Located north of the Strip and south of downtown, a place of diners,
neon wedding chapels, scooter rentals, strip clubs, pawn shops and the
famous Luv-It Frozen
Custard, is the new remodeled Thunderbird Boutique Hotel & Lounge
located in the middle of the action and somehow remote.
California-based developer Ilan Gorodezki and his partners purchased the
property in 2016. In 2017, the developer considered turning the
property, once known as the
Aruba, into a 15-story, 370-unit mixed-use apartment and retail space
called the Thunderbird Lofts, according to reports.
The plans upset some residents in nearby neighborhoods, who thought the
tower might dilute the area’s historic atmosphere. Despite receiving
approval from Las Vegas,
the developers ultimately opted to keep the original two-story motel
structure intact and simply remodeled it.
What's New:
More than $5 million of renovations later, the revamped Thunderbird is
gleaming with new life and a classic Las Vegas allure.
The Garden of Love wedding chapel perfectly encapsulates the renewed
property. A majestic 60- to 100-year-old pine tree stands for an altar.
Only the trunk and a few
bottom branches are visible because it grows through a glass roof and
soars into the sky.
Dappled sunlight shines down upon the place where a couple would stand.
The tree gives a sense of almost magical spirituality to the room, a
reprieve in the midst of
white marble floors and Las Vegas glitz.
The tree is one of those strokes of genius that only come about via a
thoughtful remodel. Originally, the tree was growing in an outdoor
courtyard and was slated to
be chopped down to make way for a new vision. Instead of being removed,
it was made into a centerpiece, creating something better than brand
new.
Prices range from $300-$700 (not including minister fee) for the
60-person chapel. The high-end “Majestic” package includes champagne
toast, online ceremony live
stream, unity candle or sand ceremony, flowers, custom music, digital
photos and DVD, a personal wedding coordinator and use of the “royal
bridal room with
refreshments.”
The second and smaller chapel is more traditionally Vegas. Called the
Crystal Wedding Chapel, it boasts crystal chandeliers and a bedazzled
podium. It holds up to 40
guests, and prices range from $100 to $500 (minister fee not included).
Petra Doerr, who runs the wedding chapel, says they were going for
something “modern, unique and clean.” Previously, the smaller chapel had
a very masculine feel.
Doerr took it in a more feminine direction and added “a little Las Vegas
glitter.”
The Rooms:
“It’s easier to build than repair,” said, Shay Mordo, the director of
operations. “But the vision was, ‘Let’s go make it happen, no matter
what.’”
The 100 hotel rooms have a comfortably modern look. Rustic wood
headboards give an earthy vibe, which balances some of the shinier
mid-century modern highlights, such
as trendy rugs and lamps. A turquoise, orange and yellow color scheme
keep it interesting.
The exterior doors of the rooms are painted in alternating orange and
yellow-green. The small lobby continues the visual theme, with sleek
concrete floors, walls that
have been clad in the reclaimed wood, and a single graphic lime-green
painting for decoration.
Located in a separate building, the carefully decorated “Presidential”
suite overlooks the outdoor pool. There are also eight junior suites.
Areas that would once have been dead space have been upgraded to outdoor
lounges. These small islands of leisure space boast trendy outdoor
furniture and
lighting — like little islands of cool. An empty rooftop outside some
second-story rooms is primed to be a future garden seating area.
“There are always more projects,” Mordo jokingly said. “Always something
to do.”
Weekend prices range from about $190 per night for a 200-square-foot
single queen room to $360 per night for a 600-square-foot premium suite.
Weeknight prices range
from $45 to $195 per night, respectively.
Entertainment options
Throughout its history, the Thunderbird has often hosted live
performances. It also has been a hotspot for the swing dance crowd in
addition to hosting the Neon
Reverb music festival about a decade ago.
A revamped 3,500-square-foot showroom can hold up to 300 or 350 guests,
depending on the configuration. The numbers are big, but also small in
comparison to the titans on the Strip.
Sitting in the new disc jockey booth, Mordo clicks through the new
lighting configurations to show that the room is ready to party.
In addition to the showroom, the lounge has a small stage and projector,
allowing for a second, more intimate event venue.
Even Mordo admits the Thunderbird is not located in the best part of
town. The area is huge on vintage charm, which also includes a local
homeless population. But the
rough edges belie a possible bright future.
It’s one of the closest hotels to the Arts District, which is finally
gaining steam. And it’s near offbeat attractions such as Zak Bagans’
Haunted Museum and the Gold
and Silver Pawn Shop.
The Thunderbird has managed to make itself new without sacrificing its
history, and it's uniquely situated for the next iteration of Las Vegas.
“The current owners have done an admirable job with cleaning up that
property over the past few years, said Realtor Steven Franklin, who goes
by the nickname
Downtown Steve. “It’s certainly an improvement from what it had been.”
Eatery:
Historic photos of Old Vegas line the hallway to the lounge and
restaurant. Some of the photos depict the former Strip hotel also called
the Thunderbird — no relation, except perhaps spiritual.
Kelley Jones Hospitality in partnership with Todd Parmelee have built a
new food and beverage program for the modern Thunderbird which features
hearty crowd-pleasers,
such as a “Hangover” breakfast burrito, pork belly sliders, a steak and
potato wrap, fish and chips, flatbreads and a veggie burger.
The lounge offers bartop gaming, pool, beer pong and a full bar.
Cocktails include Bloody Marys, the Blue Suede Shoes (orange and
grapefruit vodka, citrus juices,
blue curaçao and lemon-lime soda) and the 1948 Cocktail (whiskey,
Aperol, vermouth and chocolate bitters).
Located at: Thunderbird Boutique Hotel, 1215 Las Vegas Blvd. South, NV 89104-1307
