Silverton renovations include unique show

Silverton officials are using innovation and technology to give the hotel and casino a facelift.

Silverton Casino LLC purchased Boomtown about five years ago and changed the name to the Silverton, located at Blue Diamond Road and Interstate 15. Since then, the company has gradually changed the look of the casino. The first phase was the completion of the Sundance Grill, in March 2003; and the Shady Grove Lounge and Twin Creeks steakhouse last summer.

The Air Streamer silver trailer in the Shady Grove Lounge holds two miniature bowling lanes. The trailer was purchased through ebay from a family in Oklahoma. The tree came from Washington, said David Krause, director of marketing.

"People don't realize it's inside," Krause said of the outdoor feeling of the lounge. "That's what's fun about it, though."

The copper tones, the tree motif and the Adirondack Lodge feeling of the first phase inspired the rest of the project. With the addition of the Bass Pro Shop, the look was complete.

"I really liked that style of architecture, however, I wanted to broaden that perspective a bit," said Craig Cavileer, vice president, general manager and partner at the Silverton. "That's why we have a contemporary lodge. I wanted it to be a little softer, a little more feminine, so we could appeal to our female demographic and not just the male demographic. It would put a little more quirkiness to it."

Across the casino from the grill, lounge and steakhouse, walls hide the construction on a more than $150 million project that will double the Silverton's size. The project has been five years in the making, since the property changed hands.

"On Nov. 4, you take the curtain down and both buildings look the same. One is a new construction and the other is an operating business, but they're separated by 6 inches of drywall," Cavileer said. "It's really a whole new experience. It won't have any Silverton or Boomtown leftovers. There's a lot of things happening all at one time."

"It was a very slow process getting it going. We had to wait until the growth got out here before we started expanding," Krause said. "We're still going to be a locals casino with this ... it adds another element that people will travel to go to see."

By November, the Silverton will have an additional 38,000 square feet of gaming space. The Bass Pro Shop, an outdoor and sports apparel retailer, will add 165,000 square feet of retail space, and the new Mermaid Lounge will bring a 119,000-gallon salt water tank (larger than the Forum Shops Aquarium but smaller than the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay) full of 4,000 fish and mermaids.

Yes, mermaids.

Modeled after shows at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida, synchronized swimmers will perform daily for those in the lounge as well as patrons walking nearby under the waterfall entrance to the Bass Pro Shop. The show, choreographed by "O" alum Stephane Miermont, includes eight synchronized swimmers, including two gold medalists from France. The free performances are set for every two hours. The later evening hours will bring a burlesque show to the tank.

"It's going to have the talent and skill level of 'O,' but it's going to be free," Krause said.

Cavileer conceived the idea for the show while taking in a night of "Zumanity," the Cirque du Soleil show at New York-New York. He was inspired by one of the acts where two women swim and perform acrobatics in a large bowl of water.

Cavileer's background as a board member for the Nevada Ballet Theatre made the underwater ballet a complete idea. This month, the synchronized swimmers will travel to the Fox Studios in Rosarito, Mexico -- where "Titanic" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" were filmed -- to rehearse in salt water.

"It's a beautiful thing," Cavileer said. "Think about that with four or five of them with props and lighting. It's just going to be terrific. This has never been done before anywhere."

About $600,000 was spent on sound and lighting for the shows. Technology ensures a game of poker won't be hindered by the show's effects.

"(The sound and music) won't bother the person playing blackjack. It's nonintrusive to the gambler," Krause said. "It's amazing technology."

The tank and waterfall will provide the decor for the Silverton's new entrance.

"Everything on property has had a major facelift," Krause said. "Our goal is to create a level of excitement."

The hotel and casino isn't stopping at the new expansion. The next three years include plans for the rest of the 100-acre property. A movie theater, amphitheater and additional rooms, dining and retail space are in the works.

Currently, the company is helping with construction to improve the Blue Diamond and Industrial roads intersection to make driving to Silverton a less stressful experience, Krause said.

A new digital sign, similar to Mandalay Bay, will replace the red, white and blue Silverton sign in October in time for the renovation completion. The slot machines also have been updated, and Cavileer also plans to have the slot machines coin-free by November.

"Most people don't realize how big it really is, and this is only phase one," Krause said. "It's a pretty big project. People don't realize everything is changing."


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