Bellagio Fir Trees May Have Arrived To Replace Those Removed For F1

Posted on: November 28, 2023, 10:50h. 

Last updated on: April 12, 2024, 02:21h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

The trees are returning to the front of the Bellagio — or possibly, a new set of them are. A photo submitted to the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper on Monday shows at least 16 fir trees, ranging from 8 feet to more than 30, lined up on a street behind the Bellagio fountains.

Bellagio trees
At least 16 trees await planting in what are believed to be the alcoves fronting the Bellagio fountains. (Image: Las Vegas Review-Journal)

These could be the trees that MGM Resorts International claimed it would remove from the alcoves fronting the fountains. The removal was done to make room for a grandstand for the inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, which took place November 16-18. Those trees were reported to have been grown in removable wooden boxes.

Or, they could be a new set of trees headed for the alcoves. An e-mail Casino.org sent to MGM seeking clarification and comment wasn’t returned.

Either way, they aren’t the trees slated to replace the iconic streetside shade trees in front of the casino resort. On Monday, an MGM spokesperson told the R-J that “the timeline and specific species of the streetside trees are still being determined.”

All trees planted in the area are expected to be crated and removed each year for the race, which is expected to return at least nine more times.

The Bellagio’s original streetside trees, right, were all hacked and woodchipped in the middle of the night last year. The fate of the original trees growing in alcoves on the left, is unclear. (Image: unsplash.com)

Shady Move

Approximately 45 trees formed one of the only tree-lined sections of the Strip for 25 years. Since the resort opened, they provided welcome and vital shade from the desert sun to visitors watching the Bellagio fountain show.

When MGM released the renderings of its F1 grandstand in November 2022, it was obvious that Bellagio’s sidewalk trees would need to come down to accommodate the construction project.

At the time, however, Travelzork reported being promised by an MGM Resorts spokesperson that the company would “temporarily and safely remove the trees in front of the Bellagio fountains.”

When the trees facing the street, which constituted the vast majority, were instead hacked and woodchipped overnight,  Twitter exploded with rage.