Abandoned - Echelon Las Vegas 

"I love seeing buildings used for a totally different purpose than what they were built for" *Bass Pro Shop Pyramid intensifies*

The 2008 recession, for obvious reasons, often pops up in these videos. It will be interesting to see the 2008 recession be replaced by COVID as time goes on, and we have a better understanding of the long term effects that this has had on businesses.

Anytime I hear “started in the mid 2000s” or something along those lines in these videos, I know exactly where it’s going. 2008 Recession baby.

"Our good friend the 2008 recession" As someone who personally felt the effects of 2008, I laughed at this line. It's almost hilarious how many projects got cancelled.

Can you imagine how many cool buildings and resorts there’d be if there wasn’t the 2008 recession

Resorts World in person is nice but it’s nothing spectacular. It’s very similar to the design of Revel in AC.

Oh damn, episode 68. You know what's next bois. Another quality episode of Abandoned.

every time I pass the Fontainebleau or this building I say to myself "yep I know the history of this building," keep up the great work Jake, if you need another good Las Vegas topic to cover there's an abandoned water park close to Vegas named "Rock a Hoola/Lake Delores" Waterpark that has some pretty rich history

It;s a shame Boyd eliminated the Stardust. That place had the genuine vibe of the original Las Vegas - something that few resorts have today. The Stardust was FUN!!!

As a Californian, I'd love to see an abandoned on the old Los Angeles Zoo!

Something slightly missed by this, is that Resorts World is still objectively a "Luxury" resort, on the NORTH end of the strip. This is a VERY good thing. The north end has been neglected and become rather sad over the years. When your main attractions are Circus Cirucs and The Strat (saying this as someone who worked at The Strat for 2 years) that tends to happen. Even with the scaled back design, Resorts World is still overall a very good thing for a town entirely dependent on tourism trying to recover from the pandemic. The job market on the strip was made more competitive exactly during the rehiring phase due to RW, and the overall quality of the area has gone up. Honestly, the only issue is that screen is OBNOXIOUSLY bright if you live in the area. I've since moved to a different part of town, but I used to live right next to the Strip and the color of the RW screen dictated the color of the sky at night. It was creepy in an Urban Hell kind of way.

Not ashamed to admit, I’m usually clueless about most of the structures in this series, but this channel, Jake and this series always keep me hooked

Shame the original resorts world designs weren’t made. Those looked insanely cool IMO

Everyone else: "Awesome, new resort opening up." Me: "We lost the Stardust and Westward Ho for this?" Seriously though, great video as always.

It became a bland, generic and boring building. What is the draw to spend money at a place like that? The Chinese concept looked unique and something that I could have spent money on.

Donut Media: 70s oil crisis Bright Sun Films: 2008 recession currently bingewatching while working! love these vids! keep it up!

"In 2006, an announcement was made..........." Uh huh. I knew where this was going.

Hey Jake, ive been a long time viewer and was wondering if you've considered taking a look at the Nylex silos in Melbourne. They may not be in North America but there are quite interesting

Dude no way! Haha I literally just saw the movie Casino, which is partially based on the Stardust’s history. I decided to read up on the story, fascinating. Now here you are covering it, you’re such a mind reader lol. Wonderful video as always.

I miss the 90s Vegas of committed theming. All of the casinos look "generic modern" now. Yeah, the intense theming can maybe be seen as tacky sometimes, but as the Venetian - one of the only remaining themed casinos - proves, if done well, it is outstanding. If this Phoenix of Echelon had committed to the Chinese theming and really done it /well/, it could have been something truly spectacular. Instead, we got yet another "huge shapes, lights, and contrasting colours" architectural montage, but this time with a lot of red for good luck.

I heard "broke ground in 2006" and my heart sank. The full effects of the 2008 recession may never be known.

You should do a video on the Old Post Office in Chicago. It was abandoned for 30+ years and has finally been rehabbed into commercial space

To the entire crew of BSF: y'all did an amazing job on Closed for Storm. I was finally able to carve time to see it. I'm hoping for more documentaries like this in the future...still pulling for a documentary about Hard Rock Cafe Park, y'all found RICH content that day and Jake's enthusiasm rang through my ears...

Maybe it’s just me, but Vegas architecture lost its way after the Winn… the older themed hotels/casinos just have no much more life to offer. I love the Venetian, Cesar’s, Luxor, even NY/NY you can walk around these al day and marvel at how cool they are. Even the Bellagio is a little blah, but at least it has the fountains. Big and soleless seem to be winning the day and that’s sad.

I last stayed at the Stardust in 2003. It was located between the Frontier and the Westward Ho. All three are gone now. Yeah, these weren't exactly the swanky resorts of that time, but room rates and gambling limits for a strip property were cheap, and it provided a place to sleep while you walked down the strip at night to gawk at the attractions at fancier properties. It was a throwback to old Vegas, and I'm glad I got to experience that before it was gone. 🎲🎲

It's Friday and a new Abandoned? Yes please!

failed mega projects in Las Vegas, my favorite Friday night interest

The most infamous subject has once again risen from the depths of Hell… *2008*

Nice another abandoned video ! I was wondering if you can take a look at an abandoned old tourist trap on Route 66 called fort courage. I saw it on my trip last summer and I wonder why it’s been left there also it is for sale but I don’t know any news on that

They need to stop building such tall buildings in Vegas, it's just going to be more stairs to climb in the post zombie apocalypse bank heist helicopter escape.

It's interesting how styles evolve over time. Super modern mid 2000's gave way to a throwback to the theme resorts of the 90's, only to be dialed back in ambition dramatically to something like a minimalist theme resort. Nowadays, with people finding retro 70's and 80's with a modern twist more appealing, I feel like a throwback to the original Stardust could be very doable.

Have you thought of doing something regarding the road to nowhere up in North Carolina by chance? It's pretty well-known

I just visted vegas last month. I actually got to see this project get completed. Unfortunatly, it didn't seem like anything special. It's sad to see what could have been.

It was very lucky for the backers of the CityCenter complex (Aria, Vdara, Cosmopolitan and the Crystals Mall) that they managed to get construction started seven or eight months prior to Fountainbleu and Echelon, so that it was really too far in progress to halt..Also fortunate timing for Wynn Resorts that they got Encore finished before everything cratered!

I bought "Closed for Storm" almost immediately. I love your films and I have a fascination with the New Orleans amusement park. Well done! I loved it! Thank you!

It's interesting you'd see more "Chinese influence" in that hotel than you would in any modern Chinese city. Love your videos !

I can’t believe I’ve been watching you since high school and I’m out of college now 💀

The amount of infrastructure we’d have if people didn’t abandon things is insane

Please do Desoto Square Mall in Bradenton Fl, it’s just been recently abandoned

May I recommend driving through Van Nuys, California to scout locations for episode #69.

I love your content, really gives me something to do while I’m deployed

As a consistent Vegas traveler for the last 12-13 years, I'm truly happy the town has managed to survive and thrive despite the recession and pandemic. It just proves that people's insatiable need to party can never truly be stopped. Is there an episode on the two massive pillars across from Mandalay?

You can see the screen on that building from all the way across the valley. It's a complete eye sore.

I've been following since the 2nd abandoned video. Never thought Genting would ever make it into your videos. As a Malaysian, it makes me happy that one of our companies was mentioned. Overall, Genting had been expanding quite fast in the last few years, they built the original Genting in Malaysia, then we have universal studios and Genting Resort in Singapore. Then they announced that they wanted to revamp Genting Resorts in Malaysia with a Fox theme park but that fell through since Disney bought Fox and it was quite a messy lawsuit for many years. Now the Malaysian one is nearly done! I grew up there, going there every weekend with my parents. It so good to see Genting just changing with the times. So I'm cutting Genting a little slack that they didn't build the Las Vegas one as intended but at least they got there!

Boyd was basically handed the Stardust (Along with the Fremont) on a silver platter. Clark County made Boyd the operator in 1983 and sold it to him for cheap two years later, because he was the only guy the county felt they could trust to not give in to the mob. Gaming commissioner Harry Reid (Yes, THAT Harry Reid) took down 3 separate mob rings in the Stardust between 1976 and 1981, before leaving the gaming commission after a mafia car bomb almost killed him and his wife. The commission basically just said "Here's the Stardust, don't screw it up!"

Don't ever change your intro music, jake. It's how i can always remember all your abandoned videos. They're the best. Keep up the good work. Really loving it.

Early shift at work... still quiet... had a coffee... and BAM! New episode. Thanks mate!

Could you do a video on the infamous "Salton Sea"?

Their first mistake was messing with the Stardust, demolishing it completely and not respecting what originally was built there.

Set to open in 2010. Me: Yep, that makes sense now....

Hey bright sun films, you probably won’t see this, but could you do a video about rms empress of Ireland? It’s called the Canadian titanic, well that’s its nickname, I know you don’t really do sunken ship videos anymore but i really do like how you do your videos, and how you explain it and the humor you add. It’s very nice

Just watched “Closed for Storm” on iTunes. So many levels to the story and so much devastation. Fascinating and heartbreaking

I predict the next episode of Abandoned will be filled with comments stating "nice"... Just a hunch though. Love the content Jake, meme numbers aside.

I live in Las Vegas. I didn’t like Resorts World when they first opened. But now I frequent there weekly. I really like Resorts World.

Guessing before watching: ‘08 Recession

I'm glad this one has a happy ending. I'm so sad that I don't live in Las Vegas anymore. If I did, I could have witnessed its completion. I think good things are going to continue for Resorts World but, Fontainebleu needs to be torn down. It's become such a dated eyesore unlike the old casinos that are now dead and imploded.

I'm noticing a trend with these videos lately in that the recession messed up a LOT of things

I just went by there last week when I was in Vegas and I was completely uninspired by this place. I was more interested in the old abandoned Fountainebleau site and told my friend all about it based on what I learned from your video.

What a champion by getting the documentary, “Closed for storm” on Prime!

I saw news recently that Resort's World, despite a much hyped opening, is struggling with occupancy rates compared to the strip as a whole. This doesn't portend well for the property

I visited Las Vegas in 2017 and passed by this construction. Never could've guessed that it had been abandoned for all those years before!

Honestly I like how the building looks its just sad that everything around doesn’t match or have the same design as in the plans

I never understood how a megaproject that was too optimistic from the outset, took way too long to complete and ended up short of expectations can be favorable over a more down-to-earth project. I'm guessing that American real estate developers need this type of drama.

i am sure we will get an amazing continuation of abandoned places with the cousin of the 2008 recetion.... the 2020 pandemic

Bright Sun Flims and the 2008 financial recession is the equivalent of Defunctland and Micheal Eisner.

The North End of the Las Vegas Strip -- a major collection of the world's most abandoned places. 🙂 But hey, keep going north on Las Vegas Boulevard..... And when you get to North Las Vegas, suddenly you realize that the Abandoned Strip is practically heaven.

Boyd Gaming sounds like a good youtube channel not gonna lie.

Stardust Casino. They made Stardust Raceway, which was a pretty cool race track. You can find a mod of it for rFactor. Obviously nothing of it exists anymore.

Just remember. If it wasn't for the 2008 recession.. Jake wouldn't be able to make these awesome videos for us..

"No, this is not a good town for psychedelic drugs. Reality itself is too twisted." --Hunter S. Thompson, _Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream_ (1971)

You'll be making a video on the new Disney Star Wars hotel that was just announced soon enough

Resorts World is a very succesful hotel & resort company in Asia. I love gaming in Macau, & the malls, hotels & amusement parks in Asia. I'd personally rather go to (& have gone to) Macau for gaming.

Jake, I literally just got off work got on RU-vid saw you uploaded 15 minutes ago and guess what I'm listening to on the way home and going to watch again as soon as I get home so I can see all the amazing footage 🤓😬

Was really looking forward to this project since it's announcement and it was just a huge let down , it seems everything was rushed and poorly designed

Excellent video, love it when you cover Vegas🌟🥂😺❤️

Developers in 2007: yay, everything is great! Let’s build big expensive things! 2008: let me stop you right there!

I wonder if having the bottom part sitting exposed for so long will shorten the life of that building at all?

When i see a new AbandonedBSF video i expect 2 things: 1. 2008 Recession 2. Vegas

I will always love the contrast between the slightly dark title card immediately followed by the peppy "What's up, guys! 😃" But this is also just a great little series and I'm always glad to see a new episode pop up.

jake, man, i love you and your videos. this one is great, as always, but... did you really say "half of a quarter"? you mean an eighth? 😂

Part of the problem with the LV Strip as a whole is that it is becoming over-saturated with upscale resorts aimed at bringing in whales and/or wealthy foreigners. It's become too many hotels chasing too few wealthy people.

If you think about it life never went back the same after the recession IMO

As always great video Jake! I enjoyed "Closed for storm" very much too!

Say Jake, did you get the chance to look into the Taylor Yard complex in Los Angeles? I think it’s history and slow and rather symbolic decline would be especially interesting to a guy like you. P.S. If you want an idea for Bankrupt, try the Penn Central Transportation Company, a railroad that sank into the largest bankruptcy in American history until Lehman Brothers, almost

I got the opportunity to stay in the Hilton part of Resorts world two weeks after opening. The property is really nice, however as a Vegas native we were promised so much for this resort. I remember watching it all from when the stardust went down to resorts world opening and it’s really sad. I was so disappointed with what came to be. I tell people that they could get way better deals at other properties then one night here. Plus I don’t believe it ever needed three Hilton brands under one tower. Just makes things more confusing. But keep up the good work Jake! Been watching this channel since Rolling Acres mall and still loving every video since!

I just went to resorts world 3 days ago and it’s a huge disappointment. Bland design and bland architecture. The mall is mostly vacant of stores and what they do have is terrible. The Judith leiber store selling 5,000 purses is the only high end store with name recognition. Even more shocking is while other casinos were packed with customers, this one being the only new hotel in 10 years was empty to the point of feeling creepy. I think we are looking at a future abandoned place

Yes Jake!!! Brightening up my Friday evening here in NYC!! Thank you!

BSF should make a playlist of just the 2008 financial crisis Abandoned episodes

Ooooh **grabs Closed for Storm** Woohoo! Thanks, Jake!

Bruh what 54 views in an hour? These videos are amazing how is the view count so low

I'm really excited to see this video! I love it every time a new one of your videos comes out! I really hope you see this comment and have a good day 😄

Awesome, another Bright Sun Films mini-documentary! These are always amazing.

I work in this industry in IT. 2008 was really wild for Gaming companies and many iconic brands almost ceased to exist. It was an extremely stressful time job security wise. That said, things are much better today. There are countless stories of ruined projects because of the recession.

Las Vegas looks more and more like a Rollercoaster Tycoon. It's just hard to imagine the city wants you to take it serious even though it certainly spends serious money to impress you. You almost feel like people who would visit the place would be only the richest, but the truth is the opposite and that is scary.

IMO it's a gross blight and a travesty. Knock it down and build a facility to employ and house the homeless. Or how about a hospital with affordable health care? But no... what America really needed was another casino.

Another great video Jake. Vegas history is really interesting to me

The original Chinese themed project looks a lot more appealing than both the initial design and what we ended up getting

as a fellow Canadian and I love what you guys do...thanks Jake and fellow videographers

Hello from the Czech republic

At the end i was like january 2022?!!?!? Then i remebered its already december... fml