HOW THE RESORT POOL WENT FROM WASTED SPACE TO THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
BY MARJORIE PRESTON
I n the early 1950s , when Las Vegas had more sky than skyline , the pool at the Sands Hotel was considered an oasis in the desert . Vintage postcards show a classic kidney-shaped pool ringed by palm trees , with lounge chairs under striped umbrellas .
Guests could grab a snack or do a cannonball off the high dive , but otherwise , there wasn ’ t much to do at the pool . In the pre-air conditioning era , it was simply a place to cool off , slap on the Coppertone , and take a nap .
Compare that to Hakkasan Group ’ s Wet Republic , the day club and “ Ultra Pool ” at MGM Grand in Las Vegas . The 54,500-square-foot venue features 6,000 square feet of saltwater pools , dedicated valets , a sun deck that doubles as a dance floor , and king-sized beds that can accommodate up to 10 of your closest friends . Upgrade to the “ VIP experience ,” and you get your own bungalow with a flat-screen TV , oversized Jacuzzi and controllable misting system .
Nowadays , resort operators understand the value of the pool space . It has become a “ Fantasy Island ” for patrons , a critical component that often serves as a day club , a nightclub , a dance club and sometimes even a casino , all in one multi-purpose paradise .
ADULT SWIM
The Sands pool was the original Las Vegas pool experience
Some say the Big Pool Era originated with Rehab at the Hard Rock Las Vegas . When it debuted in 2003 , as former Hard Rock President Kevin Kelley has said , the typical casino pool was “ a slab of concrete with lounge chairs and 55-year-old cocktail waitresses slogging drinks .”
Rehab changed all that — and how . It opened with a splash , winning raves for its waterfall , water slides and real sand beach . Guests could loll in draped cabanas and on upholstered daybeds , and be served by bikini-clad cocktail servers . Celebrity DJs provided the soundtrack , and made Rehab the place to be for party-loving young adults .
48 CASINO DESIGN 2015