Sammy Hagar Debuts a Different Kind of Pool Party in Las Vegas
The former Van Halen frontman is bringing a laid-back party to the Palms.
The Palms is handing over its Strip-side pool deck to Sammy Hagar, giving the former Van Halen singer carte blanche (and an entertainment budget) to reshape the 74,000-square-foot outdoor space in his own image. The result, dubbed Sammy's Island, might just be the cure for the common dayclub in Las Vegas.
In a city known for wild pool parties, Sammy's Island minimizes the expected dance beats, bottle service, and celebrity DJs and instead emphasizes a laid-back, tropical atmosphere. The space is a welcome respite with solid food, stiff drinks, and a rock ‘n roll energy that's a throwback to a bygone era of style and swagger at the resort.
"In the early days, the Palms was really about rockers, man," Hagar told Thrillist. "That's where we all stayed. Motley Crue would be there, I'd be there with Van Halen. It was a rock joint. So we kinda want to turn that back into what it was."
A fully loaded concert stage is the centerpiece of Sammy's Island, which will host live music throughout the summer. For the most part, admission is free, although an exception will be made for national acts. Hagar name dropped old buddies Rick Springfield and REO Speedwagon as possible headliners while noting he's down to hit the stage himself for impromptu jam sessions. Shows are already confirmed for tribute act Yachtley Crew on July 5, Sixwire (featuring appearances by members of Sugar Ray, Vertical Horizon, Tonic, and the Rembrandts) on July 20, and Shaggy on August 2.
Hagar celebrated the grand opening of Sammy's Island on May 17 with a semi-secret appearance with cover band Red Voodoo. Fans soaked in the performance from a standing room-only general admission area, a choice of two swimming pools, the comfort of scattered lounge chairs, and inside one of 39 cabanas or bungalows, including some on a surrounding second level with private plunge pools.
The menu favors summertime staples with south-of-the-border influences, from a juicy Wagyu beef burger with grilled poblano to a loaded nacho platter smothered in tangy chicken tinga. Hagar says he personally taste-tested the dishes, giving his stamp of approval to the final menu. He's especially fond of the mahi mahi tacos and chicken wings. A roaming taco cart, featuring meat shaved on the spot, is also in the works.
The cocktail menu leans on what Sammy Hagar himself reaches for when he's hanging out by the pool. "I'm a Margarita guy," he says. "I like fresh lime, a little sweetener like Cointreau or Triple Sec, and blanco tequila. Good, healthy, non-fucked-with blanco tequila. No preservatives, no additives."
According to Hagar, his own Santo tequila—a partnership with Food Network star and legendary Vegas native Guy Fieri—falls into this category. But guests are welcome to compare and contrast for themselves with a choice of three tequila tasting flights (and one mezcal flight) at a bar dubbed the Tequileria. Frozen margaritas and strawberry daiquiris are ready to serve from a nearby machine.
Other Hagar-branded products flow freely at the pool. At the Tiki-themed bar, two variations of Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum are mixed together in a deceptively strong 32-ounce Mai Tai. His Red Rocker Mexican-style lager is available from self-serve taps inside the four themed Red Rocker cabanas. Each one is decked out in bright red colors and Hagar's lyrics spray-painted on the wall. Think of phrases like "We ain't goin' nowhere, we got it all right here" as motivation for partying hard under the hot Nevada sun.
Although the Palms is making an effort to appeal to locals by offering free cabanas Monday through Thursday with Nevada ID, Sammy's Island still doubles as the regular hotel pool for visitors. Hotel guests are welcome to bring their kids, although all non-hotel guests must be 21 and over.
Overall, it's a different kind of party for Las Vegas, where visitors can choose to rock or relax seven days a week. "If I was laying by a pool and some guy rolled up with a shaved taco cart and some gal next to him was pushing around a big old cart full of ice with canned cocktails and beer, I'd think I died and went to heaven," Hagar says. "But guess what? I went to heaven. I went to Sammy's Island, the closest thing to heaven."