VEGAS MYTHS RE-BUSTED: Guests Once Entered MGM Grand Through the Gold Lion's Mouth
The iconic lion statue at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has a long and controversial history. Originally designed as a towering entrance feature, it later became a symbol of corporate missteps in cultural awareness. Recent discussions have revisited its past, including a myth about gamblers passing through its mouth.
The current bronze statue, known as the Grand Lion, now stands as one of the largest of its kind in the world.
The original MGM Grand lion was never intended to be an entrance. Its mouth sat at least 30 feet above ground, making it impossible for visitors to walk through. Despite this, a persistent myth claimed that Chinese gamblers avoided the casino because they believed passing under a lion’s mouth brought bad luck.
Former MGM Mirage executive Alan Feldman once described the original lion as unattractive. Under CEO Terry Lanni’s leadership, the statue was replaced along with other elements, including a Wizard of Oz-themed area and several restaurants. Lanni later acknowledged the lion’s-mouth myth as an example of corporate insensitivity to cultural beliefs.
The current lion, sculpted by Snellen Maurice Johnson, stands 45 feet tall and weighs 50 tons. Perched on a 25-foot pedestal, it is reportedly the second-largest bronze statue in the world. Unlike its predecessor, this version is named the Grand Lion, not Leo.
No single designer is credited with the modern lion’s creation. While Siegfried & Roy incorporated an MGM lion into their 1974 show, stage designer John Napier worked on the production but was not specifically responsible for the lion’s redesign.
The MGM Grand’s lion remains a landmark, though its history reflects changing attitudes toward cultural awareness. The current statue, a massive bronze figure, no longer carries the negative associations of its predecessor. Instead, it stands as a prominent feature of the Las Vegas skyline.
