The Strat (Las Vegas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Strat Hotel, Casino and SkyPod |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
The Strat tower and resort in 2017
|
|
| General information | |
| Status | Operating |
| Type | Observation tower |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Address | 2000 South Las Vegas Boulevard |
| Coordinates | 36°08′51″N 115°09′19″W / 36.147386°N 115.155389°W |
| Groundbreaking | November 5, 1991 |
| Construction started | February 1992 |
| Topped-out | November 4, 1995 |
| Opened | April 30, 1996 |
| Cost | US$70 million |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 1,149 ft (350.2 m) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Ned Baldwin |
| Developer | Bob Stupak |
|
Other information
|
|
| No. of rooms | 2,427 |
| Total gaming space | 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m2) |
| Permanent shows | Viva Las Vegas (1996–2006) American Superstars (1996–2011) Bite (2004–12) Pin Up (2013–17) MJ Live Celstia |
| Signature attractions | |
| Notable restaurants |
|
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | Golden Entertainment |
| Previous names | Stratosphere |
| Renovated in | 2000–01, 2004, 2010–12, 2018–20 |
The Strat Hotel, Casino and SkyPod (once known as the Stratosphere) is a large hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is famous for its tall observation tower, which is 1,149 ft (350.2 m) high. This makes it the tallest tower in the United States.
The Strat tower is also the second-tallest in the Western Hemisphere. Only the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, is taller. At the very top of the tower is a special "pod." This pod has a revolving restaurant, places to relax, and observation decks where you can see amazing views.
You can also find exciting thrill rides at the top of the tower. The hotel and casino parts are at the bottom of the tower. The resort also has a show theater and a shopping area. The Strat is on Las Vegas Boulevard, just north of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Some people think it's part of the Strip, but officially, it's just outside the main Strip area.
Before The Strat, a hotel and casino called Vegas World was on this spot. Its owner, Bob Stupak, first wanted to build a huge neon sign. But this idea grew into a plan for a tall observation tower with a restaurant on top. Construction of the Stratosphere Tower began in February 1992.
During construction in 1993, a fire broke out on the tower. Stupak then faced challenges getting enough money to finish the project. To help, he teamed up with Grand Casinos, owned by his friend Lyle Berman.
The tower was first planned to be 1,012 ft (308 m) tall. But in 1994, Stupak thought about making it even taller, 1,825 ft (556 m), to be the tallest building in the world. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did not agree with this new height. The city of Las Vegas eventually said no to the super-tall plan. They allowed Stupak to build it up to 1,149 feet.
Vegas World closed on February 1, 1995. Its hotel buildings were updated to become part of the Stratosphere hotel. New hotel buildings were also added. The observation tower cost $70 million to build. It reached its full height on November 4, 1995.
The entire Stratosphere complex cost $550 million and opened on April 30, 1996. Some parts of the resort, like a hotel building and parts of the shopping mall, were not finished yet. The Stratosphere was built in an older part of town. The resort had money troubles in its first year. This was partly because it was not right on the main Strip. Also, there was not much advertising, as the owners thought the tower itself would get enough attention.
Stratosphere Corporation had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 1997. This is a legal process to help a company reorganize its money. A businessman named Carl Icahn bought the resort in 1998. Icahn had the remaining hotel rooms finished in 2001. This was part of a $65 million project to make the resort better.
Under Icahn's ownership, the resort started to make money. It focused on attracting visitors who wanted good value. In 2004, ownership went to Icahn's company, American Casino & Entertainment Properties (ACEP). Another company, Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, bought ACEP and the Stratosphere in 2008.
Two years later, ACEP spent $20 million to update the hotel rooms. More updates continued until 2012. Golden Entertainment bought ACEP and the Stratosphere in 2017. More big renovations started in 2018 and finished in 2020. The resort was officially renamed The Strat on January 22, 2020.
History of The Strat
In 1974, Bob Stupak opened a small casino in Las Vegas. It was called Bob Stupak's World Famous Million-Dollar Historic Gambling Museum and Casino. It was located north of the Las Vegas Strip. This casino burned down two months later. Stupak then opened his Vegas World hotel and casino on the same land in 1979.
How the Tower Idea Began
The idea for the Stratosphere started when Stupak planned a 1,012 ft (308 m) neon sign for Vegas World. In October 1989, Stupak asked the city to approve this huge sign. It would be four times taller than his hotel. Soon after, Stupak changed his plans. He wanted the tower to have an elevator leading to an observation deck.
Stupak hoped the tower would become a famous landmark. He said, "What I'm trying to do for Las Vegas is what the Eiffel Tower did for Paris." Many people did not like his plans. The city staff even tried to limit signs to 35 feet tall. But the Las Vegas City Council said no to this rule. They thought it was just to stop Stupak's project.
In February 1990, Stupak showed his new plans. It was for a $50 million, 1,012 ft (308 m) observation tower. The top floor would have a revolving restaurant and fancy suites. It would be the tallest structure in Las Vegas and in Nevada. The tower was designed by Ned Baldwin, who also worked on the CN Tower in Toronto. Stupak was inspired by the Sydney Tower in Australia.
In April 1990, the city council approved Stupak's tower. This was despite concerns from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA said it was 200 ft (61 m) too tall. Nellis Air Force Base also did not like the tower. Stupak later said that many people were against the tower. He felt it would not have been built without the council's bravery. Some critics called the project "Stupak's shaft."
In October 1991, the city approved the tower's base and shaft. The pod at the top still needed approval. At this time, Stupak was trying to get money for the $100 million project. He also planned to include the "world's first indoor African lion's park" at the tower's base. This idea was later dropped.
The official start of the project, called the Stratosphere Tower, was on November 5, 1991. The FAA still did not approve of the tower.
Building the Tower
Construction of the $32 million tower started in February 1992. It was built next to Vegas World. Many experts watched the construction to make sure the tower was strong and safe. The tower was built north of the Las Vegas Strip. This area was known as Meadows Village.
On August 29, 1993, a fire broke out on the half-finished tower. Hundreds of people at Vegas World had to leave. No one was hurt. The cause of the fire was never found. Parts of the tower were blackened, but the fire did not damage its structure. The tower is made of concrete and steel. The fire delayed construction by about eight weeks. A large crane on top of the tower was also damaged.
After the fire, Stupak had trouble finding money to finish the tower. To help, Grand Casinos decided to buy part of the Stratosphere and Vegas World. Grand Casinos, owned by Stupak's friend Lyle Berman, eventually bought 43 percent of the resort.
As construction continued in April 1994, the tower was over 700 ft (210 m) tall. Stupak then announced he was thinking of making the tower even taller, 1,825 ft (556 m). This would make it the tallest structure in the world. The FAA, the Airline Pilots Association, and Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport were against this. They said such a tall tower would change air traffic paths.
Stupak and Grand Casinos planned a laser light show for the tower. This was in case the city said no to the new height. A lawyer for the project said, "If we can't have the world's tallest tower, we'll have the world's most beautiful tower." The FAA also did not like the laser show idea. In June 1994, the city said no to Stupak's super-tall plan. But they allowed him to build it up to 1,149 feet. The tower was built to this maximum height.
Grand Casinos finished buying Vegas World at the end of 1994. The hotel-casino closed on February 1, 1995. It was updated to become part of the Stratosphere resort. Vegas World's two hotel towers, with 932 rooms, were renovated. A month after closing, Stratosphere Corporation started selling bonds to raise money. They hoped to finish the tower and pay Stupak for Vegas World.
Critics doubted Stupak could finish the tower. This was partly because of his past advertising methods. Also, the 1993 fire and FAA opposition made it seem unlikely. After a motorcycle accident in 1995, Stupak was in a coma for 12 days. He said that after the accident, the complaints about the tower stopped.
In 1994, workers put up a new, taller crane. This allowed them to keep building the tower. The 75-ton crane was 400 ft (120 m) tall. Removing this crane began in October 1995. It was a very difficult and risky process. The tower reached its full height in a ceremony on November 4, 1995. A helicopter lifted two heavy steel frames to the top.
Years before the Stratosphere opened, some houses were torn down. This made space for the resort's large parking garage. The Stratosphere also agreed to help about 140 people move. This was for a future expansion of the resort. However, this expansion never happened.
Grand Opening of The Strat
The Stratosphere expected to hire 3,000 people. Hiring for 2,400 employees began in March 1996. This was a month before the opening. At that time, Stupak was the chairman of Stratosphere Corporation. He owned 17 percent of the company.
Before opening, some daredevils wanted to do stunts from the tower. But they were not allowed for safety reasons. On April 25, 1996, smoke in the tower's restaurant caused workers to leave. This was just days before the opening. The smoke came from a faulty fan in the kitchen.
A film crew followed Stupak all day before the opening. Over 8,000 special guests came to a party on April 29, 1996. This was hours before the midnight opening. Stupak attended with singer Phyllis McGuire. Other guests included Nevada governor Bob Miller. Media from around the world also came.
A six-minute fireworks show, costing $50,000, started at 10:30 p.m. Doors in the tower's pod were partly open for TV camera cables. Smoke from the fireworks filled the pod and set off fire alarms. This caused elevators to shut down, trapping hundreds of guests.
The $550 million complex had 354,000 sq ft (32,900 m2) of space. This included 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) for entertainment and shopping. A 97,000 sq ft (9,000 m2) casino was part of the first phase. It also had 1,500 hotel rooms. The hotel was expected to open on May 7, 1996. Another 1,000 hotel rooms were planned for November 1996.
The resort had 3,100 employees. The casino had 2,600 slot machines. It was decorated with a world's fair theme and bright colors. The casino was split into three sections, each with an international theme. The hotel had a bronze statue of Stupak, which he did not like. The Stratosphere had seven restaurants. The top of the tower had two thrill rides. Stupak said, "Anybody can build a tower. But if you build a tower and put a roller coaster on top - now, that's Las Vegatizing."
Financial Challenges
The Stratosphere was expected to attract at least 5.5 million visitors in its first year. But money earned in the first five weeks was lower than expected. Stratosphere Corporation said this was because the resort was not fully finished. They borrowed money to finish the remaining rooms and shops. The resort's location, away from the main Strip, also caused problems.
Not as many people visited the tower as expected. Many did not stay to gamble in the casino. The casino was not well designed, so tower visitors could avoid it. The resort's owner, Berman, said that poor advertising was also a problem. He thought the tower itself would get enough attention.
In the months after opening, the resort continued to struggle. The unfinished hotel had fewer rooms than most Las Vegas resorts. Also, the two rides on top of the tower had to close when winds were too strong.
Stupak resigned as chairman less than three months after the opening. He left Berman in charge. Stupak said he disagreed with other board members. He felt his advice was ignored. His statue was removed after he left.
A temporary sports betting area opened in August 1996. This was to attract more gamblers. The resort's second phase of building was stopped later that month due to money problems. There were also plans for a $30 million aquarium, but this never happened.
Within six months of opening, the company's stock prices dropped a lot. To attract more gamblers, the casino offered better odds on its games. This plan worked at first. The resort lost $254 million in 1996, but earnings improved at the end of the year. Admission prices for the tower and rides were also lowered. A roller coaster on top of the tower was considered boring. It was closed for improvements to make it longer and faster.
Still, the Stratosphere continued to struggle. In January 1997, the resort announced it could not honor thousands of prepaid vacation packages. Stratosphere Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy later that month. This happened after they missed a payment to their lenders. The resort continued to operate under a reorganization plan.
The resort continued to perform poorly in early 1997. This was partly due to competition from the new New York-New York resort. Bad weather also reduced visitors to the Stratosphere. Because of low earnings, Stratosphere Corporation was removed from the NASDAQ stock exchange in April 1997.
Carl Icahn Takes Over
In June 1997, businessman Carl Icahn bought 20 percent of the Stratosphere Corporation's loans. Berman and other investors sold their shares. Grand Casinos remained the largest shareholder. In July 1997, Icahn announced plans to buy the Stratosphere entirely. Icahn's plan for reorganizing the company was seen as better. Berman and other board members resigned.
In August 1997, Stupak tried to regain control of the Stratosphere. He planned to make a video criticizing the board members. He said, "We have to save the Stratosphere." He later decided not to air the video. In October 1997, Grand Casinos confirmed they would no longer be involved with the Stratosphere.
The Stratosphere owed $313 million to its lenders. Icahn's reorganization plan was approved. Stupak settled the lawsuit about the vacation packages. Older shares in the Stratosphere were canceled. Icahn's purchase was approved in August 1998. The Stratosphere was out of bankruptcy two months later. Icahn planned $100 million in improvements, including finishing the hotel rooms.
In the years after Icahn took over, Stupak sometimes visited the Stratosphere's Top of the World restaurant. But he was not very interested in the resort. In 2001, Stupak said he was prouder when he opened his earlier casinos. His biggest disappointment was not building the tower to 1,825 ft (556 m). He wanted to build the tallest structure in the world.
In 1999, ownership changed to American Real Estate Partners. Icahn remained the main investor. A new 5,000 sq ft (460 m2) sports betting area was added that year. Earnings improved in 2000. About 8,000 people visited the tower daily. The resort had 2,200 employees.
Construction of the unfinished hotel tower started again on April 14, 2000. The 24-story tower reached its full height on November 2, 2000. This $65 million project added 1,002 rooms. It also included a 67,000 sq ft (6,200 m2) pool area and a coffee shop. Without the new tower, the hotel had 1,444 rooms. The new facilities opened in mid-2001. The casino floor was made brighter, and the buffet was expanded. Icahn wanted the Stratosphere to attract visitors looking for good value. By focusing on these guests, Icahn made the Stratosphere a profitable business. The hotel's room rates were among the lowest in Las Vegas.
In 2001, the tower was temporarily closed after the September 11 attacks. This was due to concerns it could be a target. In 2003, new additions were considered, like a convention center. In 2004, ownership of the Stratosphere went to Icahn's new company, American Casino & Entertainment Properties (ACEP).
The Stratosphere was very popular in 2006 and 2007. This was before the Great Recession. A retro-themed nightclub, Polly Esther's, opened in March 2007.
Sale in 2008 and Renovations
.jpg)
In April 2007, Icahn announced he would sell ACEP and its properties. This included the Stratosphere. A company called Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds bought them in February 2008. The company planned to spend $25 million on improvements.
Many managers were replaced under the new ownership. Some employees complained about this during the Great Recession. Polly Esther's nightclub closed at the end of 2008. The Stratosphere laid off workers in 2009 and continued to struggle.
A $20 million renovation project began in 2010. Improvements were made to the casino, entrance, and Top of the World restaurant. A big part of the project was updating 909 hotel rooms. Other renovations continued until 2012. This included a new poker room.
For years, the Stratosphere was the only resort in its area. The nearby Sahara resort closed in 2011. This caused fewer people to visit the Stratosphere. However, the Sahara reopened as the SLS Las Vegas in 2014. The Stratosphere expected to benefit from more visitors in the area.
In 2015, the Stratosphere started advertising to middle-class guests. It criticized the high prices of Strip resorts. The Stratosphere celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016. At that time, it had 1,600 employees. Most guests were tourists from California and other countries.
Golden Entertainment Takes Over
In June 2017, Golden Entertainment agreed to buy ACEP. Golden Entertainment's $850 million purchase, including the Stratosphere, was completed in October 2017. In March 2018, Golden Entertainment announced plans for a $140 million renovation. This would happen in three stages.
Management said some people did not know the Stratosphere was a resort. They thought it was just an observation tower. The renovations aimed to show off the resort's features. Renovations began later in 2018. A new gaming area was opened, and 300 rooms were updated.
On February 1, 2019, plans were announced to rename the resort to The STRAT Hotel, Casino and SkyPod. Locals had used "The Strat" as a nickname for years. The name change became official on January 22, 2020.
A statue was placed at the resort's front entrance in April 2019. It has three stainless steel figures looking at the tower. They are 9 to 15 feet tall. Blake Sartini, CEO of Golden Entertainment, said the statue was a symbol of the new brand. He wanted it to be a "wow" moment for visitors.
.jpg)
Two new live entertainment areas were added in June 2019. New "STRAT" signs were installed in August 2019. Renovations on the south side of the casino floor were finished that year. The Strat also added drone detection technology. This alerts them if illegal drones fly near the tower.
The resort was officially renamed The Strat Hotel, Casino and SkyPod on January 22, 2020. Many important people attended the celebration. Renovations were mostly finished. Half of the resort's 2,427 hotel rooms had been updated. The 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m2) casino was also updated with a new look. A new William Hill sports betting area was added. The renovations aimed to keep customers who usually only visited the tower. They also wanted to compete with nearby resorts.
Exploring The Strat
The hotel and casino are at the bottom of the tower. Besides the restaurant at the top, The Strat has many other places to eat. These include a buffet and a steakhouse called McCall’s Heartland Grill. Roxy's Diner has been open since the resort first started.
The Strat's location near the Las Vegas Strip has been discussed. When it opened in 1996, it said it was "on the Strip." But officially, Clark County says the Strip does not extend into the city limits where The Strat is. So, The Strat is considered a few blocks north of the official Strip. However, Golden Entertainment still advertises it as a Strip property.
The Observation Tower
• Willis Tower (formerly Sears), Chicago
• Stratosphere, Las Vegas
• Space Needle, Seattle
The resort was named after the stratosphere in Earth's atmosphere. This refers to how tall the tower is. At 1,149 ft (350 m), it is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. It is the second-tallest in the Western Hemisphere, after the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario. It is also the tallest tower west of the Mississippi River. It is the tallest structure in Las Vegas and in Nevada.
Because the tower is not fully lived in, it is not called a "building." The tower is easy to see and helps drivers find their way in Las Vegas. It also creates challenges for air traffic controllers.
The tower is a popular place for tourists. It is a famous part of the Las Vegas skyline. The top of the tower has two observation decks. It also has a restaurant called "Top of the World." There are also lounges, four thrill rides, and a wedding chapel.
Top of the World is a revolving restaurant. It takes about 80 minutes to make a full circle. It is on the 106th floor. From here, you can see all of the Las Vegas Valley. An indoor observation deck is on the 108th floor. It has food and drinks. Stairs lead to an outdoor deck on the 109th floor. Both decks offer amazing views. The indoor deck was updated in July 2019.
The tower's elevators are very fast. They travel at 1,801 ft (549 m) per minute. The tower also has 1,455 steps up to the 108th floor. This is a climb of 855 ft (261 m). Since 2009, the tower has hosted a fundraising event called Scale the Strat. This event helps the American Lung Association. Hundreds of people race up the stairs each year. The stairs are usually closed to the public.
The tower cost $70 million to build. It weighs about 50,000 tons. It has almost 290 miles of steel bars inside. The tower's pod has 12 stories. The outside of the pod has lights that change between eight different colors. A 149 ft (45 m) needle is on top of the pod. It has a steel frame with a ladder inside.
The base of the tower has three concrete legs. Each weighs about 4 million pounds and rises 264 ft (80 m). They meet to form a center. From there, the tower rises higher to the pod.
During its construction, the tower received some negative awards. The Las Vegas Review-Journal called it the "worst Las Vegas eyesore." In 2006, readers of the newspaper voted the Stratosphere the ugliest building in Las Vegas.
Exciting Rides
The Strat has several thrilling rides:
- Big Shot: This ride opened with the resort in 1996. It shoots riders up and down the tower's needle. At 1,081 ft (329 m), it was once the highest thrill ride in the world.
- X-Scream: This ride opened in 2003. It is 866 ft (264 m) high. It has a single car that rolls back and forth on a track. The track hangs slightly over the tower's edge. It then tilts up and down like a see-saw.
- Insanity: This ride opened in 2005. It is 900 ft (270 m) high. It dangles riders over the edge of the tower. Then it spins in a circle at about 40 miles per hour. Once, riders were left hanging for nearly an hour and a half. This happened when strong winds caused the ride's safety system to stop it.
- SkyJump Las Vegas: This ride opened in 2010. SkyJump is like bungee jumping. Riders fall 855 ft (261 m) while attached to a special wire. SkyJump had its 100,000th rider in 2013.
A previous ride was a roller coaster called the High Roller. It opened with the resort in 1996. It went around the top of the tower pod. It closed on December 30, 2005, and was taken down. Many people thought the ride was not very exciting. However, it was popular and had almost 4 million riders before it closed. At 909 ft (277 m), it was the second highest ride in the world.
Strat-O-Fair was a 17,000 sq ft (1,600 m2) midway area. It was themed like a 1963 World's fair. It opened at the base of the tower in June 2000. It had bumper cars and a Ferris wheel.
Two other rides were planned for the tower but were never built. One was a "King Kong" ride. Riders would be in the stomach of a giant mechanical gorilla. It would climb halfway up the tower. This ride was canceled in 1996 because it was too difficult to build.
Another roller coaster was proposed in 2001. It would take riders over Las Vegas Boulevard. People living nearby did not like this idea. They worried about noise and traffic. The resort said the new ride was needed to compete with other attractions. The city council did not approve the roller coaster. The Stratosphere tried to get it built through legal action, but lost.
Shopping at Tower Shops
The Tower Shops is a mall on the second level of The Strat. The elevators to the observation decks are only found in this mall. When the Stratosphere opened in April 1996, the shopping area was still being built. It had vendor carts with Chinese, French, and Manhattan themes.
Because of the resort's money problems, the next part of the Tower Shops was stopped in August 1996. This left the mall with 69,000 sq ft (6,400 m2) of shops. The second phase would have made the mall much bigger. It was planned to include a Rainforest Cafe.
By February 1997, the mall had 32 of its 45 stores open. By October 1997, there were 36 stores. About 85 percent of the shopping space was being used.
By 1998, stores in the Tower Shops were having money problems. They blamed this on the resort's unfinished areas. In 2000, Stratosphere Corporation bought the mall. In 2004, the Tower Shops had 110,000 sq ft (10,000 m2) of retail space. It had about 50 stores and 15 carts.
Live Entertainment
When it opened, The Stratosphere had a 700-seat Broadway showroom. It also had a 300-seat lounge called Images Cabaret. A show called American Superstars opened in the lounge. Singer Danny Gans also performed there. Gans left after his contract ended. He wanted more advertising for his show, but the resort could not afford it. After he left, American Superstars moved into the main showroom.
A small afternoon show, Viva Las Vegas, opened in October 1996. This was to help the resort's money problems. Hypnotist Marshall Sylver opened a show in Images Cabaret in 1997. Two years later, Images Cabaret moved. Its old spot became the new sports betting area.
By 2001, Viva Las Vegas was the longest-running afternoon show in Las Vegas history. An outdoor stage, the Outdoor Events Center, opened later that year. It had seats for about 3,600 people. It hosted low-priced events, like boxing matches and music shows.
American Superstars closed in March 2011 after 15 years. It was one of the longest-running shows in Las Vegas. Later that year, singer Frankie Moreno started a two-year performance contract. The showroom was updated and renamed the Stratosphere Showroom. The show Bite ended in 2012.
By 2016, the resort started offering a Michael Jackson tribute show called MJ Live. The Strat added an acrobatic show, Celestia, in June 2019. The show is performed inside a 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2) tent outside The Strat.
Images for kids
-
Aerial view in 2004
-
Neon sign on the observation tower, 2004
-
Main entrance in 2004
-
A neon sign during the day
-
Front of the tower
-
View from the ground
-
Stratosphere tower and hotel buildings
-
View from the tower pod, overlooking the Strip in 2008
-
Overlooking the Strip in 2008
-
Same view, at night
-
Looking up from the base of the tower, with the X-Scream ride hanging over the edge in 2009
-
Stratosphere logo, 2011
-
Close-up of the pod
-
Inside the pod
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Stratosphere Las Vegas para niños
