MGM Resorts International is opening a gambling resort on the banks of the Potomac River in Prince George’s County. It is Maryland’s sixth and final casino and the nearest to Washington-area residents. Here are some answers to questions you might have about it.
What is MGM National Harbor?
A $1.4 billion casino resort with 3,300 slot machines, 124 table games and 39 poker tables. The resort has a 24-story luxury hotel with more than 300 rooms and will offer entertainment and concerts in a 3,000-seat theater, plus a day spa, dining options at celebrity chef restaurants, a conservatory, and a permanent art collection from local and international artists.
When will MGM National Harbor open?
The doors will open to the public at 11p.m. Thursday. The parking garage will open at 10:30 p.m. The casino will then be open 24 hours. You must be at least 21 to enter the casino.
How do I get there?
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If you drive, be prepared for traffic — lots of it. The address is 101 MGM National Ave., and it can be accessed from Interstate 295 at Exit 1B or from the Capital Beltway via Exits 2A and 2B.
Is there parking?
The resort has about 5,000 parking spaces on-site. Free self-parking is available during the opening period. But MGM says it will move to a paid parking system in the future. Valet parking at the hotel drop-off area and the casino main entrance is also available. Valet parking is $25 for up to 12 hours and $45 for 12-24 hours.
Is there a Metro station nearby?
There are no Metro stations within walking distance of the casino or National Harbor. Four bus routes connect the new resort to the Metro system. Metrobus NH1 provides service from Southern Avenue Metro station on the Green Line in Prince George’s and the NH2 from the Huntington and King Street stations on the Yellow Line in Alexandria and to National Harbor. Metrobus buses from Alexandria to National Harbor make their last run around 2a.m. And the bus from Southern Avenue runs until midnight.
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The Prince George’s bus system, The Bus, has service to the National Harbor area on routes 35 and 35S. If you take The Bus, keep in mind that the service runs only on weekdays and stops early at night.
MGM officials are encouraging visitors to use taxis or ride-booking options, such as Uber, to get to the facility. Taxi- and Uber-designated areas will be available on Hotel Drive. During the day, the Potomac Riverboat Co. operates service between Alexandria and National Harbor. The $7, 20-minute ride offers another alternative.
Can I walk to the casino from National Harbor?
The infrastructure in the area is still not conducive to walking, but there is a pathway visitors can use to make their way up the hill to MGM. National Harbor is offering a circulator service to connect the waterfront area, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Tanger Outlets and MGM. The circulator service will run from 11a.m. to 4a.m., and the cost is $5 for an all-day pass.
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I don’t gamble, so what’s there for me?
The resort’s design allows guests looking for dining or other entertainment to avoid the casino altogether. Casino executives expect the resort’s 15,000-square-foot conservatory will be a draw for many visitors. It is bigger than the popular conservatory at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. When the casino opens, there will be a holiday-theme floral arrangement, with 60-foot-tall holiday trees, thousands of white carnations, poinsettias, orchids and other flowers. The display will change each season.
For art lovers, there is a collection of about 70 works of art across the resort, including a large-scale landscape in the hotel reception area that was created by Margaret Boozer, a Prince George’s artist who used thousands of pounds of clay from the MGM construction site. There are abstract mixed-media paintings by Washington artist Sam Gilliam, sculptures by Alice Aycock and John Safer, and a 26-foot by 15-foot iron archway by recent Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan.
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How about the restaurants?
If dining is your thing, José Andrés is opening his first restaurant in Prince George’s, with an upscale seafood restaurant Fish ($$$). “Top Chef” brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio are opening Voltaggio Brothers Steak House ($$$). Award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson is launching Marcus ($$), offering classic American dishes. Ginger ($$) will have an Asian menu. TAP Sports Bar ($$) will offer local and seasonal beers. Bellagio Patisserie ($) offers a chocolate fountain and pastries, and National Market ($) is for more casual dining, such as pizza, tacos and Banh Mi sandwiches.
What about the shows?
The Theater at MGM National Harbor has lined up several artists, including Boyz II Men on Dec. 15, Lionel Richie on Dec. 22, Bruno Mars on Dec. 27, Duran Duran for New Year’s and, early in 2017, performances by Sting, Cher and Ricky Martin. The 3,000-seat theater will offer a more intimate concert experience.
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