When people from other parts of the country ask me what Atlantic City is like, I tell them it's exactly like this.

Mr. Straub says Revel is just the beginning. His $500 million plan to turn blighted Atlantic City into a family-friendly destination includes a waterpark, Ferris Wheel, a man-made mountain for skiing and snowboarding and a soccer franchise.
He also aims to attract visitors from around the world by expanding Atlantic City’s airport and opening a Revel university that would appeal to “geniuses” looking to solve global problems like disease and nuclear-waste disposal.
“When there were 12 thriving casinos, plans like [Mr. Straub’s] would have been seen as crazy,” Mr. Weinert says. “Nowadays, crazy might be what Atlantic City needs.”