Glendale Announces Plans For Largest Resort In Arizona

GLENDALE, AZ —VAI Resort and the city of Glendale on Tuesday announced plans to open what is being billed as the largest hotel and entertainment destination in Arizona. The target date for the opening is the spring of 2023.

According to CBS 5, the resort —which will be located at 9601 West Cardinals Way in the shadow of State Farm Stadium —previously was expected to be called Crystal Lagoons and open well before the Super Bowl in Glendale next Feb. Those plans have changed, as has the scale of the project, which has doubled in size.

Organizers said the 60-acre resort now will feature: over 1,200 luxury hotel suites and rooms, a large state-of-the-art 360-degree concert stage, 13 elevated fine-dining concepts, flowing white sand beaches, pristine Caribbean-blue water, a 52,000-square-foot island —the country's largest man-made private party island —and the Mattel Adventure Park.

VAI Resort also will offer a 20,000-square-foot spa and wellness center, a wedding chapel and a 400-foot tethered balloon for guests to take in breathtaking views of the valley.

"Growing up in Arizona, it's always been my dream to bring some of the best attractions from around the world right to our doorstep," said Grant Fisher, president of VAI Resort. "From the vibes of Mykonos and Tulum, to the beaches of Miami, to the concerts and parties of Las Vegas, to the ultra-modern attractions of Dubai, we're bringing the best of the best to VAI Resort right here in the heart of Glendale."

Fisher continued: "As most Arizona residents head out of state in the hot summer months, VAI Resort will bring the beach and refreshing water to their backyard. There will be no need to go anywhere else!"

One of the resort's highlights is expected to be its concert venue, which will be designed by TAIT, a global team of creative engineers, fabricators, producers and technologists that work on live entertainment environments.

According to a release about the project, the venue is expected to be one of the largest, 360-degree immersive concert venues in the world and will give visitors a chance to experience the shows from the balcony of one of 170 stage-facing hotel suites.

The first-of-its-kind Mattel Adventure Park is expected to make the resort a destination for the whole family. It will feature a Hot Wheels roller coaster, multiple go-karting experiences a Thomas & Friends indoor theme park and the first life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine electric-battery powered passenger train.

The VAI Resort is expected to create more than 1,800 new jobs for Glendale and be a benefit economically to the entire region.

"When you pick your partners well, you can expect great things to happen," said Kevin Phelps, Glendale's city manager. "That's precisely what we're experiencing with VAI Resort. Mr. Fisher's increased investment and enhanced vision for this world-class property will truly cement the city of Glendale here in the valley, the state and the country as a top entertainment destination."