Lion Habitat At The MGM
The Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino was created to honor the lions and help preserve their future. This exhibit showcases the lions for public education and fosters an appreciation of these animals. In visiting the MGM Grand with your luxury car rental, you will see the symbol of a lion in many places. This is because the lion has been a part of MGM’s heritage for many years, starting with Leo, the lion who roars at the beginning of MGM’s movies.
Upon arriving at the Lion Habitat with your luxury car rental, you will be admitted to the habitat and then taken on a mini African safari and learn more about the connection between MGM and the lion. The lions live on a custom 8.5-acre ranch 12 miles from the MGM Grand. This is a short trip with your luxury car rental, not taking too much time during your trip. The best part of this exhibit is that it is free! The lions are taken care of and trained by feline expert Keith Evans, who has been training animals for over 30 years. The lions belong to Evans. They live on a ranch outside of Las Vegas, and are rotated through the exhibit on a daily basis.
Those who have been to the exhibit say that it is great that the Lion Habitat doesn’t cost money. You can see the lions up close through glass windows. However, the lions often lay around most of the day. Don’t go expecting a show, because this is not a circus act. This is interesting to see when you are in the area, but it is not worth a trip across the city with your luxury car rental. Wait until you are in the area. If you are lucky and catch the lions at the right time, then you can see them feeding, playing, and grooming themselves. There is also information here about the species so you can learn a little more about them.
Leo, The Lion
As soon as you drive up in your luxury car rental, you will see this symbol. The MGM is a recognizable symbol in Las Vegas, even for someone who has never been there. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) was primarily a hotel chain that bought a movie studio when film was becoming popular. The lion was adopted at the symbol for this company, seen at the beginning of their films and in their hotels. In 1993, a large lion with the mouth open was constructed as the entrance to the hotel. The hotel discovered that some nationalities were not staying at the hotel as often, and it was discovered that in some cultures the open lion’s mouth is bad luck. The entrance was changed, but the lion remains as a bronze statue. This statue is the largest bronze statue in the Western Hemisphere at 45 feet tall and 50 feet long. In addition, there are at least 4000 MGM lion logos on the casino carpet alone. Finding some of the lions in the most unexpected places alone can be a fun game.
Important Information
In visiting the Lion Habitat with your luxury car rental you need to know that it is open everyday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. The cost is free for everyone visiting the habitat. It is on the south end of the Strip where Las Vegas Boulevard meets Tropicana Avenue inside the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
