Summer Camp’s Got a Liquor License at Palms Casino, But Only for July

^{Before you walk into the adults-only Camp Palms, make sure you know the rules first! (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)}

LAS VEGAS – When we first heard about Camp Palms here at Casinos.com, we had our doubts. With the press release calling it an “immersive resort takeover” and the marketing ads featuring a raccoon holding up a pair of underwear, I had no idea what to expect from my visit last Wednesday. 

Camp Palms is the new July pop-up at Palms Casino Resort, meant to be an adult-only summer camp experience. But to be clear, it's not a full resort or casino takeover. This is a pop-up dining experience in a corner of the casino floor, right near the Scotch 80 Prime restaurant. The restaurant and bar is intimate, but the experience inside delivers more than the marketing suggests.

From the outside, it has real charm: leaves around the entrance, a school bus right out front, and a board of camp rules that sets the tone for the evening. Even on a low-key Wednesday night, there was a wait to get in. Once we got inside, we found that this place is definitely not for the introverted.

Despite any doubts or preconceived notions, we found that Camp Palms is a wonderfully interactive experience with food and drinks that deliver. While you're sipping a boozy Capri-Sun or eating mini hot dogs off the mini grill, there's unhinged comedy sprinkled throughout the experience, making it a great time.

What Camp Palms Looks and Feels Like

The full title of this experience is Camp Palms: No Kids Allowed. It runs from July 1 to July 31 in a hidden nook on the casino floor at the Palms. I initially thought this was going to be a full resort transformation with  outdoor elements and a pool takeover, but it's something a little bit smaller and focused. For those who visited back in December, this is the same spot the Santa Saloon pop-up operated in last year.

The inside of Camp Palms makes you forget you're inside a casino with all the vines and leaves around.

Upon walking in, it’s hard to miss the twinkling string lights on the ceiling or Polaroids on the door that look like summer camp scrapbook memories. All of the tables have traditional picnic cloths set up and menus on pamphlets to really commit to the campy theme.

Raul Daniels, Vice President of Sales and Catering at Palms Casino Resort, told us that the goal of Camp Palms was to make it interactive and to deliver a great presentation on food/beverage.

"With Camp Palms, we focused on creating multiple touchpoints that encourage interaction [with] the themed decor, music, playful food presentations, and imaginative cocktails. Daniels said. " Every element was designed to contribute to the story and create moments guests naturally want to share on social media."

The music brings you back in time, whether you lived it or not, and the whole experience is inspired by the vibes of 1980s summer camp comedies. The aesthetic carries the theme, but so does the staff.

Ranger Rick and Nurse Candy are two of the characters who make rounds at Camp Palms throughout the night. You never know what they’ll do when they sneak up on you!

We met different characters throughout our visit, like Camp Director Larry, who will tell you about his “Morning Wood Calisthenics Class”, or the flirty Nurse Candy, who’s more theatrical than medical. If you're lucky, Bigfoot might show up and bust a move for you at the same time. 

If that sounds like a nightmare, bring an extroverted friend so you can still enjoy the food and drinks while they are the main character.

Favorites From the Mess Hall

The Camp Palms menu is a one-page pamphlet with a map theme. Some of the images and the text on the menu were… a bit odd, but the real food was even better than the menu made it seem. 

According to Daniels, some of the most Insta-worthy dishes to order are the Camp Dawgs and the Wakey Wakey Bakey Bakey. The Camp Dawgs are tiny hot dogs served on mini BBQ grills, and the Wakey Wakey Bakey Bakey includes deviled eggs with a sprinkling of caviar and some bacon, all within a little mini tent set up. The presentation for both will make you smile. I appreciate that the servers don't mind that you just have to record them bringing it to the table. 

The Band Camp Bento Box and Lil’ Campers Lunchtime together are more than enough to make a satisfying camp dinner.

Although there were many more convincing options, we ended up ordering the Band Camp Bento Box.  Bento boxes are already one of my favorite things at any Asian restaurant, so a campfire-inspired version wasn't a hard sell at all. It includes Thai-spiced chicken tenders, barbecue rib tips, fried truffle mac and cheese balls, and chipotle potato salad. For $21, it’s really filling, even shared between two people. The food portions, paired with a drink, are enough to have you feeling full quicker than expected.

We also tried the Lil’ Campers Lunchtime, which consists of three walking tacos in a Fritos bag and two flavors of Doritos bags. The Fritos bag is the best, topped with birria, pickled Pico de gallo, queso fresco, and a tiny squirt bottle of mango habanero salsa. 

The Red, White, and Boom (left) and the Fireflies cocktail (right) are great options if you want something sweet and fun.

On the beverage side of the menu, we worked our way through several menu options (in the name of research). My personal favorite was the Fireflies cocktail with pineapple, rum, blue curacao, and tequila served in a mushroom glass. Our server mentioned that some guests DON’T like the mushroom glass and would rather have it in a mason jar, like the photo on the menu. And to that I say, who can complain about something so cute?

The Red, White, and Boom is Prosecco topped with a Bomb Pop popsicle. It’s a simple drink, but the popsicle's flavor pairs well with the bubbly. The When Camp Gives You Lemons cocktail also comes in an inflatable flamingo cup that you can keep as a souvenir to sip a drink on the water another time. 

Dessert was tough with several tempting options. The Sugar Rush, with Nilla banana pudding, an Oreo dirt cup, and a teddy graham strawberry cheesecake, is certainly going on my list to try next time before the pop-up is over.

The I Fundido, You Fundido, We All Fundido. The name is a mouthful, but rightfully so, since you’ll want to eat mouthfuls of it.

In the end, the I Fundido, You Fundido, We All Fundido won our hearts over to wrap up our meal. After all, you can’t miss out on s’mores during a campfire. It’s a roasted marshmallow dip served in a pan with graham crackers and chocolate, which accurately looks like queso fundido.

This Won't Be Palms’ Last Pop-Up

If you were skeptical about the Camp Palms experience from early marketing, just know it is indeed a well-executed pop-up bar with a strong theme, and the staff really make it worth the visit.

But this is not Palms' first rodeo with a concept like this. The Santa Saloon pop-up last December in the same space was a success, and that experience shaped what Camp Palms became. 

"Each pop-up has helped us better understand what resonates with our guests," Daniels said. "One of the biggest lessons has been that people want to feel immersed in the experience. It's not enough to create a visually interesting space. It has to invite guests to stay awhile, explore the menu, take photos, and create memories together."

The summer camp concept was chosen specifically for the nostalgia value. It allows for interactive elements like storytelling, competitive games, and sing-alongs, giving people more to do beyond just ordering a drink. 

A server at Camp Palms told Casinos.com that a Halloween and Christmas pop-up is already in the works for the same space, so it will be interesting to see what comes next.

Daniels said Camp Palms is intended to be "fun without taking itself too seriously," which he said reflects where the Palms as a property is headed overall. That approach, along with the property's tribal gaming hospitality, is part of what makes it well-loved by both locals and visitors.

Camp Palms will be open until July 31 on the casino floor at Palms Casino Resort, located on Flamingo Road and Arville Street. The pop-up is open Wednesday through Sunday, starting at 5 p.m. and there is no cover charge. All guests must be 21 or older. 

(Photos: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)