Eager visitors fill Encore to capacity on the Strip

Las Vegas’ biggest snowstorm in 30 years kept Courtland Campbell and his friends in town long enough to attend the opening of the $2.3 billion Encore on Monday night.

Security measures kept him in the cold an extra hour.

Steve Wynn’s newest property opened to the public at 8 p.m. Monday night with nearly 800 people waiting outside in the windy cold along the Strip.

Hundreds more waited inside along the hallway connecting Wynn Las Vegas with the newest property.

Campbell, who has been trying to get back home to Raleigh, N.C., since Wednesday’s snowfall, said he had heard about the opening so decided to check it out.

"We’d been hearing about it for a while so we decided to come out," Campbell said. "It’s supposed to be a party, or something. I’ve never been to a casino opening so it’s new to me."

Although the casino opened at 8 p.m., Campbell and friends did not enter the building until a couple of minutes before 9 p.m. Encore security guards told the waiting crowd that the property was at full capacity and additional people would be let in as others left the property.

The opening, however, caused few traffic problems along the Strip with Las Vegas police officers directing traffic. Traffic did back up along the right lane at 7 p.m. as partygoers tried to enter the property. The property opened after a private party.

EARLIER (posted 9:12 p.m.)

Hundreds waited in line today outside the new Encore some 45 minutes after the casino opened at 8 p.m.

With security officials saying the property is at full capacity, people are being let in in small groups as others leave.

Some discouraged visitors left, saying they would return to the $2.3 billion property later.

EARLIER (posted 8:17 p.m.)

At least 700 people lined the fence outside the $2.3 billion Encore, braving cold temperatures and a brisk wind when the doors opened to the public on schedule at 8 p.m. today.

Security guards at the front of the line let groups of nearly 20 at a time head toward the new casino.

EARLIER (posted 7:38 p.m.)

The pending opening of the Encore at 8 p.m. today has forced a traffic backup along the Strip for motorists trying to get onto the property.

With the front valet area closed, cars are backed up along the northbound turn lane from the far north end of the property back to Spring Mountain Road.

There is also a heavy security presence with two dozen security officers lining the quarter-mile fence in front of the Encore.

Approximately 100 people waited in line inside the public waiting area in the hallway between Wynn Las Vegas and Encore an hour before opening.

The line of people watched as invited guest of Wynn Resorts walk into a private party held prior to the scheduled public opening at 8 p.m.