Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage Details
- Hours of operation: Daily, 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Last admission is 5:30 p.m.
- Cost: Admission to both exhibits is $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for children (ages 4-12) and free for children under 3. Annual passes are available. Discounted rates are available for Nevada residents, military personnel and and Mirage hotel guests.
- Payment options: Cash, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover.
- Reservations: Not required.
- Location: At the Mirage Hotel and Casino.
- Age/Height/Weight restrictions: Guests under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older.
Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage Description
The wildest part of Las Vegas isn't necessarily the nightlife.
Right
on the Las Vegas Strip is an attraction that defines wild in Vegas in a
whole new way. Welcome to Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin
Habitat at The Mirage Hotel & Casino where white tigers and lions,
leopards and dolphins enjoy the Vegas sun and a posh resort like the
millions of human tourists who visit the city each year.
The
facility, which opened in 1990, is the dream of legendary magicians
Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn, better known to millions as
Siegfried & Roy. For years the duo has worked to help save
endangered animals, primarily white tigers and lions.
The Secret Garden
If
you loved collecting those big, cuddly stuffed animals as a kid, then
visiting the Secret Garden at the Mirage is a dream come true. Here you
can see your furry friends come to life within the lush surroundings of
the habitat.
The beautiful attraction displays six different
showcases of white tigers and lions, as well as leopards. But the
majority of these cats aren't like the typical wild animals you see.
"These
are some of the most impressive cats I've ever seen," said Dave Blasko,
director of animal care at The Secret Garden. "People come from all
over the world to see them."
The Secret Garden stands out from
other animal habitats because it features white striped tigers as well
as snow white ones. With their distinctive fur color and crystal blue
eyes, the cats almost seem unreal.
For more than 20 years,
Siegfried and Roy dedicated their time in preserving these rare and
exotic breeds. Not only does the Secret Garden preserve these animals
from extinction, but visitors also have the opportunity to gain a better
understanding and awareness about them.
As you meander through
the habitat, you'll notice all the lush greenery, fun, jungle-themed
music and even a towering lion figure made from plants. Some of the cats
even have built-in waterfalls in their resting areas. You'll also
discover fun facts about the animals written on plaques spread
throughout the facility. For instance, female lions do most of the
hunting while the male lion watches over the pride. Also, tigers
actually enjoy swimming.
"Tigers are one of the few cats who like water," said Blasko.
If you want to take some of the wildlife back home with you, the gift shop at the Secret Garden offers souvenirs.
Together
with its lush foliage and gorgeous waterfalls, the Secret Garden is the
ideal place to visit any time of the year. With all its trees and
tropical surroundings, you'll literally feel like you're in another
country.
The Dolphin Habitat
Surrounded by
palm trees, lush foliage and 2.1 million gallons of water, the Dolphin
Habitat at the Mirage is truly an oasis on the Las Vegas Strip. Whether
the bottlenose dolphins who call the habitat home are swimming, "tail
walking" across water, catching fish or bonding with each other, you'll
get an up-close and personal look at their fun, intriguing lifestyle.
While
many people think of Sea World when they think of dolphins, many don't
realize that they can see the creatures right in the midst of the Las
Vegas desert. The Dolphin Habitat is a research facility and is also
designed to educate people about these amazing animals. And while the
dolphins don't perform on a regular schedule, visitors can still be
surprised by their natural playfulness.
Exercising is also very
vital to the dolphins' health. When the trainers aren't exercising or
having fun with the dolphins, they conduct regular check-ups to ensure
that they're healthy.
The Dolphin Habitat offers an underwater
viewing area. But if you're trying to take a picture of the dolphins, it
can get a little tricky. Since these dolphins are so swift and playful,
you may find yourself running back and forth to capture the perfect
photo.
The habitat also features shaded seating, a café and a gift
shop filled with memorabilia including plush dolphin toys and even
dolphin-shaped water guns.
Dolphin Habitat visitors who wish to
get a little more involved with the animals can choose from a couple
different programs. Painting With the Dolphins allows you to create a
mammal masterpiece. Available from noon to 3:30 p.m. daily, you will get
up close and personal with a dolphin as you collaborate on creating an
original piece of art. Cost of $199 includes price of admission, your
unique masterpiece, a certificate and a photograph of the experience.
The
Trainer for a Day program, meanwhile, is an all-day activity allowing
guests slip into a wetsuit and get up close to the dolphins. From 9:45
a.m. - 3:15 p.m. you will interact with and feed the dolphins while
accompanied by habitat staff. A staff member will snap photos of your
experience throughout this this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. At the
end of the day, your photos will be put on a CD for you to take home as a
one-of-a-kind souvenir. Price varies between $495 and $595 depending on
the season, with a four person maximum. Call (702) 792-7889 for more
information or to make reservations.
Whether you come to see the
dolphins or some of the rarest white tigers and lions in the world, The
Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat may prove to be the wildest moment on
your Vegas trip.
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