The MGM Grand is losing its lions. Resort officials announced the property's iconic lion habitat will close permanently Jan. 31.
"That is part of an overall property-wide renovation project," MGM Resorts spokeswoman Yvette Monet said. "There are going to be significant changes in the casino and hotel." MGM officials would not say what will replace the $9 million, 5,000-square-foot, glass-encased structure.
MGM Resorts in October began a $160 million remodel of the MGM Grand. Each of the main tower's 3,570 hotel rooms and 642 suites will receive a makeover, and operators plan to overhaul the property's casino floor, restaurants, clubs and showrooms. The project is expected to take about a year.
The lion habitat opened in 1999. Twenty lions rotate in and out of the exhibit, where they nap, wrestle and play. Visitors can view them from the perimeter of the habitat or through a glass tunnel that cuts through the exhibit. The free attraction is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
