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MGM Lion Habitat Show Tickets and Reviews

One of the great free attractions in the Las Vegas strip is the MGM Grand Hotel’s Lion Habitat. Despite being in Vegas at least a couple of times a year, we’ve never gotten the chance to visit. We finally decided to be the tourists that we are and take the kids recently during our Thanksgiving 2011 weekend visit. Lion Sanctuary in Henderson Nevada. Our Mission Statement. It is our desire and belief that we can make you fall in love with our lions and by doing so, we all will strive to protect and donate to wild lion habitats. Longtime Vegas visitors roared with displeasure when the MGM Grand closed their signature lion habitat after nearly 20 years of amusing tourists. The big secret, however, was that populating those casino-facing digs was merely the lions’ day job, and their “main office” is now open for tours that are significantly more satisfying.

• MGM Lion Habitat Is A Free Attraction, No Tickets Necessary
• MGM Lion Habitat Performing At: MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

MGM Lion Habitat

Reviewed July 28, 1999 by Ted Newkirk

• The Lion Habitat in the MGM Grand MGM Grand featured a glass-sided lion habitat inside the casino area, in which up to six lions were shown daily since 1999. A see-through tunnel ran through the habitat for close-up viewing, where the lions would frequently lounge on top of the glass, allowing visitors to walk under them.
• The Lion Habitat Ranch is located in Henderson, Nevada just.6 miles from the St. Rose Parkway & Interstate 15 intersection, off a small dirt road on 382 Bruner Avenue.If you’re coming from The Strip it’s a 15-20 minute drive (from the Mandalay Bay) depending on traffic.

The free lion habitat at the MGM is now open daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. It’s a walk-through display, with plexiglass on all 4 sides of you, theoretically allowing the lions to get inches from you. It is more of a display than anything else, given that you could walk through the plexiglass tunnel in about 10 seconds (and straight into the gift shop to guy a $14 lion coffee mug). The display is located near the main casino entrances from The Strip and Tropicana. The plexiglass walls front a large casino area, allowing you to enjoy the display from a number of angles.

Our 6:00 PM weekday visit revealed 2 lion cubs in the display, each working with a trainer who was teaching them to sit, stand, etc. not unlike one would a dog, and then rewarding them with raw hamburger. You can take a photo with a live lion cub for $20, although this feature was closed during our visit. While this display isn’t worth going well out of the way for, it is a must-see when in the area.

Note: the MGM has one of the worst parking garages in the city. It sits about 1/4 a mile from the front entrance, has extremely narrow spaces, and is difficult to even get to. When visiting the Monte Carlo, New York, New York, MGM, Gameworks, or the All Star Cafe, we strongly suggest parking in the Holiday Inn Boardwalk garage. This under-used structure sits right on the strip and is short, enjoyable walk to the above casinos and attractions.

• MGM Lion Habitat Is A Free Attraction, No Tickets Necessary
• MGM Lion Habitat Performing At: MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

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MGM Grand Lion Habitat

One of the best free tourist attractions in Las Vegas for animal-lovers

*****Please note this attraction has now closed*****

MGM Grand Lion Habitat Opening Hours: 11am - 7pm
Cost: Free
Location:MGM Grand Hotel Vegas
For further information call: 702-891-1111

Mgm Casino Lion Habitat Locations

We stumbled across the Lion Habitat when we were exploring the MGM Grand Hotel in Vegas on our first visit. It was definitely not what we expected to find in the middle of a hotel in the desert city! (Other animal attractions worth visiting along the Strip are:Flamingo Habitat at the Flamingo hotel casinoin Las Vegas; Shark Reef Aquariumat the Mandalay Bay hotel; Secret Garden Las Vegasat the Mirage.)
The MGM Grand lion habitat is unique and really worth a visit - not only because it's free of charge.

History

The MGM film studio has a long history with the lion; its mascot being Leo the Lion who appears in the famous logo.

What's it like at the Lion Habitat?

We've been to the MGM Grand Lion Habitat several times because it's always different. The first time we visited the three lions were asleep but we had better luck the next time. As the Habitat's quite a popular attraction it can get quite busy. If you can stand beneath the clear walkway (pictured below) do so as you get a good view of the lions from here.

The cost of visiting all the great attractions Las Vegas has to offer can really add to the cost of your trip. To help keep costs down we usually get a Las Vegas Power Pass
With it you’ll have access to over 20 attractions, tours, rides etc. The Power Pass is worth more than $500 in admissions and discounts.

Clear Walkway at the Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand Las Vegas NV

Sometimes you're able to watch as these magnificent creatures stroll about over your head or watch the trainers playing with them. On our most recent visit they were fairly sleepy as you can see in the pictures.

When's the best time to visit the Habitat?

Over the years we've learned that if you arrive at the Habitat for 11am, when it opens, you'll stand a better chance of avoiding the crowds. It all depends on where you're based on the Strip and what else you've got planned for the day.

Mgm Casino Lion Habitat Facts

Where do the lions live?

If you feel at all concerned that the lions are being kept in cramped conditions don't worry. The lions are owned and looked after by feline behaviour expert, Keith Evans who had a big part in the creation of the Habitat which opened in 1999. The lions actually live on a spacious ranch 12 miles from the MGM Grand Hotel in Vegas and different groups are brought in every day.

Souvenirs

The Lion Habitat’s open daily from 11am until 7pm and best of all it’s free of charge. Visit the adjacent gift shop for lion souvenirs. We find a trip to the Habitat ties in well with a meal at the Rainforest Cafe,which is nearby - (see below.)

Get directions to the Lion Habitat

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