Jason Egan takes whack at ‘Saw’ attraction
Joccasionally muses about cooling off his schedule, selling his empire, maybe even retiring. But the man who founded “Fright Dome” at Circus Circus is not finished with his frights of fancy. The 39-yearold Egan is opening the first immersive horror experience themed for the “Saw” films in a 30,000-square-foot building just off the Strip.
The Official Saw Escape Experience opens Jan. 26. The horror attraction takes over the aged building that was long home to the Paul-son Gaming Company’s casino chip factory at 2121 Industrial Road, just a 30-second drive north from Circus Circus.
Egan has partnered with “Saw” production company Lionsgate Films in his Fright Dome fortress. Lionsgate licensed “Saw” houses at Fright Dome in 2009 and
2010. Egan has spent the previous 12 months mapping a concept for the escape house and scouting properties near Circus Circus.
“We always wanted a permanent attraction here in town, and when I took this idea to Lionsgate, they said, ‘You’re one of the only people we would consider partnering with,’” Egan says. “It’s amazing to hear that, and we have developed something that is a totally unique, permanent tour.”
Egan credits the “Saw” series with the very idea of live, interactive escape rooms. The famous “Saw” bathroom scene is being re-created at the Las Vegas attraction. “Guests will go toe-to-toe with Jigsaw, and we’ll have several themed rooms.”
Guests will check in for what is designed as a tour of a meatpacking plant. Then, Egan says, “Things start to go wrong.” A night watchman, a receptionist, strolling “victims” and a general manager are among his dozen hired actors.
Egan opened Fright Dome in 2003 at Circus Circus and has turned the brand into a multimillion-dollar business. His business inspiration is UFC President Dana White, who is also a close friend and confidant. Egan has often said he wants to simply sell Fright Dome to a wealthy visionary.
But it’s just not time. Egan is not ready to relinquish his rolling horror show.
“I want this done right,” he said. “I don’t want it to be a six-month thing, and I need to make sure we do justice to the ‘Saw’ franchise.” In Egan’s world, the only surprises are planned.
Tiësto to celebrate
Superstar DJ Tiësto launches his 2018 schedule at MGM Grand by celebrating his 49th birthday (which is actually Jan. 17) with performances at Hakkasan Nightclub on Thursday and Saturday.
The MGM Grand lobby will also be transformed to accommodate an open-tothe-public club experience at 4:45 p.m. Saturday. Tiësto will be on hand for a performance and meet-and-greet. A surprise pop-up guest performance by a renowned nightclub celeb (no, not The Johnny) is also planned.
Griffin passes
A pillar of the Las Vegas entertainment community has died. Grant Griffin, the resonantly voiced baritone, succumbed to throat cancer Tuesday at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Rose de Lima campus at age 84. Griffin’s career spanned more than 60 years and was highlighted by appearances at the Sahara (where he began his Vegas career in 1956), the Dunes, the Italian American Club and Bootlegger Bistro. Over the years he performed at state functions hosted by Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Reagan.
Under his Grant Griffin Productions company, Griffin produced several variety shows around town, including events at the South Point Showroom and Ron Decar’s Event Center. Griffin’s friends have posted a Gofundme page to help his family defray end-of-life costs.
I knew Griffin mostly from his years as the producer of the annual “Meatball Awards” show, which was held more than a decade ago at Greek Isles, the Orleans Showroom and the Imperial Palace Showroom. The Meatballs honored entertainers and media types on the Vegas scene.
Grant and I actually met a few times over the years to brainstorm returning the Meatball Awards to a Strip showroom. Then he fell ill.
Griffin was a particularly popular singer at Kelly Clinton-holmes’ Monday openmic nights. His renditions of “Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha” shook the tables. Mr. Griffin was often called a “singer’s singer,” and he was really something special.
D correct times
Gotta make this right: The time for Sunday’s Vegas Golden Knights Fan Fest at the 3rd Street Stage next to the D Las Vegas is 3-5 p.m.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Rain brings flooding throughout Las Vegas Valley
A storm system that dumped more than half as much rain as the Las Vegas Valley saw all of last year also brought with it the wettest January day on record.
2. Armed man robs New York-new York cashier on the Strip
Las Vegas police are searching for a man who robbed the casino cage at the New York-new York early Wednesday morning before fleeing in a cab.
3. Vegas Strong Fund says it won’t be cutting any more checks
A Vegas Strong Fund official said Monday that no more checks would be issued to victims of the Oct. 1 shooting, but half of all money raised by the charity would be donated to a separate nonprofit, the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund.
4. ‘Personality conflict’ shakes up North Las Vegas City Hall
North Las Vegas City Manager Qiong Liu left the job Wednesday, one day after she insisted on firing Assistant City Manager Ryann Juden amid longsimmering tensions between the two.
5. MGM, Metro discuss SWAT building at Las Vegas shooting site
MGM Resorts and the Metropolitan Police Department have confirmed discussions for a possible SWAT building at the site of the Strip shooting. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Las Vegas storm waters
The valley’s recordbreaking 116-day dry streak ended Monday, with 0.14 inches of rain before midnight. The valley saw another
0.35 inches of rain between midnight and 6 a.m. Tuesday, the weather service said.
2. Gordon Ramsay opens up about new Hell’s Kitchen restaurant
With the new spot,
Gordon Ramsay and his team have re-created the Hell’s Kitchen TV experience. 3. Summerlin’s newest park offers kid-friendly adventures
Fox Hill Park — Summerlin’s newest park — has been getting plenty of visitors since opening in mid-december.