Lake Tahoe's oldest casino has a new name-and a $160 million facelift on the way. Caesars Entertainment has dropped the long-standing Harveys brand, rechristening the 80-year-old resort as Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe, only the second outpost of its lifestyle-focused Caesars Republic flag. The makeover is unfolding in phases and is expected to wrap up next year, adding refreshed guest towers, high-limit gaming lounges, butler-served villas, and celebrity-chef dining. ([Caesars Newsroom][1], [hoteldive.com][2])
Key Points
- Why it matters: First Caesars Republic with casino gaming keeps historic tables and slots on Tahoe's south shore.
- $160 million renovation runs through 2026, pausing for peak summers. ([Caesars Newsroom][1])
- Remus Tower rooms finished; Romulus Tower refresh starts this fall. ([Caesars Newsroom][1])
- New Hell's Kitchen, Wolf by Vanderpump, and day-to-night Cleo's Coffee & Cocktails debut. ([Caesars Newsroom][1])
- High-limit room and planned World Series of Poker room expand 88 000-sq-ft casino floor. ([Caesars Newsroom][1])
Snapshot
The 1.6 million-square-foot resort now sports bold exterior Caesars Republic signage, signaling the shift from legacy Harveys to a modern lifestyle brand. Interior work already delivered a redesigned 88 000-square-foot casino decked out with new carpets, LED displays, and an exclusive high-limit lounge, while nearly 100 tables and more than 1 200 slots keep play active during construction. Upstairs, every guest room in the 1970s-era Mountain Tower-now called Remus Tower-has been gutted and rebuilt with alpine-modern décor. A collection of multi-room butler-served Villas joins the room mix, targeting high-spend groups. Caesars says each phase is timed to avoid peak ski and summer windows, with completion slated for mid-2026. ([Caesars Newsroom][1])
Background
Opened in 1944 as a café with three slot machines, Harveys grew into Lake Tahoe's largest casino and helped anchor Stateline's gaming corridor. Caesars Entertainment acquired the property in 2001 and maintained the Harveys name even as sister Harrah's sat across the street. Caesars Republic, launched in 2019 as a nongaming Hilton-franchised concept, debuted first in Scottsdale in 2024. Executives now position the label as a flexible "lifestyle" play that may or may not include casinos depending on market fit. With Tahoe's entrenched gaming culture, the company chose to keep-and upgrade-the casino while layering in design-driven guestrooms, Roman-themed tower names, and trend-forward food-and-beverage outlets. The transformation also meshes with Caesars' regional-resort push that recently added new builds in Danville, Virginia, and New Orleans. ([hoteldive.com][2], [Caesars Newsroom][1])
Latest Developments
Casino and Suites Get Luxury Boost
The refurbished gaming floor introduces a dedicated High Limit Room and plans for a branded World Series of Poker venue, bringing tournament cachet to the lake. Table pits have new ergonomic chairs, while slots feature curved 4K screens and cashless-ready readers. Above the action, the Remus Tower showcases spa-style baths, lake-inspired artwork, and mobile-key entries. The forthcoming Villas sit on a private floor and come with 24-hour butler service, Peloton-equipped fitness nooks, and terraces angled toward Mount Tallac. Crews shift to Romulus Tower this fall, promising noise-buffering windows and smart-room controls by Ski Season. ([Caesars Newsroom][1], [hoteldive.com][2])
Dining and Social Spaces Reimagined
Celebrity-driven gastronomy headlines the public-space overhaul. Gordon Ramsay's expanded Hell's Kitchen doubles seat count and adds an exhibition bar, while Lisa Vanderpump's Wolf pairs Lake-Tahoe-foraged ingredients with showy cocktails. Newcomer Cleo's morphs from artisanal-coffee bar by morning to craft-cocktail lounge by dusk, anchored by a fireplace that frames sunset lake views. A redesigned lobby will follow in spring with indoor-outdoor seating and locally quarried stone, reinforcing a "mountain republic" aesthetic. Caesars states additional tech-forward amenities-think app-based valet, resort-wide 5G, and automated ski-rental lockers-will come online before the 2025-26 winter. ([Caesars Newsroom][1])
Analysis
Caesars is threading a strategic needle: refreshing an 80-year-old icon without alienating its loyal gamblers. By keeping the casino operational and improving its high-limit appeal, the operator preserves a revenue core while layering on experiential upgrades attractive to younger, design-savvy travelers. The choice to fold gaming into the Caesars Republic label-originally pitched as nongaming-signals brand flexibility and a willingness to adjust to market realities. Lake Tahoe's year-round draw offers diversification away from the Las Vegas Strip, aligning with Caesars' regional growth focus. Competitive pressures also factor. Nearby Hard Rock and Bally's projects aim to lure both bettors and lifestyle travelers, making differentiation critical. The emphasis on upscale suites, chef-driven dining, and tech conveniences positions Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe to capture higher ADRs while extending Caesars Rewards reach. If execution stays on schedule, the resort could redefine luxury benchmarks in the basin, though success will depend on balancing construction disruptions with guest satisfaction during the two-year build. ([hoteldive.com][2], [Caesars Newsroom][1])
Final Thoughts
Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe blends the nostalgia of Harveys with a forward-looking lifestyle concept, promising modern rooms, elevated gaming, and marquee restaurants by 2026. The phased approach should minimize guest headaches, yet travelers visiting in the interim can already sample refreshed suites and high-limit action. For Caesars, the project illustrates how adaptive branding and targeted capital investment can extend the life of legacy resorts while meeting evolving guest tastes. Expect more Caesars Republic conversions where markets demand both boutique style and full-scale casinos. For now, the Lake Tahoe flagship serves as the clearest picture yet of what the Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe vision entails.