Major renovations are underway at Circus Circus, and they can be summed up with one word: revitalization.
The more than 50-year-old Las Vegas hotel and casino is known for its kid-friendly amenities, such as the Adventuredome theme park, and living up to its name with a quirky circus theme.
Now, the Strip staple is getting a makeover inside and out, to “get it back to the glory days and what it used to be,” general manager Shana Gerety said.
That included refreshing Circus Circus’ classic, pink-and-white tent roof for the first time in its 55-year history.
“We have been doing a lot of work on the inside, but if you’re not invited to come in from the outside to come into the inside to see what we’re doing — if there’s nothing enticing you to come in there — then the hard work that’s going on in the inside doesn’t really pay off as much,” Gerety said. “So it was really important to make the outside ... be something that people want to go look at.”
The 43,500 square-foot roof tent top — visible from passersby on the Strip — had become an “eyesore” over the years, Gerety said, so Circus Circus started from the scratch and painted it anew in its signature colors.
The project was completed by Las Vegas-based Commercial Roofers, using products from manufacturer GAF.
“Circus Circus is a symbolic, historical landmark on the Las Vegas Strip — we’re proud to have been part of the team to help maintain its iconic status and protect its legacy by restoring its exterior,” Charles Farrington, technical sales representative for GAF, said in an email.
The roof created a unique challenge for workers because of its steep incline, which required them to rappel down it using a rig, pump, hose and spray system, said John McGeary, vice president and chief operating officer at Commercial Roofers.
“Since it sat outside in the very hot Las Vegas sun for years, the roof and its signature colors — Exuberant Pink and white — were faded,” he said in an email. “Our team worked to find a solution that would repair Circus Circus’ steep and distinct roof and revitalize the vibrant colors of the classic circus tent-like structure.”
Other renovations to the property include those at Circus Circus’ 30-year-old Adventuredome, which Gerety said has grown to 28-plus rides with more on the way, and new attractions for a variety of ages — from miniature bowling to axe throwing.
“The concept of Circus Circus now is really revitalizing it and making it a destination for everybody,” Gerety said. “Not just a destination for kids, but a destination for adults, for people that want to come to Las Vegas and not have to spend an arm and a leg ... Circus has a little bit of everything for everybody, and some of the new attractions that we’ve added really does that.”
Additionally, a $10 million project is redoing all of the property’s elevators, which Gerety said are outdated. The guest experience will ultimately be made new, from the time a customer walks in and gets on the elevator to when they arrive in their room, she said.
“And obviously, we continue to update rooms as far as furniture and try to continue to give Circus the same value property that it was, but at the same time have a refreshed look to it,” Gerety said. “So, not a complete remodel by any means on the rooms, but definitely we are going through and touching up areas of the rooms that need to be looked at, as well.”
As for the new roof, it’s been a hit ever since it was completed earlier this year, Gerety said.
“People love it,” she said. “You know you’ve done a good job when you come out there on a Saturday night and people are standing out there taking photos.”