Amusement Parks Nevada

Dorothy is still off to see the Wizard, but this time the Yellow Brick Road passes row upon row of clanking slot machines. Like Munchkins, a gaggle of children surround the pony-tailed actress posing as Dorothy inside the new MGM Grand Hotel casino. Grown-ups snap pictures of the kids and their newfound Land of Oz friends.

A California investment company plans to build an amusement park and 300-room nongaming hotel behind the Stratosphere hotel-casino. Emerald Isle of Southern California has already acquired about half of the 70 acres it needs for the venture. In comparison, Disneyland is 85 acres. Emerald Isle agreed to buy Stupak Park from the city for $4.5 million--six times the $750,000 estimated value--at Monday's city Real Estate Commission meeting.

A California investment company plans to build an amusement park and 300-room nongaming hotel behind the Stratosphere hotel-casino. Emerald Isle of Southern California has already acquired about half of the 70 acres it needs for the venture. In comparison, Disneyland is 85 acres. Emerald Isle agreed to buy Stupak Park from the city for $4.5 million--six times the $750,000 estimated value--at Monday's city Real Estate Commission meeting.

Dorothy is still off to see the Wizard, but this time the Yellow Brick Road passes row upon row of clanking slot machines. Like Munchkins, a gaggle of children surround the pony-tailed actress posing as Dorothy inside the new MGM Grand Hotel casino. Grown-ups snap pictures of the kids and their newfound Land of Oz friends.

The old Hollywood met the new Las Vegas on Monday as a flock of celebrity look-alikes--and a few real celebrities--attended groundbreaking ceremonies for the $1-billion MGM Grand Hotel & Theme Park, which has come to symbolize the city's hope for attracting more families as visitors. The hotel's Wizard-of-Oz theme was heavily emphasized at the event, held under a white tent at the center of the 112-acre development site.

The old Hollywood met the new Las Vegas on Monday as a flock of celebrity look-alikes--and a few real celebrities--attended groundbreaking ceremonies for the $1-billion MGM Grand Hotel & Theme Park, which has come to symbolize the city's hope for attracting more families as visitors. The hotel's Wizard-of-Oz theme was heavily emphasized at the event, held under a white tent at the center of the 112-acre development site.