'There's always a sense of excitement around here when you have a new property opening,' Green said. Malaysia-based gaming operator Genting Group bought the property in 2013 for $350 million and got to work on what is now Resorts World. ► Viva Virgin Vegas: New Virgin Hotels Las Vegas resort opens amid wave of optimism But the recession left the project a dormant skeleton of steel and concrete that stayed dormant for years. 'The site rings just about every bell you can think of in terms of the history of gaming and resorts in Las Vegas,' said Green, whose father was a Stardust card dealer.Īfter owner Boyd Gaming imploded Stardust in 2007, the company planned to build a new hotel-casino to replace it. Opened in 1958, it was at the time the largest hotel on The Strip. Where Resorts World now stands sat an iconic piece of Las Vegas history: Stardust. 'And the spot itself means a great deal.' Long road to opening 'It took a while to recover from the recession and for Las Vegas to get its groove back,' said Nevada historian Michael Green.

The opening of the mega hotel represents a major turning point for a slice of Las Vegas Boulevard battered by the last recession that never quite recovered – until now. Late Thursday evening, the $4.3 billion Resorts World Las Vegas welcomed the public inside.

The first new resort built on The Strip in more than a decade is now open.

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