Olympia Gaming Taps Exec

LAS VEGAS -- Las Vegas-based Olympia Gaming, which is planning to build a $1 billion casino-resort in Southern Highlands, has hired a former president of Caesars Palace to lead the privately held company's proposed developments.

Dean Harrold joined Olympia Gaming this week as vice chairman. The 61-year-old Harrold, who has 35 years experience in casino management, is expected to steer the company's gaming plans, which includes four potential Southern Nevada casinos and two properties in Northern Nevada.

Olympia, a subsidiary of the company that developed the 2,700-acre Southern Highlands, has received approval from Clark County to develop a 1,400-room resort on 70 acres in the master-planned community. The company also controls a 250-acre site on the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard, south of the South Coast.

Olympia announced this week that it would be involved in a planned $500 million casino-resort in Sparks.

Olympia Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Garry Goett said Harrold would oversee the planned developments.

Harrold served as president of Bally's Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Hilton and Caesars Palace during the 1990s, when the company was known as Park Place Entertainment.

Olympia Gaming operates the Casino Fandango in Carson City in partnership with the Las Vegas-based Navegante Group.

In addition to the two developments in the southern part of Clark County, Olympia Gaming wants to build a casino as part of a 2,675-acre master-planned community in North Las Vegas. However, the project has run into opposition from residents and North Las Vegas elected officials.

Olympia is also planning a casino-resort as part of a 5,300-acre master-planned community in Lincoln County near Mesquite.