Vegas World Casino

An artist rendering of Resorts World. (Source: Genting Group)

Gov. Brian Sandoval, center, and others ceremoniously break ground on Resort World Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 5. (Source: Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau)

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -

Activity should stir up again soon on a section of the Las Vegas Strip that was once home to the Stardust hotel-casino.

On Tuesday, the operators of the future Resorts World hotel-casino towards the north end of the Strip held a groundbreaking ceremony to launch the construction of the sprawling property.

Owning operator Genting Group plans to build the billion, Asian-themed resort in phases on the plot of land that was also originally reserved for the previously-planned Echelon. Plans call for the property to hold 3, 500 rooms in the first phase of construction as well as a casino space of 175, 000 square feet.

The resort is scheduled to open early 2018. The owner also estimates the resort will bring more than 13, 000 jobs to the area.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval was among the luminaries on hand for the groundbreaking.

“It's going to put people back to work. It's going to be one of those iconic resorts that people can only see in Las Vegas, ” Sandoval said.