There have been some extended-stay guests hanging out in the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, and they’ve been acting like animals. This is mainly due to the fact that the residents of the Conservatory’s Jungle of Dreams, who have come to Las Vegas to attend the coronation of their king, are indeed animals. A 34-foot-tall lion stands as the focal point of lush environs populated by guests including zebras, giraffes, monkeys, a spotted leopard, waterfowl, frogs and a black-and-white snake.
Jungle of Dreams, which runs through Sept. 10, also boasts a treehouse, walkover bridge, pond and an LED wall that Conservatory designer Ed Libby created experience-enhancing storyboards for. President and COO of Bellagio and Park MGM Resorts Ann Hoff found it spectacular as she took in the sights of the summer scene on the day of its debut.
“The idea is to always create something special and unique with each of our installations at the Conservatory,” says Hoff. “This one has come to life in a unique way thanks to the team, who’ve done such an incredible job. The animals are lifelike and realistic.”
Indeed, the zebras look as if they are bursting forth from gilded frames. The lion is of noble bearing and holds court as pink flamingos pay homage nearby. Monkeys seem caught in mid-climb, while giraffes stand surefooted on either side of the bridge in the center of the rainforest.
Libby is enthusiastic about the many “moments of discovery” that await jungle dreamers who traverse the Conservatory. There is much to process from many different angles. At the most central point of the installation, on the bridge, he added bamboo guard railings, positioned so guests will intuitively be drawn to use them for steadying phone cameras.
They will also be drawn to the Conservatory’s newest permanent feature. “I’ve been talking about that video wall for six years,” says Libby, who made prototype videos for the spring show as a trial run of the new technology. “I’ve actually been using them more for events and stage shows. The idea is always, ‘What’s the new innovation in design? Where are we going to go?’ We got to a place where there was a curiosity and appetites for exploring this further.”
Libby’s team always seeks to take the lessons from the last project and apply them to the next, raising standards and confidence levels higher and higher. Director of horticulture operations Jessica Walker meets the challenge as well, creating innovative sculptural textures and complementing fauna with flora. Look for bromeliads and orchids in the shadows of the giraffes. Black-and-white patterned plant life in the zebra zone contrast strikingly with black elephant ears. Palms and philodendrons create a peaceful easy feeling around the pond.
Whether adding texture to sculpted animal life or creating their habitats, the botanical aspects multiply the moments of discovery. Of course, it’s important to remember the reason the animals have gathered at the Bellagio: a royal ceremony where vision and skills of a creative team make it easy to suspend disbelief.
Bellagio, 702.693.7111
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