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BEST BET - SPOTLIGHT ON SHOPPING ON THE LAKE
 MonteLago
Village: A Fait Accompli
By Bobbie Katz
Sometimes
it takes a Village to provide the nearest all-around fun
getaway from the Las Vegas Strip.
Located 17 miles from the famed boulevard and opened in
Spring of 2003, Montelago Village at the beautiful 2,600-acre
Lake Las Vegas Resort is a “resort within a resort.”
The upscale commercial complex houses a full-service marina
offering watercraft rentals and yacht cruises and an enchanting
retail enclave in the center of Lake Las Vegas Resort.
Architecturally inspired by the intimate lakeside communities
of the Northern Italy lake region, the enclave boasts charming
water’s edge restaurants and cafes, quaint boutiques,
and the 62,000-square-foot MonteLago Casino that houses
40,000 square feet of gaming space.
The $500-million 50-acre MonteLago Village is inspired by
the beauty of centuries-old villages. It is referred to
by its architects as a “piccolo” community,
which is a small gathering place whose layout draws upon
generations of experience that have gone into the evolution
of European lakeside villages. The focal point is a bridge
inspired by the Pontevecchio Bridge in Florence, Italy,
that spans Lake Las Vegas.
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The architecture of MonteLago Village, developed by Intrawest,
reflects the Mediterranean theme established by Ronald F.
Boeddeker, chairman and president of Transcontinental Properties,
Inc., the master developer of Lake Las Vegas Resort. Along
with the Village’s outer beauty, however, Boeddeker
has devoted himself to proving that it’s what’s
inside that counts.
“This is what happens when you turn the kids loose
with a development,” laughs Boeddeker, the visionary
behind the Lake Las Vegas Resort, who has spent more than
two decades turning his dreams for the resort into a reality.
“MonteLago Village is a play land. It brings out the
child in everyone. People can golf, boat, swim, eat, shop,
enjoy an art show or a festival or a jazz concert on the
lake, enjoy a romantic evening on a gondola, take a boat
tour of the lake, and they can even fly fish. There are
lake trout, perch and big mouth bass here; some of the bass
weigh 10-12 pounds.”
A pedestrian experience similar to the walking worlds of
Europe or Bilbao, Spain, MonteLago Village offers a unique
assortment of retailers. With a few exceptions, such as
Starbucks coffee house and Rocky Mountain Chocolates, these
stores and restaurants can not be found anywhere else in
Las Vegas.
Among the shops ares Alexander Perfumes and Cosmetics, exclusive
skincare, cosmetic and fragrances; Collectors Fine Art,
a distinctive collection of fine art from around the world;
Collectors Fine Art Glass Artique, glass works and sculptures;
Da Mincci Jewelers, jewelry, Swiss watches and specialty
giftware, and Flights of Fancy, offering kites, windsocks,
wind chimes, garden ornaments and unique gifts.
There is also Frangelo!, custom gifts and floral arrangements;
J. Ryan’s, men’s and boys’ casual chic
clothing; Moonbeams, women’s fashion, swimwear, shoes,
eyewear, lingerie and gifts; Splash Bath and Body, a “deli”
for the body featuring natural soaps and lotions; Tesoro,
hand-crafted treasures for the home, and The Village Golf
Shop, novelty accessories and apparel for the golf connoisseur.
(Three of the six planned golf courses at Lake Las Vegas
are completed, with two being available for public use,
Reflection Bay and The Falls.)
Eateries include Como’s, a chic restaurant showcasing
American cuisine with a French flairwith celebrated chef
Josef Keller at the helm; Caffe Positano, a deli offering
gourmet pastries, sandwiches made to order, burgers and
more, Luna Rosa, a delectable Italian restaurant owned by
a gentleman from Milan, an Irish pub, and Tesoro, authentic
Italian gelato.
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Although manmade, Lake Las Vegas is no small little lake,
it takes in 320 acres and 10 miles of shoreline and is 200
feet at its deepest point. That makes it perfect for the
boating, swimming and fishing activities that abound. La
Contessa, an 80-foot yacht, is used for group gatherings,
sit-down breakfasts or dinners accommodating 50-75 people,
wedding receptions and the like. On weekends, for a $15
fee per person, the public can take an hour tour of the
lake that includes beverages and appetizers. A second vessel,
the Lady of the Lake, is a 60-foot 60-ton blue water vessel
that also accommodates groups and tours of the lake.
In addition, there is now a fleet of four gondolas that
take guests on a romantic ride, complete with singing gondoliers,
and offer lunch, dinner, or other culinary delights. There
is a one-hour Classic cruise that offers Godiva chocolates
and champagne ($125 for two people); a one-hour Basket Cruise
Lunch ($175 for two people); a Destination Dinner Cruise,
in which guests take a one-hour cruise with champagne to
the Lake Las Vegas Resort of choice and get off and have
an hour-and-a-half dinner ($175 for two people, not including
dinner), and the Gourmet Dinner Cruise, an hour-and-a half
excursion in which guests are served a three-course meal
on fine china on the gondola ($255 for two people).. Guests
can also propose to their loved ones on a gondola (there
is a special Message in a Bottle proposal ceremony) or get
married on a gondola.
MonteLago Village has also instituted numerous events for
the public-at-large to enjoy. They include Jazz on the Lake
(outdoor concerts by jazz artists), the Fine Arts Festival;
Stars on the Lake where big-name acts perform on a floating
stage, Movies Al Fresco and some smaller arts and crafts
festivals and more.
For information about Lake Las Vegas or any of its amenities,
call 1-800-564-1603.
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