Once upon a time in Lake Las Vegas, lived longtime residents Kendra Daniels and Justice Carey. After years of traveling around the world in search for the perfect place to call home, Kendra and Justice found a hidden gem in the desert oasis and immediately knew this was the fairytale ending they had been searching for.
A private performance in South Shore is what first brought the couple to Lake Las Vegas in 2014, and its vibrance is what made them stay. “As soon as I entered Lake Las Vegas for the first time, I was mesmerized by its beauty and design. I said that day we are never leaving, and we still haven’t,” said Kendra.
Kendra and Justice decided to put down roots and buy their first home in Vita Bella Townhomes by Edward Homes. As their love for Lake Las Vegas grew, so did their own. The couple held their fairytale wedding festivities throughout the community, including their engagement party at The V clubhouse, their bachelor and bachelorette parties, wedding announcement photo shoot and their fairytale ceremony at The Hilton Bridge and Gardens, where doves were released, a unicorn walked Kendra down the aisle, and an 8-foot storybook was their backdrop.
The couple’s families and friends from the East Coast flew across the country to join them as they tied the knot. After just one visit, their families decided to follow suit and make the move to Lake Las Vegas. “It was exciting for us that our families came to Lake Las Vegas for vacation and realized that living here felt like vacation all the time,” said Daniels. “This whimsical community showed them there is so much more to Las Vegas than just The Strip.”
Before even moving to Lake Las Vegas, Kendra said she had already experienced the overwhelming sense of belonging and being home each time she came to the waterfront community. Throughout the past eight years, her band, The Kendra Daniels Band, has been performing for Lake Las Vegas residents and guests on The Village’s floating stage as part of the community’s annual Summer Concert Series.
“I perform on The Strip weekly, but nothing compares to performing at Lake Las Vegas,” she said. “My neighbors, which I have watched grow up together since moving here, come out and support me as often as they can. We are one big family out here, and that is what sets Lake Las Vegas apart from others.”
In addition to her summer night gigs, the couple also built their modern fairytale dream home in The Peaks by Taylor Morrison. In search of deepening their roots within the community, they worked to spread a little magic and joy at The Village.
In April, 2022, they opened The Village’s first nail salon, Once Upon a Nail Salon. The salon is their second “Once Upon A” business in Southern Nevada. Kendra’s mother, Kim Tuck, who is known as “Fairy Godmother” and also moved across the country to live at Lake Las Vegas, currently helps manage both locations. “We want our neighbors to have an opportunity to escape reality and live life like a fairytale,” said Daniels. “You are never too old for a fairytale!”
The family-owned and operated nail salon offers an array of enchanting services, including manicures, pedicures, waxing and more. The waxing room gives guests the experience of “going down the rabbit hole” as they enter the Waxing Wonderland. Guests of the salon can also enjoy a taste of magic-potion mimosas while getting pampered – a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
“There is so much magic in Lake Las Vegas, and we are striving to spread it around for everyone to enjoy,” said Daniels. “It truly takes a village to do so. The support of our family and community is what gave us a fairytale ending.”
The whimsical salon is in the heart of The Village at 25 Via Bel Canto, Suite 110, and is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more about the salon’s enchanting services or to make a magical appointment, visit www.onceuponanailsalon.com.
