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MGM National Harbor set to open in December

MGM National Harbor casino and resort
The MGM National Harbor casino and resort opens Dec. 8, 2016. (Courtesy MGM)
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MGM National Harbor casino and resort
Bob Dylan works on a sculpture called “Portal” for the MGM National Harbor casino, his first permanent sculpture exhibit.  (Courtesy MGM National Harbor)
Clean lines, modern functionality, signature wood millwork accents and floor-to-ceiling windows boasting stunning views define the 308 rooms and suites, ranging in size from 400 to 3,210 square feet. Complementing the resort's modern elegance, room and suite designs draw inspiration from forest and water elements native to Maryland while incorporating vistas of the surrounding landscape. (Courtesy MGM National Harbor)
Alice Aycock's "Whirlpool." (Courtesy MGM National Harbor)
This artists rendering shows the 3,000-seat theater venue inside the casino and resort. The venue can be reconfigured for fights, concerts or other special events. (Courtesy MGM National Harbor)
This artists rendering shows the Blossom Cocktail Lounge was inspired by the District's famous chery blossoms. A second venue, called Felt Bar & Lounge also will offer cocktails. (Courtesy MGM National Harbor)
MGM National Harbor

WASHINGTON — MGM says it is now taking reservations for rooms at its $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor casino and resort, with standard room rates starting at $399 a night. MGM says suite rates begin at $599.

The resort will open to the public Dec. 8, about a year and a half after construction began.

“Under one roof, guests will enjoy a sophisticated hotel experience, high-energy casino, celebrity-chef restaurants, world-class entertainment, night life, destination spa, upscale retail and curated art, complemented by incredible panoramas of D.C., Maryland and Virginia,” said Bill Boasberg, the resort’s general manager.

Those celebrity chefs include Jose Andres, Marcus Samuelsson and Bryan and Michael Voltaggio.

There also is a pastry shop, called Bellagio Patisserie, that has a 26-foot tall chocolate fountain circulating two tons of melted chocolate. MGM says it’s one of the world’s largest chocolate fountains.

The million square-foot resort’s 23-story hotel has about 300 rooms and suites.

The resort includes 125,000 square feet of casino space, with poker and other table games and more than 3,000 slot machines.

Other amenities include a 27,000-square-foot spa and salon, 18,000 square feet of retailers and 50,000 square feet of meeting space.

The casino also employs a lot of local residents, with more than 4,000 people on the payroll.

MGM officially broke ground on its National Harbor resort in March 2015.

Watch a time-lapse video of the construction:

Jeff Clabaugh

Jeff Clabaugh has spent 20 years covering the Washington region's economy and financial markets for WTOP as part of a partnership with the Washington Business Journal, and officially joined the WTOP newsroom staff in January 2016.

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