Plaza Hotel & Casino Announces Main Street Redevelopment Plans

A longtime leader for the revitalization of downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza Hotel & Casino announces plans to continue to transform its corridor of Main Street by redeveloping the building that currently houses the Greyhound bus terminal into a new destination that enhances the offerings and ambiance of Main Street.

 

According to Plaza Hotel & Casino CEO Jonathan Jossel, the Plaza will also partner with the city of Las Vegas to build a pedestrian friendly pathway that leads to a new elevated bridge connecting the hotel-casino on Main Street to Symphony Park.

“We are thrilled to partner with Jonathan and our friends at the Plaza Hotel to link together two vibrant areas of our downtown,” said Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman, city of Las Vegas. “This connection will further enhance the vibrancy of downtown, including the Plaza and Symphony Park, by making the area more walkable. It’s exciting and gratifying to see downtown’s revitalization continue thanks to public-private partnerships like those with the Plaza.”

 

The Greyhound bus terminal will be vacated by mid-2021, and the Plaza has already begun discussions with developers on possible projects for the space. With 48,500 sq. ft. and adjacent parking, the building is a prime location for new dining, entertainment or retail that will transform the area, encouraging visitors to walk up and down Main Street and experience all it has to offer.

 

“We are very excited to usher in this new era on Main Street,” said Jossel. “Main Street is where downtown started, and today, it remains the heart of downtown, connecting a thriving Arts District, a state-of-the-art city hall, popular destinations like the Plaza, Fremont Street Experience, our newest neighbor Circa, and much more. The Plaza is proud to have held the 1 Main Street address for nearly 50 years. With Greyhound relocating, we look forward to transforming the bus station into a new, dynamic downtown destination that will improve the ambiance and sense of community on Main Street. And with Symphony Park achieving its vision as a hub of residential, commercial, and cultural offerings, enhanced connectivity to it will bolster Main Street and downtown overall.”

 

New Pedestrian Pathway

In partnership with the city of Las Vegas, the Plaza will also build a four-block pedestrian pathway that will connect the Plaza with a new elevated bridge to be built by the city over the Union Pacific railroad tracks to the new residential and commercial development in Symphony Park. The pathway will feature desert landscaping, lighting, and a decorative safety wall to create a relaxing and enjoyable pedestrian experience.

 

Both projects exemplify the longstanding commitment of Tamares, the owner of the Plaza and the city of Las Vegas, to revitalize downtown Las Vegas. For more than a decade, Tamares chairman and CEO Poju Zabludowicz has pursued a long-term vision for the development of the company’s holdings in downtown Las Vegas, including selling the Las Vegas Club in 2015, which made way for Circa, the first new resort to be constructed on Fremont Street since 1980. Over the last decade, Tamares has also supported numerous improvement projects and expansions at the Plaza, most recently including the addition of 100-plus premium Luxe guest rooms and suites and the Core Arena, an outdoor equestrian and multipurpose facility on Main Street. Continued development and improvements are expected in 2021, during which the Plaza will commemorate its 50th anniversary with a series of events and celebrations.

 

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:

With the holiday season in full swing, Ellis Island’s iconic Holiday Nog is now available for purchase, making the perfect holiday gift or addition to any holiday celebration.

 

The dairy-based beverage is a family tradition that has turned into a city-wide favorite. With 5,000 bottles produced this year, Ellis Island’s brew master, Michaela Key and his team used 14,000 eggs, 950 one-liter bottles of premium liquor, and a few secret ingredients to create this seasonal staple.

Ellis Island owner Gary Ellis’ grandfather, Frank Ellis, Sr., learned about the recipe from a fellow passenger on a ship taking him from Italy to the United States back in 1953. In the 1980s, after his grandfather died, Ellis found the recipe and began making small batches in his home kitchen.

 

Now, more than 30 years and many batches later, the Holiday Nog is considered a Vegas Holiday staple. Understanding that this tradition has a reach way beyond just their family, the Ellis’s are excited to bring the Holiday Nog to the public for the 18th year in a row.

“Growing up, Nog was a very important part of our holiday season, and now after 18 years, it’s so fun to see how many people consider it a winter tradition!” said Christina Ellis, Director of Marketing. “We released the Nog earlier than usual this year, and with a larger batch because after making it through 2020, I think we all deserve an extra glass of Nog.”

 

The Holiday Nog can be purchased at Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, the Mt. Charleston Lodge, any Village Pub location, and the brewery shop of Silver Reef Brewery in St. George, Utah. Available by the glass ($7) or by the bottle ($35), customers will be able to purchase The Nog until it’s sold out.

Ellis Island is home to some of Las Vegas’ most recognized food, beverages and entertainment. Its commitment to quality and service has been a tradition for over 50 years. The hotel and brewery features wonderful amenities, including a 24-hour restaurant with a famed steak special, Las Vegas’ top-voted microbrewery, barbecue restaurant and karaoke lounge, Metro Pizza, and the newly opened indoor-outdoor beer garden The Front Yard.

 

The casino offers hundreds of gaming devices including reel slots, video poker and keno. Live blackjack, roulette, craps, and sports book wagering is available seven days a week.

Conveniently located one block east of the Las Vegas Strip on Koval Lane behind Bally’s, Ellis Island is a must-see destination for every Las Vegas visitor and local. For more information, visit www.ellisislandcasino.com. Follow Ellis Island on Instagram at @elliscasinolv and on Facebook at @EllisIslandLV

 

Best in The Desert is excited to announce the finalized racing schedule for 2021. The events planned for next year’s calendar include timeless classics like the BlueWater Parker “425” Presented by Jimco Racing, the Tensor Tire Parker “250,” the Jimco Racing Silver State “300,” the Maxxis Tires Casey Folks Vegas to Reno Presented by Fox, the King Shocks Desert Classic, and the BlueWater Desert Challenge which will take place on two separate weekends of racing.

 

To add to the list of legendary favorites are two exciting new events: the UTV Legends Championships and the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC World Hare and Hound Championship reserved for the best-of-the-best in off-road desert motorcycle racing. The UTV Legends Championships will pit the best UTV racers from desert and short course racing on a special course designed to level the playing field between the two groups. It will also include non-competitive events and activities for weekend warriors and UTV enthusiasts. The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC World Hare and Hound Championship represents the return of one of the most legendary desert motorcycle racing events of all time and will be the most talked about desert motorcycle race of the year. Held in Tonopah, Nevada Best in The Desert CEO Daryl Folks has been working on this course layout for over two years. Billed as One Man, One Machine, One Desert, One Way, the race is centrally located to draw the best desert racers from all over the Western US to determine the absolute King of the Desert. The racecourse itself hearkens back to the early days of desert racing with limited use and a lot of all new, fresh terrain.

The full 2021 schedule can be found here: https://bitd.com/race-events/2021-schedule/

 

Maxxis Triple Crown
Maxxis Triple Crown

To add to the excitement in starting a new year and leaving 2020 in the rearview mirror, the Maxxis Triple Crown series will be back and better than ever in 2021.

Rather than paying out winners at each event, however, the bonus money will be awarded at the end of the year at an expanded placement and at higher amounts totaling $220,000.

 

The races that will make up the Maxxis Triple Crown in 2021 include:

  • Bluewater Resort Parker “425” Presented by Jimco Racing – Cars & Trucks
  • Tensor Tire Parker “250” – Motorcycle, Quads & UTV’s
  • Maxxis Tires “Casey Folks” Vegas to Reno “The Other Way” Presented by Fox – All classes
  • Bluewater Desert Challenge – All classes

Racers must start and finish all Maxxis Triple Crown events to be put in the running for the top position and the epic prize payout. For more information and to view the payout table, click here.

Finally, young Best in The Desert fans will be happy to know that the 4WheelParts Youth UTV Series will also return in 2021. We look toward our young racers to keep the sport we love and cherish alive, and to continue with the youth series brings off-road racing families together. Best in The Desert is excited to see young UTV racers compete again in 2021.

 

The final 2020 Series points are now on the Best in The Desert website and can be found here. Best in The Desert congratulates all the winners in 2020 and looks forward to safely celebrating together when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.  As Best in The Desert looks ahead toward 2021, the racing organization is already hard at work planning for the first race of the series. Registration is now open for the BlueWater Resort Parker “425” Presented by Jimco which includes a “Pre-Fun Run” open to racers and race teams on Saturday, January 9, 2021, and the public on Sunday, January 10, 2021. The race will be run the following weekend, January 13-16, 2021. Registration is also open for the second race in the series, the Tensor Tire Parker “250” on February 18-21, 2021 which is part of the Maxxis Triple Crown Series and the 4WheelParts Youth Series. Interested racers can sign up here and start to plan the new year.

 

Sam’s Town Mystic Falls Park

Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall continues to light up the holiday season with the return of Mystic Falls Parks festive seasonal display, featuring all-new décor and more than 26,000 points of light for visitors to enjoy now through Friday, January 1, 2021.

 

The holiday-themed attraction at Mystic Falls Park® is a time-honored tradition that goes back to 1994. This year, families can experience the indoor atrium’s new theme, featuring animated teddy bears that have come to life and can be seen playing, dancing, and decorating the park. The plush, animatronic bears were handmade this year by a family in Italy, and have traveled from Italy to Spain, Portugal, and across the United States to make it to Mystic Falls Park®.

 

The whimsical winter display presents an 18-foot Christmas tree decorated with glistening red and gold ornaments and 5,300 twinkling lights, topped with a starburst tree topper. Garland-wrapped lampposts, streamers and wreaths fill the atrium, embellished with hundreds of lights, ornaments and red holiday bows. As guests stroll through the park, they can also enjoy seeing blankets of snow, animatronic characters wearing Santa hats, giant pinecones, and beautifully wrapped gift boxes. Mystic Falls Parks beloved gazebo is also covered in snow and decorated with garlands, a sparkling icicle trimming and large candy canes at the entrance. In total, the new, lit up décor features 26,350 points of light and approximately 13,175 feet, or 2.5 miles, of wire.

 

In addition to enjoying the free holiday attraction, families can conveniently drop off their letters for Santa in Santa’s mailbox located under the gazebo inside Mystic Falls Park®. Families can also experience the park’s new holiday décor from home by tuning into the attraction’s live webcam at www.samstownlv.com/webcam.

 

Well, gang, I am sending all you readers out there a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

I’m outa here!

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