Past:

In 1999, the MGM Grand Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip opened up a lion habitat inside their casino. Visitors could watch the lions groom, nap, and play from outside a glass enclosure. The animals could also be viewed from a glass tunnel that cut through the exhibit. The attraction was free and was opened daily from 11 am to 7 pm.

There were twenty lions that rotated in and out of the exhibit. Each day, a group of lions traveled to the hotel from the Cat House Ranch, an 8.5 acre ranch located 12 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. The ranch was owned by Keith Evans, an animal trainer and habitat designer. His ranch housed 40 lions that appeared at the hotel during some point in their lives. Some of the lions were even descended from Leo, the most recent lion mascot used by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.

MGM’s lion habitat closed in 2011 when MGM Grand Hotel underwent an expansive renovation. After MGM Grand ended its contract with Evans, he built glass enclosures and safety barriers at his ranch. He also obtained permits to open the Lion Habitat Ranch to the public.

Present:

The Lion Habitat Ranch is open for general admission from 11 am to 3 pm Friday to Monday (weather permitting). Tickets can be purchased online or onsite. The ranch has a dirt parking lot and there is street parking available.

Visitors check in at a trailer where tickets are sold and waivers are signed. Guest services also redeems tickets purchased online and reviews online waivers. Tickets are currently $25 for adults and $10 for children but the ranch offers discounts for Seniors, Families, Locals, Military, Fire, and Police.

A chalkboard greets visitors and outlines the planned activities for the day.

Guests can pose with a nearby photo op

Guests then walk around metal enclosures filled with lions and birds

                          

Each enclosure gives the name of the animal inside and gives interesting facts about the species.There are also trainers around the ranch to answer questions about the animals

Signs also give guests an important reminder about the big cats…

One cat enclosure includes a plexi-glass room where guests can watch a video about the ranch and get an unobstructed view of lions playing, eating, grooming, and sleeping.

When I visited I was fortunate enough to see a trainer hand feed 3 lions knows as the “Golden Girls” inside the enclosure. For $100 guests can also hand feed a lion.

The ranch also has a metal barn. The barn houses Ozzie, Nevada’s only Giraffe.

Guests can feed Ozzie, watch Ozzie give a free painting demonstration, or create a custom artwork with Ozzie. Click here to learn more about Ozzie.

Next to Ozzie’s barn is a gift shop where guests can buy one of Ozzie’s artworks, jewelry from Africa, snacks, and souvenirs including t-shirts and postcards.

Guests can also talk to a trainer about feeding an animal, sponsoring an animal, making a donation, hosting an event, or taking a behind the scenes tour. Each of these experiences helps offsets the high costs of caring for the animals.

Visit the Lion Habitat Ranch to get more information about current hours and prices 

Address:

382 Bruner Ave, Henderson, NV 89044