The Lion Habitat

So what if this place is closed… I do miss it. I always enjoy being up close and next to dangerous beasts… I mean look at my friends and enemies… Hell perhaps they are frenemies… but yeah back to the subject at hand…
I have never seen these lions ever move from a sleeping position out of having seen them like 15+ times. I think the exhibit was closed years before but no one told anyone anything and the lions were mummified by the dry desert air… purportedly they did move now and then at feeding time… or were there strings attached… did anyone see if someone was working a marionette inside the cage?
None the less I do miss gazing upon these magnificent beasts. I do love big cats quite a bit so I am sad that they removed them. However I am happy to be out of the danger zone at the same time… perhaps someday they will return to the Metro Goldwyn Meyer casino…

Just realized the lion habitat is now closed! So sad. :0(This review was from last year but I’ll still review it.
Loved it!!! We got to take a picture with a lion cub and it was the best $ 20 or $ 25 bucks I ever spent, even if you only touch the back of the cub for like a couple of seconds. I would do it again next time I am in Vegas. If you can’t take a picture with the lion cub it is still a cool place o see the lions lounging around.

This is one of the coolest free things to do in Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, I just heard that it is closing. I’m very glad that I had a chance to visit before it went away.
When I was there, the lions were sleeping on top of the glass walkway, so you could look right up at them just a few inches away. There were two human trainers resting with the cats in the habitat, petting them as they slept.
I can’t say that I’d want that job.

I am disheartened that MGM Resorts is folding the Lion Habitat. It all comes down to the money. I recently read that MGM Mirage was analyzing replacing some free attractions to maximize their profits. I would argue that in a resort the size of a small city, that MGM Resorts could afford to keep a well done attraction in a small area of the casino. If anything MGM Mirage should make filling in their empty spaces in City Center a priority. A.K.A the Harmon Hotel and Crystals.
The Lion attraction is a neat attraction for animal lovers like myself, that brings me into the MGM Grand WHERE I WILL SPEND MONEY.
It will be a waste to describe the Lion Habitat since it is closing. The closure of the Lion Habitat brings two things to my mind: 1) Corporations are getting just a tide greedy. 2) Las Vegas really needs a major zoo.
This review is just one man’s opinion.

They’re rather boring. They never do anything and it’s always crowded around the cage. This is a free exhibit though so can’t complain much. Just don’t waste too much of your time waiting for them to move.

I’m sorry I’m getting around to this review just as the habitat is about to close. I spent much time watching the lions play with their trainers or gnaw of the large play balls they have in the habitat.
Although they are in captivity behind plexiglas, I always find looking at big cats to be relaxing and great fun!
I will miss this habitat when MGM folds it and replaces it. It’s just one more free thing that will be gone from the Strip.

FREE (score) exhibit inside the MGM Grand Hotel. Thank you MGM Grand for spending all that money on this exhibit (cough cough I’m referring to the extra thick one and a half inch thick glass) which is also soundproof (sigh of relief for safety!)
They change out the lions every day so you never know who you’ll get to see feeding, running, chilling, or sleeping.
I like the facts that are displayed around the habitat. Pretty interesting to read… you learn something new and you keep yourself occupied… for instance…
When we went they were all sleeping. So we read facts… and more facts… and walked around and came back… to read more facts… and wait, and wait, and wait. ummm damn Vegas never sleeps I thought?! Oh wait the lions didn’t get that memo… so I took a few minutes to watch in awe at these huge beautiful creatures as they caught up on their beauty sleep…
And then I was on my way. I swear one of these days when I visit I will see them AWAKE and doing something! Anything! If you’re lucky enough to swing by and see them NOT sleeping… awesome for you!

First of all, I wouldn’t really consider this an «attraction» its more of a «curiosity».
If you find yourself in the general area and you have 15 minutes to kill, stop by. Otherwise you’re going out of your way to see a few lions sleeping.
I admit, lions are not something you see every day and the opportunity to see even one (despite the fact that it’s sleeping) is fairly awesome. But you arrive, wait patiently for a spot close to the glass to catch a glimpse of one, take a photo and then you just kind of stand there. And then after a minute of that you start think «Wow, these are seriously beautiful creatures. It sucks that they’re stuck in this artificial environment getting gawked at all day.» I felt a little dirty afterwards.
I will say the habitat itself is beautiful! 9 million dollars worth of beautiful.
There’s also an informative recording that plays every 5 – 10 minutes. It tells you about the habitat, the lions and gives helpful factoids. One of which was: Lions sleep 18 – 20 hours a day. They are not dancing monkeys.
To view the exhibit itself is free, but if you wanna shell out $ 25 bucks you and one other person can get your photo taken with a lion cub.
I’m not gonna lie. They were reeeaaalllyyy f***ing cute!

The Lion Habitat is a free exhibit located in the MGM Grand Hotel. There is usually a lion or two in the exhibit. And they change out their lions everyday.
There are actually a lot of lions that stay in a ranch outside of Las Vegas. and they switch them out. They spend a few hours at the habitat at a time.
Every time I have gone to see the lions, they have always been sleeping! Damn Lions! Still, it’s nice to get up close and personal with a real lion. These guys are huge!

Yes, the lions are cute and furry.
But they are also lazy, lazy, lazy.
I’ve stayed at the MGM at least once a year for the past 6 – 7 years… and everything I walk by. these things are playing dead. I’ve seen them awake just once… and it wasn’t doing anything exciting, it was just sitting and staring at me… probably thinking to itself when was the last time it had chinese food like me.
Anyway, maybe I go at the wrong times or what not… but there’s always lots of kids and older folk crowding around to watch a bunch of cats sleep.
Just doesn’t do it for me! If they would actually do something I’d give it 3 to 4 stars.

It’s tough to review this. As much as I loved seeing the cute lions up close, I do think it’s obnoxious to take them out of the wild and separate them from their natural habitat just for some MGM mascot or whatever you wish to call it.
Very sad.

The lions sleep a lot. I also rarely see multiple lions.
I’m giving this 4 stars because I still like lions and enjoy it when they’re awake. Plus its free.

It’s a free exhibit at the MGM, so why miss out? It’s just mainly seeing lions at their habitats at the MGM, but most of the time they are sleeping, so it’s a hit or miss if you catch them awake. First time I strolled by, they were asleep, which was cute to see two lions hugging each other to sleep. We happened to stroll by there again, which they were actually awake playing with their trainers. It’s more like 5 – 10 minutes just observing the lions and they’re cute!
FACT: Don’t be surprised to catch these lions sleeping, since they spend about 19 hours sleeping in a day!

Went here for about 45 minutes on 11÷16÷10 while waiting for the Unilocalmazing Race to start. There were two lionesses out and both were sleeping; one above the tunnel, the other on the right side of the enclosure.
It was a bit boring — I mean, how long can you watch a big cat sleep? These cats sleep about 18 hours a day so, good luck seeing them awake or doing anything other than chillin’.
MGM spent a ton of money building the enclosure and a lot of time hauling these lions, who come from a wildlife preserve, back and forth everyday. For the record, it’s not the same lion every day, there’s about 25 rotating lions or so. It seems a bit of a waste to me. I’d rather go see the lions at their habitat where they can be a part of the pack.
The cool thing I learned is that the lions eat raw horse meat everyday. Poor Black Beauty!
This exhibit is free but don’t feel you’re missing out if you miss this exhibit.

Love the fact that the King of Mammals is the Lion. Fantastically able to view these beautiful animals in an African-​type surrounding encased in acrylic glass enclosure, is a one-​of-​a-​kind habitat in MGM Grand Resort & Casino.
«MGM» stands for Metro-​Goldwyn-​Mayer. It is the most powerful movie production studio in Hollywood since 1915 that produces major motion pictures, have vast studio sets and very famous top-​grossing movie stars. Its films open with a roaring lion which is known as Leo, the Lion. As MGM’s trademark, it is fitting that the MGM Grand Resort in Vegas houses these beautiful lions for public viewing.
On its hotel frontage is the largest gleaming bronze cast statue of the mighty King of the Beasts looking out over the Las Vegas Boulevard called «The Strip» by the corner of East Tropicana Avenue. It stands out at this very corner for all to see. But the beauty of these amazing animal can be appreciated and photographed in the hotel’s central enclave, at the Lion Habitat.
Watch them as they play, walk around, listen to their growl, do some play with their trainers and simply just lazing around on their bellies or sometimes as they lay asleep. Photography is allowed. A walk-​thru tunnel can bring you much closer to these beauties. This habitat is great for all ages and people from all walks of life. I have seen lions while living in Africa in my teenage years. African nights are common with lions’ growls heard from the distance, or sometime seen crossing the «bush» road. I have always been captivated by their beauty. At this Lion Habitat, everyone can «oooh» and «aaah» without the fear of its wild instincts. Belonging to the cat family but larger and wild, Lions are completely amazing and fantastic to behold.

Can you feel the love tonight!
Big kitties sleeping! I’m a little jealous that they’re sleeping because that’s what I want to do right now.
These lions are soooo cute! I love stopping by this mini exhibit. I hate to say this, but I would hate to be here when the trainer gets clawed to death. Imagine a lion sleeps for most of the day and then one day has a weird nightmare while the trainer is there… yeah picture perfect blood bath. Hahaha.
Don’t come here expecting the lions to do tricks, you’ll be disappointed. Lions sleep most of the day. Appreciate the fact that this is the closest you’ll ever get to one, unless you’re in Africa.
It does get crowded but if you maneuver your way into the front it’s worth it.

It’s quite appropriate that something in Las Vegas would choose to host a $ 9 million habitat for lions. Even more appropriate that it’s in that one resort with a logo of a gold lion. Sure, it would attract spectators who might potentially spend time in the casino and other attractions at the MGM. Except, there are people who’ve been to the MGM a great deal of times and yet never felt inclined to visit the Lion Habitat. (Me?)
It seems I’m one of the few that was unimpressed by this extraordinary display of wealth & kitschy attempt at grandeur. When I last went in January, however, I was with a friend who hadn’t been to Vegas for 15 years and stopped as we passed it on our way to the Rainforest Café. We saw one very bored looking lioness. Awesome.
If I really wanted to see lions, I’d go back to one the few wildlife habitats located around the world, especially those I’ve visited a number of times as a kid: the conveniently located Taman Safari in Indonesia, the Night Safari in Singapore, or the Wild Animal Park in San Diego.

Made it just in time for the lion feeding today. The trainers throw meat against the windows and the lions come around and eat off the windows while you take pictures and gawk. There’s also a walkway where you can walk right underneath the lions. Inside the walkway is another little room where you can take a picture with a lion cub for $ 25 (!!). It’s a really cute cub though. ^_​^
The presenter said that the lions sleep 18 hours a day, and the lions are changed about every 6 hours or so (rotated in from a ranch off the strip that has some 20+ lions).
Definitely a must-​see when you come to Vegas.

I can’t wait to read the headlines,
«Trainers mauled by pissed off lions…»
But I’d honestly have to say, like the Volcano at the Mirage, you’ve gotta see these cats at least once in your life. There’s not a lot of places you can see a 400 lb feline from the underside while it’s sleeping.

I stopped by here a couple of times and it was great (and free)!
I felt a little bit weird about the whole idea of lions in a habitat in the casino, but I felt much better when I learned that it’s super-​fancy so it’s perfect temperature/​clean air, they don’t hear or smell us, and that the ranch that they’re coming from has a lot of lions so each lion is only there for about 5 hours a week. Not sure how much they like being loaded up and transported, but… it made me feel better.
The first time they were sleeping (which apparently they do 18 – 20 hours a day, especially when in a comfortable place) and/​or being lazy, but the second time I was happy to see one awake and moving around.
I love how they seem to enjoy laying on the see-​through (ish) portion where the walkway for the humans is. It’s pretty crazy to be standing right under a resting lion!