That’s the eternal story of Las Vegas: the pursuit of creating experiences that people have never seen before. Trumbull ultimately created a bespoke cinema trilogy titled “Secrets of the Luxor Pyramid” shown across three dynam- ic, high-tech, custom-built theaters akin to Disneyland’s Star Tours ride. Circus Circus’s investment in this feature was further evidence of Las Vegas’ evolution as a destina- tion for experiential entertainment. When MGM acquired Luxor in 2005, MGM initiated a $300 million renovation project to move away from the Ancient Egyptian theme, marking the end of the trilogy theater attractions. MGM installed more adult-friendly elements, like lounges, restaurants and a nightclub, aligning with the “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” slogan and market positioning that had been introduced by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) in 2003.
Still, Luxor continues to be a natural home for interesting exhibits. For example, it houses the long-running Titanic artifact exhibit, which is one of the most highly visited Titanic-related exhibits in the world. Upon entry, the exhibit staff provides each guest with a card detailing the life of a real Titanic passenger, and guests make their way through the “ship.” There are displays of recovered artifacts, including shoes and dishware and notebooks, and the largest recovered piece of the Titanic is dramatically displayed in low light in one of the last rooms of the exhibit. Though Luxor has evolved, it remains a treasure-trove of interesting stories and unique sensory elements. From the architectural intensity of the interior atrium, to the unfamiliar sensation of moving sideways while in an “inclinator,” to happening upon the largest recovered piece of one of the most famous shipwrecks in history, Luxor has surprises in abundance.
OPPOSITE: Sphinx statue in the Luxor atrium, ABOVE LEFT: Inside Luxor’s Pyramid lobby, ABOVE RIGHT: A large section of the Titanic’s hull on display in Luxor’s Titanic artifact exhibit
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VICI LAS VEGAS
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