If you’ve not been under a rock, you’ve no doubt seen our articles on the shifts, slides, changes and happenings at Wynn that have been going on for quite some time now. Dining and chef changes, restaurant closures and openings, new gaming and nightlife concepts. The evidence is that now that Wynn Palace is coming to a close Steve Wynn is getting bored, and boredom means turning his attention to the original concept and taking it yet another step ahead.

So it came as a bit of a shock, but no real surprise to use in the know, that Wynn today unveiled major changes to his Las Vegas properties. Behold, Wynn Paradise Park.

To those Wynncore nerds like myself (personal best was having the Encore Beach Club plans shown to be me before construction started) this rumor has been flying around for years. The golf course, while idyllic and serene, has never been a major money maker for Wynn. Hence him adding more towers and a “water feature” of some sort swirled around the gossip circles for years. But now it’s down in cement, and while the original idea is played down, the result is classic Wynn in planning and hopefully in execution.

So what exactly is Wynn Paradise Park?

According to the press release issued by Wynn today there will be three major components. First and foremost, more conference space as well as additional gaming, dining, and nightlife components. Things that will fill in the gap between Encore and Wynn on the side of the golf course, including an expansion of the popular Country Club restaurant. On the hotel side, a smaller, squatter yet signature curved tower will rise along the banks of the 38-acre lagoon. More exciting here though is the mention that each room will have separate living, bedroom and balcony areas. This could be the true all suite tower that Wynn was wanting when Encore was built.

But front and center of the development will be the lake itself. At 38 acres, Wynn is selling it as a recreational lake, offering parasailing, paddle boating, and wind surfing. This isn’t just for show, the lake and its pristine white sand lined beaches will be a destination of itself. Think Mandalay Beach on steroids. Pair it with more hotel rooms and dining and nightlife geared towards the lagoon and it’s natural appeal and it becomes to feel almost like a separate resort ideal, just like Wynn and Encore each have their own feel and vibe. And of course, the lagoon will feature entertainment. In the center will be a 120 foot island that will be the base of “elaborate firework displays” and other entertainment on the lake after dark. Hopefully it will be a little bit more Disney than Myrtle Beach.

Almost lost in the immensity of this release, and indeed noted nearly as a footnote in the release itself, Wynn is also transforming the space between the main gate entrance and the parking Garage, including possibly some of the parking garage space itself. Here, Wynn will add more retail, as some of the retail space in the Esplanades has been forced out due to XS or other changes. Looking much from the renderings like a blend of Wynn and Encore’s esplanades, Wynn Plaza will be a two leveled high-end retail complex at just over 75,000 square feet.

The idea is a smart one, as that section of frontage has gone mostly underutilized, and this will bring more traffic from the newly expanded and refreshed Fashion Show Mall across the street. And there’s good reason to think that this will help to push Wynn’s offerings beyond Crystals, which is held as the best source of high end shopping in the city to date.

So, 2017 and beyond hold amazing things in store for the home property, and that’s a good thing. We all know that Wynn Palace will be a wild success, but it’s good that Wynn has turned his head back to his home property, and this explains a great deal about recent changes that have been afoot. And to this I say simply one thing. “Welcome home Mr. Wynn, we can’t wait to see what’s next.”

*Information and Renderings Courtesy of Wynn Resorts, Limited