The Luxor in Las Vegas is one of the most iconic and beautiful resorts of them all, and it’s known in the United States and around the world for its famed black pyramid and Sphinx replica. Both of these architectural wonders are associated with mind-bending facts, and like many things in Vegas, there’s more to them than initially meets the eye.
The Pyramid Beam Has its Own Ecosystem
When the Luxor first opened its doors on October 15, 1993, a beam of Xenon light originating at the pyramid’s apex shone straight up into space. It made the pyramid a true icon, but airplanes at LAX could see the beam from 275 miles away. Deemed a potential danger, authorities have lowered the original wattage quite a bit, but if you’re heading to Vegas, you’ll still be able to see the famous Xenon light.
Today, 39 individual lights with 7,000-watt bulbs create the iconic beam. The lights are located in a room 50 feet below the pyramid’s apex, and employees have said that room regularly reaches temperatures of 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, the beam attracts moths, and the moths attract a wide range of predators, including bats and birds.
It’s Smaller than Originally Intended
While designers originally wanted the famed black pyramid to stand taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, this was deemed impossible due to the proximity of Las Vegas International Airport – it was located just across from the Luxor. As such, architects and designers capped the pyramid’s size at 30 stories, which is still quite impressive – especially from the ground.
It Was Supposed to be Family-Friendly
The Luxor was also designed to be one of very few facilities in Las Vegas that actually catered to children as much as adults. The Egyptian theme was meant to invoke a theme park-like feeling that captivated the attention of all ages as well as the wealthy elite. It’s still a family-friendly venue to this day, and it hosts some of the world’s biggest video game competitions at the HyperX Esports Arena.
It’s One of the Most Coveted LGBTQ+ Hangouts
The Las Vegas LGBTQ+ community hosts a weekly event known as Temptation Sunday, which is essentially a massive pool party at the Luxor. It happens every summer between May and September, and tens of thousands of individuals show up during these months to meet new people, swim, and enjoy all the best Vegas has to offer. Surprise celebrity guests are common, too!
It’s Said to be Haunted
If you simply Google “Luxor Las Vegas,” you’ll get tens of thousands of results that focus on the haunted nature of the resort. Some say that the various Egyptian replicas (including the Sphinx, Black Pyramid, and others) have cursed the entire property. There’s also a tale that several workers died during the resort’s construction, but those deaths were covered up by management and their ghosts have haunted the resort ever since.
The Luxor is one of the most easily recognizable resorts in all of Las Vegas, and it’s one of the most interesting, too. While much of the Egyptian theme no longer exists inside the resort, the Pyramid and Sphinx are some of the city’s biggest attractions. You can see them up close and even take photos with them during a Las Vegas limo tour.
