Former casino site in Henderson penciled for big redevelopment project

The city of Henderson reached a deal to sell a former casino site to a real estate firm that plans to build a sprawling mixed-use project.

City officials and California developer Agora Realty & Management unveiled plans Tuesday for a project with retail and office space, a hotel, and recreational sports facilities on the former Fiesta Henderson hotel-casino property.

Agora plans to purchase the 35-acre site from the city for $30 million and develop the complex, officials said.

All told, this isn’t the first time the city has picked a developer for the site.

In summer 2024, Henderson officials named Utah real estate firm Woodbury Corp. as the developer of choice, saying its proposal and design aligned with city officials’ and residents’ vision for the property.

Soon after, Henderson City Council members, acting as the city’s redevelopment agency, approved entering a 180-day exclusive negotiation agreement with the developer.

Woodbury’s site plan included restaurants, retail, hotels, residential, medical office space and an indoor sporting complex, city records show.

However, talks between the city and the developer eventually fell apart.

The Henderson City Council in late 2022 approved the city’s $32 million purchase of the property along Lake Mead Parkway at the 215 Beltway-Interstate 11 interchange, with plans to develop a recreational sports complex.

It bought the site from Station Casinos after the locals-focused casino chain demolished the hotel.

Meanwhile, Agora is no stranger to Southern Nevada, as the developer has multiple projects underway in North Las Vegas.

Spanning 73 acres, its Hylo Park development along Rancho Drive at Lake Mead Boulevard has a new retail plaza and is also slated to have housing, athletic facilities and other uses.

Hylo Park is spread across the neighboring former Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho hotel-casino sites. Station Casinos demolished those properties and sold the plots to Agora for about $58 million combined in 2023.

Agora is also developing Nevada State University’s new satellite campus along the north side of Lake Mead just west of Las Vegas Boulevard and plans to build retail space around the three-story, 30,000-square-foot facility.

Plus, the firm is redeveloping the former North Las Vegas City Hall campus along Civic Center Drive just north of Lake Mead.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.