Bellagio Las Vegas

Bellagio truly is a resort in a class by itself.  It has a great deal to offer and much to explore. 

The Bellagio Las Vegas opened in October 1998 and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes Hotel and Casino.  Inspired by the Lake Como resort of Bellagio in Italy, Vegas' Bellagio is famed for its elegance. One of the most notable features of the Bellagio is an 8-acre artificial lake between the hotel and the Strip, which holds the famous Fountains of Bellagio. The Bellagio has been one of Vegas' most famous resorts since its inception. It employs approximately 10,000 people, and is visited by millions each year.

The Bellagio was conceived by Steve Wynn, an American casino resort developer, and built by his company, Mirage Resorts, Inc. Wynn is often considered as the man who changed Vegas. In 1989, his first major Strip casino, The Mirage, opened, setting a new standard in Vegas, making immediate history.

With his second project, the 1993 Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, Wynn proved once again that his vision for Vegas was different. The $450 million dollar resort was another instant smash with the public.

Wynn decided to take his standards for luxury a step further with Bellagio. Costing $1.6 billion, the Bellagio is credited with starting a new spree of luxurious developments in Las Vegas.

The former ground of the Bellagio, The Dunes Hotel, was a Las Vegas hotel and casino that operated from May 23rd, 1955 to January 26th, 1993. It was the tenth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip.

In one of the biggest Vegas losses ever, Nangaku sold the Dunes to Steve Wynn's company, Mirage Resorts, for $75 million in 1992. In 1993, the Dunes closed up shop for good, and on October 29th, Wynn brought the Dunes down and started the implosion (process of which explosives are systematically placed to bring a tall building down on itself) trend of Vegas.

With the destruction of the Dunes, Vegas celebrated the end of an era. The Dunes was originally built and controlled by the mafia, having been constructed from Teamsters' pension funds. When the construction of the Bellagio began in 1994, workers found four bags of Dunes casino chips buried at the site. 

The Fountains of Bellagio are world renowned.  Throughout the world, great public spaces have been accented with wonderful fountains. When thinking of the many romantic places in Paris or Rome, London or Madrid, fountains immediately come to mind. The Fountains of Bellagio express the romantic spirit of the resort. 

The result of collaboration with WET, a visionary design firm which uses water to create multi-sensory experiences, is one of the most ambitious features ever conceived in terms of choreographic complexity and scale. More than a thousand fountains dance in front of the hotel, enhanced by music and light. The display spans more than 1,000 feet with water soaring as high as 460 feet into the air. 

A wide range of musical works was selected for the fountain’s shows, from classical and operatic pieces to popular music and songs from Broadway. Designers, musicians and performance artists were invited to choreograph the fountains to these differing musical selections. The result is a rich, dynamic collection of performances in water, each uniquely expressive in its interpretation. The performances range from delicate and whimsical to grand and commanding.

Bellagio is about gardens, flowers, fine dining, fashion and extraordinary service. It is a place about music and things that are good for the soul. Bellagio is a pointed departure from all that preceded it in Las Vegas.
Dozens of wonderfully creative people have made cameo appearances. Guest designers who are famous in the world did sections - a restaurant here, a lounge there, a fountain show up front - to add a dimension to Bellagio’s personality.

The test of a wonderful place that can truly be called the greatest resort in the world is not the presence of gaming or the ability to make money. It is that people can go there and have experiences that seem to happen just in the right time and place to suit their moods. 

When people look back as they depart, they think, ‘it wasn’t like anything I’ve seen before…it was better than I expected… truly incredible…in every respect, lovely and just right.’ 

To learn more about the Bellagio Las Vegas visit the hotel’s website at:
www.bellagio.com/

Things To Do In Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a one of a kind destination and has so much to offer. Here are 10 things you might want to explore while you are in town. For more information, go to www.vegas.com or www.visitlasvegas.com .

Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat

Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat is a tropical paradise dedicated to the wild things. You will find many exotic animals housed here, from elephants, panthers and leopards to Siegfried and Roy's rare and enchanting white tigers. This exhibit is presented in an effort to spotlight the need to protect vanishing breeds. Along with the land-based residents, visitors are invited to visit the intriguing Dolphin Habitat. You will thoroughly enjoy watching the antics of these amazing creatures that love to show off for onlookers. This attraction is located at the Mirage Hotel Casino located mid-Strip.

Shark Reef

This truly amazing state-of-the art aquarium has sharks, alligators, monitor lizards and other amazing creatures living in more than 1,000,000 gallons of salt water at the Mandalay Bay Resort . You will enjoy a beautiful display of blue sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, eels and a remarkable jellyfish display with black lights. This is a must-see exhibit for the whole family.

Lion Habitat at The MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

This is a wonderful spot at the MGM Grand to spend an hour or two gazing at the lions and cubs in their multi-level, state-of-the-art showcase and natural habitat. These pampered cats are housed off-site and rotated every few hours, so you get to see a variety of the 30 or so MGM lions. There's also a gift shop, with lots of fun toys, stuffed animals and clothing. A portion of the proceeds goes to organizations dedicated to the preservation of lions.

Fountains at Bellagio

A visual water symphony choreographed to music provides an unforgettable welcome to the Bellagio Hotel Casino . The water jets span more than 1000 feet and can shoot up to 250 feet in the air while seeming to dance to choreographed lights and romantic classical music. It is a spectacular sight and one worth taking the time to view while strolling along the boulevard. Be sure to bring a camera as this is one of Vegas's best attractions; not to mention, it is also free! Every 30 minutes until 7p, after which shows are every 15 minutes.

Fremont Street Experience

Encompassing Fremont Street in the center of downtown Las Vegas is a light and musical show like none other in the world. A permanent canopy has been constructed to cover the casino-lined street with two million lights and a state-of-the-art sound system. This attraction provides shows in the evening hours and is a popular area for filming motion picture scenes. There is no charge for entrance except for their New Year's Eve Street Bash. The special shows projected on the canopy ceiling last for approximately seven minutes.

Gondola Rides at the Venetian

O solo mio! You will be the recipient of a vocal performance as your personal gondolier trained by masters in Venice, Italy takes you on a trip you will never forget. These crafts navigate the canals that run through the Grand Canal Shoppes located at the Venetian Hotel Casino . Reservations are required if you want a singing gondolier to take you on your journey.

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas

Madame Tussauds Las Vegas is located in the Venetian Resort & Casino and immerses visitors in one-of-a-kind, interactive experience with some of the world's biggest icons as wax figures. One of the attraction's most popular displays is "Hef—The Experience", featuring Hugh Hefner. Check out George Bush's facial expression, John Wayne's chaps, or Shaquille O'Neal's size, but be aware; the museum often has an actor imitating a wax figure. Other experiences include "Marry Clooney" in which guests say 'I Do' to Hollywood's most unobtainable bachelor, George Clooney, and Celebrity Poker with Ben Affleck.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, located just a few miles west of Las Vegas, is named for the deep red 3,000-foot-high sandstone cliffs that are perched above the dusty wastelands of this part of the Mojave Desert. The view from any part of the park is breathtaking: mostly nature fills the view, but from some points you can make out the entire Las Vegas Strip in the distance! If the temperature is extremely hot, climbing/hiking/bicycling throughout the park is not recommended; instead, opt to drive around the park (expect to pay a small fee for motorized vehicles) along a 13-mile paved loop. A visitor's center provides information on area history, geology, flora and fauna (visitors may encounter burros, big horn sheep or desert tortoises). You can also pick up a map of the park with detailed hiking routes (beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels). Rangers offer guided tours at no charge -- see website for schedules. It's open daily at 6:00 a.m.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art

This collection at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art in the Bellagio is impressive even to those who have visited better-known museums in New York and Europe. On display are sculptures and paintings from late 19th- and 20th-century artists, including original works by Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and other European masters. The tour is best appreciated when the audio headphones are used, which are included with admission. Reservations are necessary, as this is a very popular attraction.

Circus Circus Adventuredome Theme Park

Adventuredome at Circus Circus is a one-of-a-kind, dome-encompassed theme park. You can ride log rides, the roller coaster, bumper cars and play laser tag. Individual tickets can be purchased for the rides or a one day pass can be purchased that will allow unlimited rides.