Making a disused hotel roof a striking Las Vegas pool club

Making a disused hotel roof a striking Las Vegas pool club 26 March 2014

By Howard Stutz

LAS VEGAS -- Nightclub operator Victor Drai considered the roof of the former Barbary Coast and Bills Gamblin Hall & Saloon untapped potential.

Drai, 66, a Los Angeles-based nightlife mogul, operated Drais After Hours in the basement of the small Strip casino. On New Years Eve he would venture to the roof of the 11-story property to watch the annual fireworks show.

It was the best view from here looking up and down the Strip, Drai said of the property at the northeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road.

I knew this for years. I always had a vision in my head, Drai said.

Now, that vision is taking shape.

A Memorial Day weekend opening is planned for Drais Beachclub and Nightclub a 65,000-square-foot rooftop nightclub, day club and pool deck designed by Drai that sits atop The Cromwell, after a $185 million remodeling of the building.

Drai spent Friday afternoon touring the site, which overlooks the Strip. The spacious nightclub adds three floors to the hotel-casino and opens up onto the pool area, which also has a dance stage set aside for a DJ.

At first, Drai was only able to present renderings of the project. He initially brought a ladder to roof and had Caesars Entertainment Corp. executives and property officials to see what the view would be from a platform.

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Making a disused hotel roof a striking Las Vegas pool club