Las Vegas resorts are famous for ostentatious hotel suites that could double as mansions. But the biggest living in Sin City these days might be inside some of the smallest accommodations in town.
The digs in question: The Sugar Shack, a newish stand-alone Traveler XL Tiny Home behind the Gold Spike downtown. The “suite” is 334 square feet, yet (somehow) includes two beds and a pullout couch, a kitchen, a full bathroom, a fireplace, and a spacious private patio out front.
As if the diminutive domicile wasn’t forward-thinking enough, it also runs mostly on solar power.
Gold Spike added the unit earlier this year; currently, it sits off to the side of an outdoor courtyard called “The Backyard.” This adult playground boasts a bar, a music stage, and bunch of lawn games such as cornhole, Jenga, and Twister. The party zone also has oversized versions of certain games, including giant beer pong in which the ball is a kickball and the cups are trash cans.
During the day, The Backyard is relatively tame. At night, however, the area can get downright rowdy—and the Sugar Shack is right in the center of the action. (This is why the private patio comes in handy; think of it like a VIP island in a sea of fun.)
Inside, natural light from ample windows makes the tiny house feel more spacious than it really is. The main “bedroom” is just big enough for a queen-sized bed, and the kitchen boasts a sink, a modest countertop, a small oven, a narrow fridge, a microwave, and a small table with four chairs. The bathroom is about the size of an airplane lavatory, only with a (very small) shower. A ladder next to the door to the bathroom leads to a cramped loft area with a full-sized bed.
Outside, the structure has cedar siding and soft yellow lights; it looks a little like a wooden sauna you might find in Finland.
We won’t lie: The Sugar Shack isn’t for everyone. Travelers who value beauty sleep may get frustrated by the seemingly constant hubbub just outside the window. What’s more, because the house has so many windows and because it’s right in the middle of The Backyard, it has a bit of a fishbowl effect (though if you’re a voyeur, maybe this is a plus).
Traditional hotel brats also may not know what to make of the Gold Spike. While the property has some other overnight accommodations (including the seventh-floor penthouse suite that starred in Season 31 of MTV’s “The Real World”), it’s mostly a giant party pad. The former casino was purchased and renovated by Zappos.com founder and CEO Tony Hsieh as part of the Downtown Project, his 5-year-old $350 million investment in making Old Vegas new again.
To score the Sugar Shack, you have to book through the Oasis, a sister property next door. Rates start at $250 midweek and $1,000 on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekend bookings include bottle service with one bottle of premium spirits and all the trimmings. For this reason, all guests must be over 21. Party on.
