permit has already had an Architectural Review (approved) and Case & Public Planning (whatever that might be, also approved).

The permit mentions installation of the new Strat observation deck will require the use of a crane.

The Strat casino
We just realized “Start” is an anagram for “Strat.” Most useless photo caption, ever.

A comment in the permit states, “Planning does not require a formal administrative review as the proposed observation deck does not change the overall intensity of the Stratosphere or its primary use.”

They’re kidding, right? That must have some legal meaning we don’t quite understand, because if they think an observation deck that extends over the edge of The Strat doesn’t “change the overall intensity of the Stratosphere,” they done lost they minds. As the kids say.

While we’re not a heights person, the new “skywalk” at The Strat has the potential to make a huge splash, benefiting the resort (in the middle of a huge rebrand to The Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod), downtown (where we work in digital marketing as our day job, by the way, opinions are our own) and Las Vegas overall (the new attraction is likely to make headlines worldwide).

The existing thrill rides at The Strat are a huge moneymaker, and this new “Skypod Walk” (spitballing here, no name has been announced) will absolutely raise the bar. By about 870 feet, actually.

Like we weren’t going to update this to include the resort’s new name. See more casino chips we’d like to see.

Adrenaline junkies are sure to consider a transparent walkway hundreds of feet in the air a Las Vegas must-do, like the coasters at New York-New York and Circus Circus, Vegas Indoor Skydiving, the Richard Petty Driving Experience and downtown’s SlotZilla zipline.

While we won’t necessarily walk the new glass platform slated for The Strat, because we are a giant baby, we will certainly have to check it out as we feverishly cling to a wall as far away from the ledge as possible.

From what we can tell from the architectural drawings, the new see-through observation platform will extend from the Strat’s “skypod” on the side closest to Las Vegas Boulevard, above the hotel’s porte-cochere area.

The design of the new observation deck was done by a company that operates out of Las Vegas and California, Sparo Design.

It’s unknown when the new “skywalk” observation deck (or whatever it’s eventually called) at The Strat will begin construction, or when it will open.

When it does, expect a line. People be kray.