The Steel Skeleton That Was Reborn in Las Vegas

Published on January 29, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
Steel and concrete structure of the halted Echelon Place project in Las Vegas, with the city in the background.

The Steel Skeleton that was Reborn in Las Vegas

On the famous Las Vegas Strip, a massive metal structure stood for years as a symbol of plans thwarted by the 2008 economic crisis. This skeleton belonged to Echelon Place, an ambitious complex valued at 4.8 billion dollars. When the global financial collapse occurred, construction stopped completely, leaving a ghost of concrete and beams in the center of the world's entertainment hub 🏗️.

A Monument to the Recession

The project's framework, designed to house several hotels and a convention center, remained intact but completely inactive. For residents and visitors, it became a strange attraction and a constant reminder of the recession. While the city around it managed to recover, the Echelon site remained closed and silent, an empty gap on the bustling avenue. The initial designs, which offered thousands of suites and a new leisure area, seemed destined to disappear.

Features of the halted project:
  • Initial estimated value of 4.8 billion dollars.
  • Included foundations for multiple hotels and a large convention center.
  • Remained as a fenced and abandoned area for years.
The Echelon Place skeleton became an unofficial attraction, a physical reminder that even in Las Vegas, the house doesn't always win.

A Radical Transformation

The landscape changed decisively when Genting Group acquired the land in 2013. This Malaysian corporation chose not to continue with the original concept. Instead, it decided to create something new by leveraging the already built structure. Thus, Resorts World Las Vegas emerged, a complex that reused part of the previous work but with a completely renewed identity and design.

Key points of the restructuring:
  • New owner: Genting Group (2013).
  • Decision not to resume the original Echelon Place plan.
  • Development of a new concept on the existing base.

A New Beginning on the Strip

This renovated project finally opened in 2021, giving a function and new life to the space that had been stalled for over a decade. The story of the steel skeleton demonstrates how a monumental failure can find a second chance, transforming from a symbol of crisis into a modern entertainment epicenter 🎰.