The atrium at National Harbor | Pictures by Paula Squires
With its grand opening just days away on Dec. 8, MGM National Harbor opened its doors Monday for a media sneak peak at its new $1.4 billion casino and resort on the banks of the Potomac River. As one would expect from a Las Vegas-based entertainment company, there’s plenty of glitz and grandeur, but also touches befitting the nation’s capital.
The iconic, 18-foot-tall, gold MGM lion guards the VIP entrance while a bedazzling display of holiday decorations fill the property’s two-story, light-filled atrium just off the hotel’s main lobby. There are more than 70,000 fresh flowers ordered from a local vendor in the white, gold and silver display by artist Ed Libby, which includes giant tree sculptures, miniature fountains and giant balls.
During media tours, MGM officials allowed reporters to see much, but not all, of the property’s 1.7 million-square-foot space. It includes a 308-room hotel, 3,000-seat theater, 125,000-square-foot casino, spa, national food hall, celebrity restaurants and the District, an 18,000-square-foot area of high-end retail shops, including the first standalone store for actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
