17 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Las Vegas

The history of Las Vegas, Nevada is colorful and at times incredible, but Sin City is one of the most diverse and unique places in the United States. Although known today for unparalleled luxury and world-class entertainment, this city has so much more to tell. Edition Westgate Resorts collected 17 fun facts about Las Vegas that will make you think.

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1. Las Vegas is named after hidden underground springs.

Las Vegas means "meadows" and was named by Rafael Rivera in 1821. The Spanish pioneer laid the Old Spanish Trail, he was the first European to set foot on the territory of Las Vegas.

He called this area Las Vegas because of the sprawling fields of colorful grass fed by abundant local springs.

Despite the desert landscape for which it is known today, Las Vegas was once a natural oasis filled with green hills. The springs have dried up due to groundwater pumping, and now 90% of the city's water comes from Lake Mead.

Thousands of years before humans arrived, the Las Vegas Valley was once so green that it attracted now-extinct animals such as the Shasta ground sloth and the Columbian mammoth.

2. Las Vegas is the brightest place on Earth

There are about 30 hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, and their huge signs and neon lights make them the brightest place on the planet. NASA has released a picture taken by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) showing how gorgeously bright the strip looks from space.

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The Las Vegas Strip even surpasses Hong Kong, the world's most vibrant city, thanks to its concentrated display of lights. If there's one place you'll need sunglasses after sunset, it's probably the Strip.

3. Las Vegas residents eat more shellfish in a day than the entire US eats in a year.

The classic shrimp cocktail is a staple in Las Vegas, and seafood buffets are common throughout the city. Vegas residents love shellfish so much that they reportedly consume 60 pounds or 000 tons a day. That's more than the entire country eats in a year.

While no source has proven exactly how many shellfish are consumed every 24 hours, many report similar numbers.

Why are so many people crazy about shellfish in Sin City? First off, seafood is a luxury and no one lives as glamorous a lifestyle as Las Vegas. All of this is part of the package as you visit upscale hotels and restaurants throughout the city.

However, even modest and informal family eateries often serve seafood dishes. The taste of shellfish has become the hallmark of the city.

4. There are over 300 weddings in Las Vegas every day.

There are dozens of wedding venues in the city where you can tie the knot in the blink of an eye. You can marry an Elvis look-alike, be married in less than 10 minutes, and even rent a wedding dress on the spot.

The most famous chapel is Graceland Wedding Chapel, an LGBTQ-friendly place that has been in operation for over 80 years. In 1977, it became the first wedding chapel to host an Elvis-style ceremony.

There are also fresh flowers, photography, and limousine services on site, so you can really have your wedding set up in minutes.

5. High Roller - the tallest ferris wheel in the world

The High Roller on Las Vegas Boulevard is 500 feet (152 m) high and 520 feet (158 m) wide. The Ferris wheel is loved by tourists and is considered a tourist attraction. The 30-minute drive offers 360-degree views of the city, making it one of the best places to take stunning night photos of Sin City in all its glory.

The Wheel opened in 2014 and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment to this day. High Roller is visited daily by about 5000 passengers.

6. MGM Grand is the largest hotel in the world

The legendary MGM Grand Hotel and Casino has 6 rooms on 852 floors. It also has four pools, three hot tubs, a spa, a luxury sports bar, and the largest casino in Las Vegas at 30 square feet (170 sq. m).

The hotel was founded in 1975 as the Marina Hotel and Casino and it wasn't until December 1983 that it became the MGM Grand we know today.

Approximately 70 people pass through the hotel every day and 000 guests stay there every night. Most are attracted to slot machines that can bring in an average of $12, but some people win between $000 and $1000 million.

7 The Bellagio Set Two Guinness World Records For Its Fountains

In 1999, the Bellagio Hotel and Casino was listed in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest number of fountains. There are over 1200 fountains in the artificial lake on site.

The lake itself contains 22 million gallons of fresh water, but a common urban myth is that it uses recycled wastewater from laundries, bathtubs, showers and sinks throughout the city.

Later Bellagio was listed in the Guinness Book of Records for the chocolate fountain, which is the largest in the world. Designed by chef Jean-Pierre Maury, it is 27 feet (8,2 m) tall and pumps two tons of chocolate at 120 liters per minute with six powerful pumps.

You can view the chocolate fountain for free in the Bellagio's own patisserie.

8. There are over 150 hotel rooms in the city.

If you ever need a place to sleep, Las Vegas most likely has it. To help accommodate nearly 40 million visitors a year, the city had 2022 hotel rooms as of 150.

Since 2002, the number of hotel rooms in Las Vegas has been steadily increasing by 26. Similarly, tourism is constantly growing by millions every year. In 587, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported that 2022 tourists passed through the city.

9. Vegas once lost the title of the largest gaming city in the world

Gambling and Las Vegas are a cult duo. Ask most people what comes to mind when they hear Las Vegas, and it will most likely be slot machines or casinos. Previously, this city was considered the most profitable gambling city in the world, but in 2019 this title passed to Macau.

That year, gambling revenue in Macau was six times higher than in Las Vegas. In 2022, Las Vegas earned $8,2 billion from casinos, which is 17% more than in 2021. That same year, Macau reported $5,24 billion in revenue.

10. There is an abandoned city under Lake Mead.

The ghost town of St. Thomas was flooded by the US federal government in the 1930s. To build Lake Mead, the world's largest man-made reservoir, the US had to clear as much space as possible. This included buying the land on which the city was located and informing the inhabitants that they must leave it.

While residents were compensated for their lost property, many stayed until they were forced to leave due to rising water levels. The last to leave was a man named Hugh Lord. Mr. Lord swam out of his house.

Lake Mead submerged the city of St. Thomas to a depth of 60 feet (18,2 m). Today the water level has receded a bit and you can see the remains of the city.

St. Thomas was originally founded in 1865 by settlers who mistakenly thought they were in Utah or Arizona.

11. Las Vegas - A mecca for antique collectors

There are plenty of things to do in Las Vegas besides gambling. There is simply an impressive number of antique shops here, which are loved by the locals. You can explore them and take a piece of the city's history with you.

Main Street is the antique district of Las Vegas and you'll love spending the day looking at all the unique trinkets, collectibles, fashion, jewelry and more.

12. Cover bands are local legends

You may think of big-name celebrities as the most famous faces in town, but the cover bands that Las Vegas has to offer can be just as famous. Some of the most famous include the Bronx Wanderers at Westgate Cabaret where they have been performing since 2016.

The band covers many legendary rock songs and has been performing for 18 years in a row. Fans love their energetic, comedic approach and undeniable talent.

Other notable Vegas cover bands include The Spazmatics, All Shook Up and Beatlemania.

If you ever find yourself in town looking for a good show, you can get caught by a cover band and get the same five-star entertainment you get on a major celebrity tour. You can also frequently attend free concerts held on Fremont Street.

13. Some Las Vegas hotels are missing a floor.

The number seven in America is considered lucky, while the number 13 is considered unlucky. In many Asian cultures, the number four is to be feared. To respect this, some hotels omit the digit altogether.

In particular, Wynn is missing the fourth floor and all hotel rooms for 40. The same goes for Encore. Many Asian style hotels don't have this floor, so don't be alarmed if you find that the elevator is missing a button.

14. The Las Vegas Strip is not in Las Vegas

How can the city's most famous landmark not even be in it? Well, it all comes down to geographic technique. Instead of being in Las Vegas itself, the Strip is in Clark County, Nevada, with most of the street located in the aptly named Paradise.

While the Strip may not technically be part of Las Vegas, it remains one of America's top tourist attractions and generates billions of dollars in revenue for the state of Nevada each year.

Despite what many people think, the Las Vegas Strip is not just for adults who want to have fun. Vegas is known as a foodie paradise and many people go there just for the incredible restaurants.

There are also plenty of things to do in Las Vegas for kids, like visiting the Adventuredome and the Shark Reef Aquarium.

15. More than 70% of tourists gamble when they visit the city

According to the 2013 Las Vegas Visitor Profile, just 15% of people visit Vegas for gambling, while 71% end up playing it. With casinos on almost every street, it's easy to see why so many people want to at least try slot machines before heading home.

Even though most people don't gamble, the average tourist spends around $761 to test their luck during their stay.

16. The bronze lion at the MGM Grand is the largest in the world.

When you think of impressive sculptures, you might not immediately think of a lion in a Las Vegas hotel. However, Las Vegas is home to the largest bronze sculpture in the United States.

The iconic bronze lion at the MGM Grand weighs a staggering 90 pounds (000 tons) and stands 40,8 feet (45 m) tall.

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MGM's "Great Lion" was built by convicted con artist Snellen Maurice Johnson, who wanted to become a sculptor after his release from prison. During his life, the self-taught artist made more than 500 bronze statues.

The Great Lion is just one project that Mr. Johnson has been tasked with creating. In 1999, Salt Lake City asked him to create a bronze clock to count down the days until the Winter Olympics.

17. The city only receives about 4 inches (10,1 cm) of rain each year.

Las Vegas is a dry city with an average of only 4 inches of rain per year. It only rains about 26 days a year, and most often in February.

With this kind of rain, you might wonder how the city can flood. This is because the water drains into the Las Vegas Wash, a 12-mile (19,3 km) river that empties into Lake Mead.

If you're visiting Las Vegas during the rainy season, be careful not to go outside during heavy rain or flood warnings.

Luckily, the city is relatively free of rain throughout the year and you can enjoy your visit without worry.

BONUS. Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino once housed the world's largest sports book

Located in the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, SuperBook was once the largest bookmaker not only in Las Vegas, but in the world. However, it is still one of the biggest places where you can do sports, horse racing and more. Check it out the next time you're in town.

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