Las Vegas Secrets: Trivia, Legends, Lore & More

Leo the Lion—who stands Strip-side, guarding his pride of guests at the palatial MGM Grand—is 45 feet tall, weighs in at 50 tons, and sits perched on a 25-foot-tall, 23,000-pound pedestal—a pedigree that makes Leo the largest bronze sculpture in the Northern Hemisphere.

The High Roller was the world’s tallest ride of its kind until October of 2021, when Ain Dubai “took the wheel.” That said, at 550 feet tall and 520 feet in diameter, we think it’s still the best one on which to relaxingly take in the lay of the land, have a private party, or get hitched—partially because, instead of a view of a bunch of condos on fake islands, you get to see look out upon dazzling Las Vegas and Red Rock Canyon.

The Shops at Crystals, at 262,354 square feet, make up the world’s largest LEED Gold-certified retail district, meaning you can peruse Gucci, Prada, Hermes, and the continent’s largest Louis Vuitton boutique with a little less guilt about your shopping habit’s carbon footprint.

The ancient Egypt-themed Luxor blasts a 42.3 billion candlepower beam into space—the brightest light on Earth, visible by cruising-altitude planes more than 275 miles away—and boasts a replica sphinx that is 35 feet taller than the Great Sphinx of Giza. However, the Vegas one is certainly lighter; it’s made of foam and plaster, rather than a single piece of limestone. (We’re not sayin’ either of them was the aliens… but it was the aliens.”)

There are more than 70 all-you-can-eat buffets and dozens upon dozens of all-you-can-eat sushi joints in Las Vegas.

Today, Las Vegas is home to about one slot machine for every four human residents. The largest jackpot ever was awarded back in 2003 by a Megabucks slot at Excalibur to the tune of $39.7 million, after a lucky couple spent only about $100. While certainly not every player catches that big of a break, it goes to show that the house does not, in fact, always win.

To shed some light on the subject, the Strip boasts more than 12 million bulbs, which rack up an annual power bill of around $490 million—not counting A/C, heat, or any other sort of electrical use. Meanwhile, the 1,375-foot-long Viva Vision canopy (the largest video screen ever built) features 49,299,456 individual LEDs. As for neon, although there isn’t nearly as much of the stuff as there used to be, there are still an estimated 15,000 miles of neon tubing buzzing around town.

However, go beyond the glow and you’ll find a stellar contrast. Nevada also boasts the darkest skies in the Lower 48—and therefore some of the most dazzling, with thousands of stars, complete constellations, planets, and entire galaxies visible to the naked eye.

While there is currently a catalog of 35 uniquely programmed, permanent shows—featuring a range of music from Sinatra and Celine to Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga—the very first shows were designed with help from a CalTech fluid mechanics professor, Department of Energy computer programmers, and the choreographer who made Patrick Swayze such a surefooted stepper in “Dirty Dancing.”