Casino Fandango planning $100 million expansion

Casino Fandango officials plan to build a $100 million expansion to the South Carson Street casino that includes a hotel, amphitheater, housing and a retail center.

Steve Forester, casino general manager, said Wednesday the 100- to 200-room hotel will be located on Curry Street behind the casino. Carson Gaming LLC, which owns Fandango, closed escrow last month on about 30 acres off South Curry Street and Voltaire Canyon Road for $2.8 million.

"Tentative plans are for an amphitheater, housing and retail," he said. "Along with one other venue that we cannot disclose at this time.

"Our intent is to have entertainment, commercial and residential interest on the property."

Forester said the casino owners plan to develop the entire 30 acres. So far, workers have leveled an area on South Curry Street near Clearview Drive for an 800-spot parking lot. It is half completed.

Plans for the 30-acre development will be taken to the city for approval after the final venue is confirmed.

"I think it's a home run," said Carson City Mayor Marv Teixeira. "I'm very excited for them. It's a huge investment and I think it's exactly what this community needs. With the rooms, it's going to bring people here."

Forester said the residential area could be a mixed development with single-family homes and triplexes, but it is in the conceptual stage. He said the company wants to build residences that fit into the neighborhood.

Carson Gaming bought the 30 acres from the VanSickle Trust on Oct. 3. According to the city building department, the company has secured only a grading permit for the parking lot on Curry Street.

"If there is land available adjacent to your property, as you grow, if you can, you take it," Forester said.

A $4 million parking garage south of the casino will be completed the second week of December, he said. When complete, the casino will have 1,100 parking spaces. Before construction began it had 660 spaces.

Walt Sullivan, Carson City director of planning and community development, said so far Fandango has not applied for a master plan review. The review is not mandatory, but encouraged in major developments such as this. Commercial projects may go right into the building permit stage.

Residential developments must submit conceptual and tentative maps for approval by the planning commission.

Carson Gaming is based in Las Vegas and managed by Garry Goett, according to the secretary of state.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.