Things to do in Las Vegas pop-up and fizzle out with mind-numbing frequency.
Although it can be difficult to keep up with the pace of change, the constant churning of attractions means that there’s always something new to do, even for the most seasoned Vegas veterans.
Because many of you are repeat visitors, I thought it would be helpful to summarize what’s new in Las Vegas, both on the Strip and on Fremont Street.
New Strip Attractions
Ole Red at Horseshoe
Ole Red is a country music venue, co-owned by Blake Shelton, which boasts a large indoor main stage and a rooftop venue with a view of the Strip.
In addition to live music, Ole Red will host watch parties for events like the Super Bowl on its 40-foot video board.
Uniquely, the venue’s decor includes a tractor hanging from the ceiling and a mural made of dice.
I recently stopped in to find the house packed, a live band playing, and the views from the top level to be spectacular.
Play Playground at Luxor
An adult-only experience, Play Playground offers “20 larger-than-life immersive games and attractions” that provide the opportunity to leave the real world behind and revisit the joys of childhood.
The games require no skill and are social in nature.
One example of this is the “Ringer Run” which tasks participants with walking down a rainbow hallway with a metal ring, guiding it along a meandering metal track without allowing it to touch.
Another is “Perfect Popper”, which mimics the popular board game “Perfection”.
As a bonus, there are cocktails that the press release described as “theatrical”. I don’t know what that means, but it sounds festive.
Learn more about Play Playground, here.
Atomic Golf at STRAT
A similar experience to Topgolf, Atomic Golf has opened at STRAT, offering several bars, 4 levels of hitting bays, and one heck of a light show at night.
I recently stopped by in the afternoon, and suggest you wait until after sundown to get the most out of your experience as the facility faces west and golfers are pounded by the sun until it sets.
Additionally, as you’ll see below, the range has a depressing/underwhelming look during the day.
Discovering King Tut’s Tomb at Luxor
A museum attraction at Luxor, Discovering King Tut’s Tomb allows guests to follow in Egyptologist Howard Carter’s steps and relive the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
The attraction tells the story of Egyptian culture and Howard Carter’s Exhibition through a multimedia experience that includes video, audio, and replica artifacts.
I recently visited Discovering King Tut’s Tomb and was impressed with the educational aspects of the attraction, but underwhelmed by the fact there were no real artifacts on display.
That being said, fans of ancient Egypt are likely to enjoy the presentation and can price tickets out with:
Awakening at Wynn
Wynn’s newest show recently pressed “pause” on performances due to soft ticket sales and mixed reviews. Well, the show has been reimagined and has made its triumphant return.
In addition to a storyline that follows a heroine who must confront the forces of light and darkness, the production also includes comedy, aerial routines, acrobatics, stunning visuals, and illusion.
Narrated, by Anthony Hopkins, I think take two of Awakening is going to knock it out of the park. After all, it’s Wynn, a resort not known for letting people down.
Tickets start at around $100 range and can be priced out with:
Related: See my Review of Awakening!
Arte Museum
Located between Cosmopolitan and Crystals on the Strip, Arte Museum aims to mesh nature with digital art to create a handful of compelling visuals that include a beach, waves crashing against glass, and stars (pictured below) among others.
I recently stopped by and was a bit underwhelmed by Arte Museum for the price paid ($45).
Immersive Disney at Crystals
A similar attraction into Immersive Van Gogh at Crystals, guests are surrounded by 4 massive video walls that drop you into Disney classics like Peter Pan, Frozen, Encanto, and more.
Put this new attraction atop your list if you’re on the hunt for things to do with kids in Vegas.
Tickets can be priced out with:
I recently stopped by – Check out my Immersive Disney Review!
Dino Safari at Horseshoe
Walk amongst animatronic dinosaurs, learn about their time here on Earth, and participate in interactive activities at Dino Safari.
I recently stopped by and feel this attraction appeals most to the youngest of kids. Teens and adults are likely to be less impressed – See my full Dino Safari Review.
Tickets start at just over $20, and can be priced out with the:
Coming Soon to The Strip
Dreambox360 at LINQ
Opening next to the Icebar along the LINQ Promenade in July 2024, Dreambox360 will immerse guests in one of several adventures via a 360-degree screen and 5D elements like wind, mist, rain, and more.
Experiences include The Arctic Ghost Ship: A Quest in Search of the Lost Rum” and “The Weekend Trip – A Psychedelic Experience” among others.
FRIENDS The Experience at MGM Grand
MGM Grand’s newest themed attraction, opening late 2024, will give fans of the hit FRIENDS franchise a chance to “explore the show’s iconic moments, behind-the-scenes content, and photo opportunities within life-sized recreations”.
Sets featured include Ross & Rachel’s wedding, Monica’s apartment, and the fountain from the opening credits.
There will also be a FRIENDS retail store open to all.
Swingers Mini Golf at Mandalay Bay
The newest indoor mini golf course in Las Vegas is coming to Mandalay Bay in the fall of 2024.
The 40,000 square foot venue will be home to 5 (yes… five!) mini golf courses that will each have their own unique flair.
A fun touch, craft cocktails will be orderable while playing from “Caddies” which will be milling about to take orders and deliver drinks.
Bottled Blonde at Horseshoe
Scheduled to open in 2024, Bottled Blonde will be located right along the Strip at Horseshoe next door to Ole Red.
The 4-story, $50 million entertainment venue will boast an open-air rooftop bar, full menu, and unique drink options that include a 128 oz. beer tower, mimosa pyramids built around bottles of champagne, and an expansive beer garden.
DiscoShow by Spiegelworld at Linq
Opening July 27th, DiscoShow will be the fourth show by Spiegelworld in Las Vegas, joining “Absinthe”, “OPM”, and “Atomic Saloon“.
The show will follow the characters “Who were there at the birth of disco; into their lives; on the streets; at the club; encouraged at every moment to lose themselves in the music and on the dancefloor”.
I’m personally just excited for another dose of the raunchy comedy Spiegelworld is known for.
New Fremont Street Attractions
While the pace of change tends to be slower on Fremont Street than on The Strip, there are a few fresh things to do of note – Most of which are at Plaza, which has done a spectacular job of reinventing itself to stay modern, while maintaining a “gambling hall vibe”.
The Sand Dollar Lounge at Plaza
The new Sand Dollar Lounge is located off Plaza’s casino floor and is a popular destination for those looking to enjoy live music.
Aiming to “Resurrect the energy of rock’s golden era”, The Sand Dollar should be a fun hangout. You can learn more about the vision on this episode of Plaza’s “On The Corner of Main” podcast.
More Additions at Plaza
Plaza recently opened the first smoke-free casino on Fremont Street. The new smokeless casino is the first of its kind downtown and carries the Brian Christopher Slots name. If unfamiliar, Brian is a popular YouTuber and champions the cause of casinos going smoke-free.
The new slot room is 2,500 square feet in size and contains 80 slot games. Notably, the space is physically separated from the portion of the casino where smoking is allowed, preventing drift.
There are even some fun photo opportunities inside!
Secondly, the popular downtown steakhouse Oscar’s has added patio seating that can accommodate up to 225 people.
I stopped in to eat in the new outdoor space on their second day of operation and was impressed with both the view and the prime rib.
Pinkbox Doughnuts has also opened in front of the property and has added some unique flair to Plaza’s exterior. The location features 70 doughnut varieties within a 16-foot-long display case.
The best addition in my opinion is the new Carousel Bar, which is an outdoor cocktail lounge found under the twinkling lights of Oscar’s dome.
The Movie Prop Experience
Located in Neonopolis, The Movie Prop Experience is a museum dedicated to showcasing props used in hit TV shows and movies that span the genre spectrum. Items currently on display include Wolverine’s claws, Han Solo encased in carbonite, Iron Man’s hand, and so much more.
I recently stopped in – See my Review of The Movie Prop Experience!
Coming Soon to Downtown
CrashNBurn & Aero Vegas
Opening March 1st, CrashNBurn is a bar & restaurant that’ll be situated on the 3rd floor of Neonopolis overlooking Fremont Street.
While I’m looking forward to grabbing a bite and a beer on their outdoor patio, the real attraction will be the open-air skydiving experience pictured below.
New Off-Strip Attractions
Punk Rock Museum
The Punk Rock Museum is dedicated to the history of the genre, and self-guided tickets start at $30.
Inside, you’ll find a collection of artifacts that include fliers, photos, instruments, handwritten lyrics, and more.
Uniquely, there’s even a hands-on guitar room, where visitors can play equipment once used by groups like Rise Against, NOFX, Strung Out, and more.
Learn more, and buy tickets to the new Punk Rock Museum here.
Related: The Punk Rock Museum Review – Take a look inside!
PopStroke Mini Golf at Town Square
PopStroke, in partnership with Tiger Woods, has brought its unique brand of mini golf to Town Square just off the Strip.
Unlike “traditional” mini golf, PopStroke’s two separate 18-hole courses resemble and play like an actual golf course with sand traps, artificial grass fairways, and even rough.
“Coming Soon” Off-Strip Attractions
A “Horror Experience” from Universal Parks & Resorts
Universal Parks & Resorts plans to create a permanent year-round horror attraction that will be an extension of the Area15 complex.
While details about the new attraction are sparse, the press release noted that it’ll be 110,000 square feet, using words like “creative”, “innovative”, and “immersive” – The holy trinity of press release verbiage.
The new horror attraction will “Bring to life Universal’s vast library of classic horror films and today’s most terrifying tales”. Count me in.
While we still know next to nothing about the Horror Experience, we do know that the venue will blend an ever-evolving lineup of spooky experiences with food & drink offerings and seasonal events.
I personally love Area15, especially Omega Mart, and am hopeful that this is equally impressive.
John Wick Experience at Area15
Another new attraction to watch for at Area15 is the John Wick Experience, which opens in late 2024.
According to the press release, “The new experience blends immersive theatre and highly themed cinematic environments to create an interactive journey that transcends reality. Guests step through the doors of the Las Vegas Continental and into the fantastical underworld of John Wick, where they navigate a high stakes adventure”.
F1 Paddock and Year-Round Experience
Formula One’s new paddock facility on Koval and Harmon will eventually be home to a year-round “fan experience”.
Although details about what activities will comprise the fan experience are sparse, I’m confident the attraction will be built to impress.
Finding new things to do in Las Vegas is rarely difficult as the constant drumbeat of change marches on. Hopefully, I was able to point you in the direction of new activities in Vegas that you deem worthy of adding to your itinerary.
See Also: Need more itinerary inspiration? Check out these free things to do in Las Vegas!
I’m a former software salesman turned Vegas aficionado. While the craps table is my preferred habitat, I pull myself away to explore new attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities around Las Vegas with the intent of sharing my experiences.
Ultimately, I just want to help folks plan a better trip and save a few bucks in the process.
Sherry
Tuesday 29th of March 2022
This is great! I'm a regular visitor to Vegas and always good to find new things to see and do.
Donna
Monday 3rd of January 2022
Thanks! Great information.