{"id":199,"date":"2022-10-08T20:26:38","date_gmt":"2022-10-08T20:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myvegaslimotour.com\/stories\/?p=199"},"modified":"2022-11-08T20:27:39","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T20:27:39","slug":"things-you-didnt-know-about-the-famous-pyramid-and-sphinx-at-the-luxor-in-las-vegas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myvegaslimotour.com\/stories\/things-you-didnt-know-about-the-famous-pyramid-and-sphinx-at-the-luxor-in-las-vegas\/","title":{"rendered":"Things You Didn\u2019t Know about the Famous Pyramid and Sphinx at the Luxor in Las Vegas"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Luxor in Las Vegas is one of the most iconic and beautiful resorts of them all, and it\u2019s 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\u2019s more to them than initially meets the eye.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pyramid Beam Has its Own Ecosystem<\/span><\/h2>\n

When the Luxor first opened its doors on October 15, 1993, a beam of Xenon light originating at the pyramid\u2019s 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\u2019re heading to Vegas, you\u2019ll still be able to see the famous Xenon light.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s Smaller than Originally Intended<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\u2019s size at 30 stories, which is still quite impressive – especially from the ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It Was Supposed to be Family-Friendly\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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\u2019s still a family-friendly venue to this day, and it hosts some of the world\u2019s biggest video game competitions at the HyperX Esports Arena.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s One of the Most Coveted LGBTQ+ Hangouts<\/span><\/h2>\n

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!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s Said to be Haunted<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you simply Google \u201cLuxor Las Vegas,\u201d you\u2019ll 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\u2019s also a tale that several workers died during the resort\u2019s construction, but those deaths were covered up by management and their ghosts have haunted the resort ever since.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n