Las Vegas Weekly

June 18, 2010 · 8:07 AM

Photos: Shark Reef Aquarium marks decade, counts down to 10 million

By Robin Leach

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

Photo: Mandalay Bay

As the gigantic Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend, the countdown has begun to welcome its 10 millionth guest. Officials at Shark Reef predict that will happen late next month or early August based on current daily visitor counts.

The celebrations kick off tomorrow and continue through August. Admission has been reduced to $10, and there’s a 10 percent discount on all Shark Reef store merchandise. Additionally, Shark Reef drinks throughout Mandalay Bay are $10, and there’s even a $10 deal of burgers and hot dogs.

Award-winning pastry chefs will test their skills tomorrow in making aquatic-themed cakes, and the public can vote all day long. There’s also a signup sweepstakes as part of the birthday celebration with a prize package that includes a Las Vegas visit, Mandalay Bay hotel and restaurant goodies and a VIP tour of the aquarium with curator Jack Jewel.

You know me and my thirst for fun facts, so here are some we gathered:

*More than 2,000 divinely dangerous animals, including a Komodo dragon, Golden Crocodiles -- there since day one -- and sharks, of course, are in the aquarium.

*Added up, they have more teeth than there are slot machines in Mandalay Bay -- 10,000 vs. 2,200!

*As the largest tropical shark exhibit west of the Mississippi, the animals eat more than 500 pounds of food weekly, taking the 10-year food bill to more than 130 tons.

*More than 150,000 schoolchildren have toured the exhibit, which holds nearly 1.6 million gallons of freshwater and seawater for the 14 attractions.

*The aquarium creates its own seawater and has used more than 1.5 million pounds of salt since the 2000 opening. The saltwater is fully filtered in the Shipwreck section every 90 minutes for a total of nearly 40 billion gallons over the decade.

*It is North America’s only predator-based aquarium and Nevada’s first and only institution accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

Shark Reef director Adrienne Rowland laughed: “It’s a milestone of ferocious proportions. There will be much fanfare, or should I say fin-fare, as our 10 millionth visitor is feted.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

Share This