About

Mandalay Bay is a 43-story luxury resort and casino situated at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, spread across 120 acres with a tropical South Seas theme. Owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International, it features a nearly 148,000-square-foot casino, over 3,200 rooms, and a wide mix of entertainment, dining, and attractions that appeal to both leisure travelers and convention-goers.

Established

Mandalay Bay opened on March 2, 1999, developed by Circus Circus Enterprises at a cost of $950 million on the former site of the Hacienda hotel-casino, which was imploded on New Year's Eve 1996. MGM Resorts acquired the property in 2005 as part of its purchase of Mandalay Resort Group.

Arrival Strategy

Mandalay Bay sits at the far south end of the Strip, so rideshare drop-off is straightforward, but driving visitors should note that the property has two self-parking garages — one behind the main towers and one dedicated to the Convention Center — and a free tram connects the resort to neighboring Luxor and Excalibur, which can be a handy alternative if the main garage is congested during a large event.

On-Property Draw

The resort features Shark Reef, a 1.3-million-gallon aquarium containing over 2,000 animals including sharks and a rare golden crocodile, as well as Mandalay Bay Beach — an 11-acre aquatic playground with a wave pool, lazy river, and real sand described as the only beach of its kind in Las Vegas. On-property dining options include Stripsteak by Michael Mina, Border Grill, and numerous other restaurants, plus the House of Blues concert hall and the Shoppes at Mandalay Place.

Local History

The resort's 1,800-seat theater has hosted long-running Broadway productions including Chicago (1999–2000), Mamma Mia! (2003–2009), and The Lion King (2009–2011), and since 2013 has been home to Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: One. At its 1999 opening, the Four Seasons hotel occupying floors 35–39 of the same tower became the first Las Vegas hotel to win the AAA Five Diamond Award.

Insider Tip

If Mandalay Bay's parking garage fills up during a major event, a practical workaround is to park at the adjacent Excalibur — which often has lower parking rates — and take the free, climate-controlled Mandalay Bay Tram directly to the resort.