First Resorts World, Now Take a First Peek at Lucky Dragon

Eater Vegas shared your first peek at the Chinese-inspired Resorts World Las Vegas. Now, take a look at the latest architectural ambitions for the Asian-inspired, North Strip proposed Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino, a $373 million, 201 room boutique hotel and 19,000-square-foot casino.

First pitched back in September 2011, the plans drop this resort right next to the Golden Steer steakhouse and project co-developer Andrew Fonfa's own Allure residential building on the other side. And the latest plans call for five restaurants, four bars and lounges and a full commitment to honoring their Asian inspiration.

Existing for years as yet another wistful Las Vegas construction dream, the project suddenly awoke in the last two months with a new rush for permits and approvals including site upgrades, the building of trenches for all necessary utilities and moving a street light to accommodate the underground work.

Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino

The design has also changed since first announced and is being sold with dramatic help from lush renderings by EV&A Architects. The same "lucky" red exterior color remains, but the concept is sleeker, more mature and clearly aiming to draw visitors at this end of the Strip away from their very close neighbor SLS Las Vegas.

Proposed dining will feature "high-end Dim Sum," "noodle bars" and "fine dining - northern and southern Chinese food." So far only "notable international chef partners" are suggested. "Tea and traditional herbal remedies" will be offered for guests on property.

This carries over to the retail and spa side of the resort. Tea sets and Chinese herbal medicines will be available for purchase, plus you can visit the "Sundries shop (with Lucky Dragon branded items)," purchase "jewelry and unique Asian artifacts" and "cutting edge fashion sourced from boutiques throughout Asia."

Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino

Utilizing the same EB-5 program as Resorts World, SLS and the Downtown Grand, the aim is to attract foreign investors with the promise permanent residency, better know as a "Green Card" for "you, your spouse and children under 21 by investing $500,000 into a US government designated program."

They can then take advantage of "multi-lingual staff and signage" servicing 201 "high end guest rooms and suites appointed in modern Asian style" and a "secluded pool with private bar."

Down on the casino floor,  the focus is on "Baccarat, Pai Gow, Fan Tan and Sic Bo." Keeping the boutique feel, there will be "approximately 600 slot machines." By comparison, SLS Las Vegas hosts about 800 machines. Lucky Dragon will add "approximately 60 table games" and "Feng Shui designed high limit lounges."

A 2016 completion date has still been recently touted. The site is currently an empty lot.