Wynn Unveils Plans To Build A Water Paradise In Las Vegas

Casino tycoon and billionaire Steve Wynn has come up with yet another unusual idea. This time around it involves a small lake with a beach and an island with twin peaks. This is Wynn’s latest proposal to entertain Las Vegas visitors.

This is not the first time Wynn is doing something out of the ordinary.

Some of Steve Wynn’s earlier projects include the Bellagio’s dancing fountains, Treasure Island’s staged pirate battle and an exploding volcano at The Mirage.

Back in April, Wynn announced this special Paradise Park project will feature a man-made lake spanning 38 acres which will be built over an existing 18-hole golf course.

Wynn said guests who stay at the Wynn and Encore facilities as well as the new 1,000 hotel tower being built will be able to gain free access to the Paradise Park. For non-guests, an entrance fee between $20 to $30 would be charged.

Crystal Lagoons

Building a man-made lake in water-scarce state like Nevada has raised a lot of eyebrows. The company has however asserted that the lake will be more conservative in its use of water than the current golf course.

In a statement, Wynn said,

Paradise Park is taking advantage of imagination and fantasy on property that we own for zero (dollars), with water rights that we own for zero – and we’re the only ones that have them at this size. And we’re going to do it with solar power, and we’re going to use less water than a golf course, so we’re going to be very green at the same time.

Experts have expressed concern at the environmental impact of such a project including the effect of evaporation and the ethics of such a facility when there is drought in the region. Dale Devitt, a soil and water scientist at UNLV and the director of the Center for Urban Water Conservation said that artificial lakes must be built after due thought as it has many consequences.

According to the Southern Nevada Water Authority the golf course uses around 700 to 800 acre-feet of water in a year while the lake alone would take up around 300 to 400 acre-feet in a year.

The lake will be developed based on technology from Crystal Lagoons US Corp which has said that the lake will consume lesser water than projected as a result of a safe layer of film on the surface of the lake which will control evaporation.

Adrian Sterne

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