Several businesses have come and gone trying to reach success on the Las Vegas Strip. But Wednesday, Clark County Commissioners approved plans for an amusement park, in the works for several years.
It's a family-friendly idea complete with shopping, restaurants, and entertainment intended to complement the main attraction.
Las Vegas is mostly known as America's playground for adults. But now, the city is reinventing the wheel, or so say developers planning to build an amusement park at the former site of the Cloud Nine Balloon.
"I've got 13 grandkids and we like going to Disney World with them," says Robert Jensen, visiting from Wisconsin. "We would consider it because we like coming to Vegas."
Jensen cracks a smile when he hears about the 500-foot high Ferris wheel planned for the Las Vegas Strip.
"I think it would be great. Another reason for people to come here."
Wednesday, Clark County Commissioners unanimously approved the construction of an estimated $100 million Ferris wheel meant to rival the London Eye, the number one tourist attraction in the city.
"An Eye will be a great attraction to the Strip," says Howard Bulloch, Desert Land LLC. "It will be iconic and it will be a beautiful structure. So we're excited to do it."
And the gondolas on the wheel will be done up in true Vegas style.
"They're about the size of a typical family's family room," Bulloch continues. "Fully air conditioned, fully glass enclosed. It's going to be very comfortable."
Across the street from Mandalay Bay Hotel-Casino, the new site for the amusement park and giant Ferris wheel is giving commissioners high hopes for this family-friendly attraction.
"We're looking at a slight increase in our visitor numbers right now," says County Commissioner Mary Beth Scow. "I think the phase will come in as we're recovering in the economy."
The park, to be built on just over nine acres of land, will have several rollercoasters. Manufacturing of the wheel will take about one year, followed by six months of construction. Developers hope to have the park operations in 2013.
