These installations mark the future site and aesthetic of a 126,000-square-foot retail and entertainment complex—expected to open mid-2019 and designed to meld curated shopping, live performances, exclusive dining options, esports, virtual reality experiences, and interactive art, including the first permanent Las Vegas exhibition by Santa Fe, New Mexico-based art collective, Meow Wolf.
In simple terms, “AREA15 is for anyone who likes cool stuff,” says Winston Fisher, partner of the property’s development firm Fisher Brothers. It’s an “immersive bazaar.” But it’s also a post-apocalyptic playground, designed to feel like stepping into the landscape of Mad Max, with unique features such as “mutant vehicles” (a la Burning Man art cars) and an “interactive sculpture.” Oh, and about 800 free parking spaces. It’s all a part of the AREA15 experience.
Fisher Brothers purchased the AREA15 site—formerly home to a Mercedes car dealership and Scandia Fun Center—almost a decade ago. About two years ago, Fisher Brothers partnered with fellow New Yorker Michael Beneville of Beneville Studios (well-known for creating interactive design elements) to start formulating the concept of AREA15. “He’s a Burner,” Fisher says of Burning Man enthusiast Beneville. “I’m a comic geek. We’re both lovers of counter-culture. … You’ve got to build what you love.”
