Palms Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located near the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It has 703 rooms and suites and contains 94,840 sq ft (8,811 m2) casino, recording studio, Michelin-starred restaurant and 2,500-seat concert theater.
Although it is located off the Strip, the resort has become a popular destination for many, especially younger people, Hollywood actors and celebrities. The Palms competes for market share with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, another off-strip resort aimed toward the 21â€"39 demographic. Both resorts are styled in a modern, neo-retro fashion.
The Fantasy Tower is also home to several nightlife venues including Moon Nightclub and Rain Nightclub. The tower holds what are known as the Sky Villas and Fantasy Suites, which are some of the most expensive hotel suites in the world. The Two Story Sky Villa on the top floor, billed at US$40,000 per night, is listed at number 5 on the World's 15 Most Expensive Hotel Suites compiled by CNN Go in March 2012. The Sky Villas have played host to numerous celebrities.
History
The Palms project was first developed by the Maloof family in July 1999, during the Fiesta hotel-casino expansion. The casino resort broke ground in July 2000. The project was officially announced by George Maloof on October 24, 2000. Construction was completed on September 26, 2001.
The Palms opened on November 15, 2001, to a massive crowd of people. Multiple celebrities attended the grand opening, such as Dennis Rodman, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton and Samuel L. Jackson.
In 2002, it was the resort where participants of MTV's The Real World: Las Vegas stayed. The level they rebuilt to accommodate MTV is now the "Real World Suite" billed at $10,000 per night.
On October 27, 2005, the second tower, named the "Fantasy Tower", opened at a cost of $600 million. In keeping with George Maloof's basketball interest (the Maloofs were majority owners of the NBA's Sacramento Kings), the Fantasy Tower includes a two-story, 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) suite that includes the only basketball court in a hotel suite. The suite includes a locker room, scoreboard, and multi-screen entertainment system. Some of the other fantasy rooms include the G suite, the Barbie suite and the King Pin suite.
The Palms hit financial trouble in 2010, when it started missing loan payments. Under an agreement reached with creditors TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners, they each received a 49% stake in the property in November 2011, in exchange for erasing about $400 million in debt. The Maloof family retains a 2% share, with options to buy back up to 20%, and George Maloof continues to manage the property.
In May 2016, Station Casinos agreed to purchase the Palms for $313 million.
Acts
- The casino was shown in Britney Spears's music video for her hit song "Everytime", but it was actually shot in Los Angeles.
- It was also shot for a scene in Eminem's music video, "We Made You", in 2009.
- In 2009, the Palms Fantasy Tower was the setting for the shooting of Katy Perry's music video "Waking Up in Vegas".
- After the death of DJ AM, The Palms' logo had the letters A and M exclusively lit up to pay tribute to the late musician.
- Pauly D from Jersey Shore has performed as a resident DJ recently and he was the celebrity DJ at MTV Spring Break: Las Vegas in March 2011.
- Since The Ultimate Fighter 5 the UFC has held the series Finale at The Palms.
- WEC also regularly held events at the Palms with the last event held (and the second to last *before the promotion folds in to the UFC) being WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki on November 11, 2010. The UFC held most of the Ultimate Fighter Finales at the Palms, but as of TUF Season 14, the Finales as of now are held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center or the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with the coaches usually fighting as the main event.
- INDYCAR holds their annual awards banquet at the resort.
- In Nitro Circus episode 3 of season 1 Members of the crew jumped off the building while another member had a tattoo set chosen by a roulette wheel.
Events
- The Palms Casino Resort was home to MTV's The Real World: Las Vegas in 2002.
- The first seven tournaments of Celebrity Poker Showdown were taped at the Palms in front of a live studio audience.
- The MTV Video Music Awards were hosted at the Palms in 2007.
- MTV Spring Break was filmed at the Palms in March 2011 (featured musical acts: Snoop Dogg, Pitbull, Lupe Fiasco, and Wiz Khalifa)
- The Palms hosts The Midsummer Night's Dream Party, which is an annual event that is held at the Palms Casino Resort once a year in August. This event is also held at the Playboy Mansion.
- The Palms hosts The Night of the Killer Costumes, which is a major Halloween Party that is held at the Palms the Saturday before Halloween each year.
- The Palms has hosts the NHL Awards at the Pearl Concert Theater for the last several years.
- Jersey Shore spin-off, The Pauly D Project was filmed here, starring Pauly D.
Nightclubs and lounges
- Ghostbar (also Ghostbar Dayclub, which is the nightclub concept in the daytime)
- Moon (Open only for special events)
- Ditch Friday's (Pool party with live DJ's every Friday during the pool season)
- Rain Nightclub (Open only for special events)
Pearl Concert Theater
The Pearl Concert Theater is a three-level concert venue located within the Palms Resort. Depending on the configuration the venue can seat between 1,000 and 2,500 people.
Performances
Studio at the Palms
The Palms includes a recording studio that has been used by many artists, including Jay-Z, Olivia Newton-John, Céline Dion, Beyoncé, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry, Carlos Santana, T-Pain, Imagine Dragons, Panic! at the Disco, The Killers, Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, Maroon 5, Joe Bonamassa and Wayne Newton.
Palms Place
Maloof announced a third tower called Palms Place, a residential high-rise built on the west end of the Palms property. The design architect was Jerde Partnership Construction. Residents were allowed to move in on February 29, 2008, with the grand opening on May 31, 2008. In June 2014, Phil Maloof listed his top-floor penthouse at Palms Place for USD$38 million, making the residence one of the most expensive apartments in Las Vegas.
Notes
External links
- Official website
- Media related to Palms Casino Resort at Wikimedia Commons