You can’t help but be impressed with AREA15. The warehouse-like art and entertainment space opened on time five years ago at the height of the pandemic and was a hit with tourists and locals alike. The concept has only grown since (with attractions like Illuminarium and the John Wick Experience in separate buildings) and I learned a few things during a recent hard hat tour of a second, neighboring campus that opens later this year.
🤖 Robots and Autonomous Shuttles
First things first … How do you get from the original AREA15 to the new part? Well, you can walk. Just follow the 25-foot-tall robots holding flags to guide the way. AREA 15 will also have shuttles, including driverless ones in partnership with Zoox.
💸 AREA15 Will (Probably) Charge for Parking
When I asked if parking will continue to be free, CEO Winston Fisher repeatedly emphasized that “parking will be free for locals,” adding that his team was “evaluating” if it “makes sense or not” for out-of-town visitors. He also pointed out that the new 900-car garage wasn’t cheap to build. Fair enough.
✈️ So About that Plane …
A 747 fuselage, used as an art piece at Burning Man, is now part of AREA15, and already visible from Interstate 15. It’s an instant statement piece and the interior will function as a dining room for a restaurant that’s yet to be announced. The adjoining outdoor terrace is a nice touch for Strip views. The shaded area underneath the jet will be something of an event space with a DJ booth and a bar called Lost Luggage. (Excellent name 👍)
🍽️ More Food?
AREA15 will have new outposts for established local brands like Saint Honoré and Nacho Daddy while welcoming out-of-town concepts like Texas-based Chilango’s Tacos. Expect more announcements to come.
🚀 New Attractions
Universal Horror Unleashed, featuring Leatherface and other Universal Studios’ characters, is the anchor tenant for the new district — a year-round Halloween attraction, opening in August. The Museum of Ice Cream will dominate a second-level space with something that sounds like a glorified entrance on the first level. Felix & Paul Studios’ Interstellar Arc promises a trip to space that goes behind mere virtual reality. “You're going into a space station and you're being transported,” Fisher says. “That's a physical experience.” There’s also an escape room and indoor skydiving, proving those ideas have yet to run their course in Vegas.
There will also be more than 40 art pieces (including augmented reality murals), midway-style carnival games, some type of “psychedelic” carousel, and the seats from the 747 will be repurposed for a swing set 👀
🏀 And an Arena Too?
Fisher openly discussed integrating sports into AREA 15 — and brought up the NBA first when pressed for an example. “ We have 50 acres of (unused) land,” he said in referencing a potential arena. “So we have space for sports … Sports are part of the experience economy.”
- AREA15 is helping fill in the gaps while other forms of Vegas entertainment continue to price out locals. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
