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Editorial illustration of Bellagio and its fountains across the lake.

Image & source

Bellagio

Opened October 15, 1998

Bellagio opened on October 15, 1998, replacing the demolished Dunes resort with a new hotel and casino overlooking a large lake. Its European village imagery took its name from Bellagio in Italy. The change was visible from the Strip: the old Dunes pylon and tower gave way to a different arrangement of hotel buildings, water and lakeside public views.

Start with its history

Editorial illustration of Bellagio and its fountains across the lake.

The history of Bellagio.

A brief history of Bellagio

Illuminated Dunes pylon and hotel tower beside Oasis Casino’s round frontage and neon palm trees at night.

Image & source

Dunes tower, pylon and Oasis Casino frontage in July 1983, before the earlier resort closed and Bellagio redeveloped the site.

Bellagio opened on October 15, 1998, replacing the demolished Dunes resort with a new hotel and casino overlooking a large lake. Its European village imagery took its name from Bellagio in Italy. The change was visible from the Strip: the old Dunes pylon and tower gave way to a different arrangement of hotel buildings, water and lakeside public views.

From the Dunes site to a new resort

Steve Wynn’s redevelopment followed the Dunes’ 1993 demolition. MGM’s historical FAQ dates Bellagio construction to May 1996, several years after the earlier resort closed. That interval matters when reading the site: Bellagio was a new development on historic casino ground, rather than the Dunes renovated under an Italian name.

Water on the Strip and on stage

Water also shaped the resort’s entertainment. Cirque du Soleil’s O opened on the same date as Bellagio, October 15, 1998. The aquatic production became a continuing part of the property’s identity, reaching its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2023. The lake outside and the theatre inside offered different ways of making water part of a casino resort’s spectacle.

Corporate change and the Spa Tower

The resort changed after its first opening. MGM’s annual report places the Mirage Resorts acquisition in May 2000 and identifies Bellagio among the acquired properties. A further physical expansion arrived in December 2004, when the Spa Tower opened. The main hotel and later tower belong to different construction phases within one resort.

Renovating the existing resort

Renovations continued inside those buildings. In March 2023, MGM announced a $110 million redesign of Spa Tower rooms and suites after a remodel of more than 2,500 main-tower rooms. The announced designs again drew on northern Italy and Lake Como. This was an update to the existing Bellagio, rather than another resort opening; the announcement’s projected completion date is not treated here as proof of completion.

Real estate and casino operations

The ownership story also requires a distinction. In October 2019, MGM announced an agreement for a Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust joint venture to acquire Bellagio’s real estate and lease it back to an MGM subsidiary. Real-estate ownership and casino operation were separate parts of the arrangement. That dated transaction should not be mistaken for a new name or a closure of Bellagio.

Two resorts, two histories

Nevada’s June 30, 2026 gaming report lists Bellagio as a licensed Strip casino. The modern property and the former Dunes each retain their own history. The retained Dunes photograph shows the earlier resort in 1983; the main illustration presents Bellagio across its lake. Neither is presented as an opening-day view.

Read the full history
Sources and context

  1. MGM Resorts: Bellagio history and name FAQ

    Bellagio section: construction began in May 1996; opened October 15, 1998; European village inspiration and Italian name; fountains and lake. Current room counts and outdated corporate-ownership claims elsewhere in the FAQ are not adopted.

  2. UNLV: Dunes Hotel and Casino Records

    Historical note: Wynn’s Bellagio opened in October 1998 on the former Dunes site after the 1993 demolition. Supports a distinct replacement resort.

  3. MGM Resorts: O celebrates25years

    October 16, 2023 account of the October 15 anniversary: O opened October 15, 1998 as a water-based production at Bellagio. Dated ticket counts and performance schedules are not adopted.

  4. MGM MIRAGE: 2005 Annual Report

    Printed page 25 (PDF page 26) confirms the Spa Tower opened in December 2004. Printed pages 36 and 58 record the May 2000 Mirage Resorts acquisition and Bellagio allocation. Expansion and corporate ownership are different events.

  5. MGM Resorts: 2023 Spa Tower transformation

    March 30, 2023 announcement: $110 million Spa Tower rooms and suites redesign followed the main-tower remodel; northern Italy and Lake Como inspired the designs. Announced completion targets are not asserted as actual completion.

  6. MGM Resorts: 2019 Bellagio real-estate agreement

    October 15, 2019 announced BREIT joint venture would acquire real estate and lease it back to an MGM subsidiary, with a retained 5% MGM interest. Dated transaction announcement, not a complete current landlord-ownership claim.

  7. Nevada Gaming Control Board: June30,2026 nonrestricted report

    Bellagio location 00655-05, Las Vegas Strip. Reverified October 19, 2026; source SHA-256 c48fc84cd81f7ac53e37db9c6128ac8104e41159b10aff4e46078b40c083e68e. Does not promise live hours or amenities.

  8. OpenStreetMap contributors: Bellagio main hotel

    Full polygon of way 25723909 version 20 read October 19, 2026. Point 36.11311,-115.17688 lies inside; extent roughly 161 by 236 metres. Main hotel building, rather than the Spa Tower, fountains or full resort grounds.

  9. Wikimedia Commons: Bellagio exterior in2021

    APK own-work photograph, October5,2021; original2029×1549/970076bytes freshly hashed and visually inspected against existing stored asset. ExplicitCCBYSA4verifiedOctober19,2026.

  10. Wikimedia Commons: predecessor Dunes in1983

    Own-work Larry D. Moore photograph; description dates capture July18,1983, structured data July1983. Selected1280×853Commons derivative from2160×1440 original; month retained. ExplicitCCBY4verifiedOctober19,2026.

The 2023 renovation announcement contains projected completion dates. This history does not infer completion from those plans.

The 2019 real-estate agreement is dated transaction history, rather than a complete current landlord-ownership register.

Modern hotel coordinates do not establish the exact former Dunes building, sign or golf-course boundaries.

This site through time

Replaced Dunes Hotel and Casino

1993 – 1998

Dunes closed in January 1993. Its north tower and tall pylon were imploded that October as the property was cleared for Steve Wynn’s Bellagio project. Bellagio construction began in 1996 and the new resort opened October 15, 1998. This is a replacement on redeveloped resort grounds, rather than a rename or a claim that Bellagio preserves the Dunes buildings. The earlier property also occupied a larger and changing site, including golf grounds.

Historical source — UNLV Dunes Hotel and Casino Records MS-00328, historical note: October 1993 implosion of much of the property and October 1998 Bellagio opening on the site. Corroboration: The Neon Museum’s Dunes Entrance record and demolition history; MGM’s Bellagio FAQ dates May 1996 construction and October 15, 1998 opening. Linked property histories list the sources and the closure-day uncertainty.

  • The year range marks the redevelopment interval, not either property’s complete operating dates.
  • Sources differ about the exact January 1993 closure day. The October implosion is a separate event, and is not asserted to have removed every structure.
  • The historical hotel, casino and golf grounds did not share an identical footprint with Bellagio’s present main hotel building.

Explore the area.

Take the stories for a walk.

Two ways to explore Bellagio

Illustration of the historic Flamingo entrance, pink roadside pylon, low hotel frontage and tall palms.

Image & source

Strip Mob Walk

Themed tour 46 discoveries Audio narration

Compare all tours including Bellagio

Free audio samples are available here. See each tour for current app and Pass options.

A few things worth noticing.

Individual stops at Bellagio. Open a detail to see where it belongs.

The Jockey Club

Bellagio south-side walkway / Jockey Club view Pass required
Jockey Club building beside the Cosmopolitan, photographed in 2018.

Image & source

Jockey Club building beside the Cosmopolitan, photographed in 2018.

The full stop is part of the Vegas Retold Pass. See the tour for current access options.

Before you stop

Use public paths, keep doorways and queues clear, and respect posted restrictions. View objects without touching.

Access alternative

Follow signs for a step-free public approach or lift. If you cannot reach the viewing area, enjoy the story from a nearby public seating area.

Find this stop in the tour

Fiori di Como, the Chihuly Ceiling

Hotel lobby / Fiori di Como Pass required
Bellagio’s illuminated hotel tower and lakefront buildings at night.

Image & source

Bellagio’s illuminated exterior, photographed across the lake on 5 October 2021. The Chihuly ceiling is inside the hotel and is not shown.

The full stop is part of the Vegas Retold Pass. See the tour for current access options.

Before you stop

Use public paths, keep doorways and queues clear, and respect posted restrictions. View objects without touching.

Access alternative

Follow signs for a step-free public approach or lift. If you cannot reach the viewing area, enjoy the story from a nearby public seating area.

Find this stop in the tour

The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Conservatory entrance / public garden path Pass required
Photograph of The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at Bellagio

Image & source

Bellagio Conservatory in a 2014 seasonal display.

The full stop is part of the Vegas Retold Pass. See the tour for current access options.

Before you stop

Use public paths, keep doorways and queues clear, and respect posted restrictions. View objects without touching.

Access alternative

Follow signs for a step-free public approach or lift. If you cannot reach the viewing area, enjoy the story from a nearby public seating area.

Find this stop in the tour
Explore all 11 stops

Find the place.

Bellagio

The map identifies the property area. It does not identify an entrance or a walking route.

View the site on a map

Find your stop

Follow current signs and venue restrictions. Individual stops carry their own location and access notes.

See stop access information

Follow the evidence.

Sources, image credits and the limits of what we know.

Historical sources10 documents and records

  1. MGM Resorts: Bellagio history and name FAQ

    Bellagio section: construction began in May 1996; opened October 15, 1998; European village inspiration and Italian name; fountains and lake. Current room counts and outdated corporate-ownership claims elsewhere in the FAQ are not adopted.

  2. UNLV: Dunes Hotel and Casino Records

    Historical note: Wynn’s Bellagio opened in October 1998 on the former Dunes site after the 1993 demolition. Supports a distinct replacement resort.

  3. MGM Resorts: O celebrates25years

    October 16, 2023 account of the October 15 anniversary: O opened October 15, 1998 as a water-based production at Bellagio. Dated ticket counts and performance schedules are not adopted.

  4. MGM MIRAGE: 2005 Annual Report

    Printed page 25 (PDF page 26) confirms the Spa Tower opened in December 2004. Printed pages 36 and 58 record the May 2000 Mirage Resorts acquisition and Bellagio allocation. Expansion and corporate ownership are different events.

  5. MGM Resorts: 2023 Spa Tower transformation

    March 30, 2023 announcement: $110 million Spa Tower rooms and suites redesign followed the main-tower remodel; northern Italy and Lake Como inspired the designs. Announced completion targets are not asserted as actual completion.

  6. MGM Resorts: 2019 Bellagio real-estate agreement

    October 15, 2019 announced BREIT joint venture would acquire real estate and lease it back to an MGM subsidiary, with a retained 5% MGM interest. Dated transaction announcement, not a complete current landlord-ownership claim.

  7. Nevada Gaming Control Board: June30,2026 nonrestricted report

    Bellagio location 00655-05, Las Vegas Strip. Reverified October 19, 2026; source SHA-256 c48fc84cd81f7ac53e37db9c6128ac8104e41159b10aff4e46078b40c083e68e. Does not promise live hours or amenities.

  8. OpenStreetMap contributors: Bellagio main hotel

    Full polygon of way 25723909 version 20 read October 19, 2026. Point 36.11311,-115.17688 lies inside; extent roughly 161 by 236 metres. Main hotel building, rather than the Spa Tower, fountains or full resort grounds.

  9. Wikimedia Commons: Bellagio exterior in2021

    APK own-work photograph, October5,2021; original2029×1549/970076bytes freshly hashed and visually inspected against existing stored asset. ExplicitCCBYSA4verifiedOctober19,2026.

  10. Wikimedia Commons: predecessor Dunes in1983

    Own-work Larry D. Moore photograph; description dates capture July18,1983, structured data July1983. Selected1280×853Commons derivative from2160×1440 original; month retained. ExplicitCCBY4verifiedOctober19,2026.

What remains uncertain3 notes on context and interpretation
  • The 2023 renovation announcement contains projected completion dates. This history does not infer completion from those plans.
  • The 2019 real-estate agreement is dated transaction history, rather than a complete current landlord-ownership register.
  • Modern hotel coordinates do not establish the exact former Dunes building, sign or golf-course boundaries.
Image credits7 images with source information

Editorial illustration of Bellagio and its fountains across the lake.

Illustration supplied by Piers; original creator and source unknown

Source reference: User-supplied illustration already registered in the Media Library; original creator and reference provenance unknown. URL identifies intended use, not original reference origin.

Existing supplied editorial illustration; source photograph and creation method not documented.

Source photograph creator/date/licence not established; user selected this existing illustration for publication. No independent source clearance asserted.

Image source ↗

Dunes tower, pylon and Oasis Casino frontage in July 1983, before the earlier resort closed and Bellagio redeveloped the site.

Larry D. Moore / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Source reference: Larry D. Moore’s own-work photograph. The description dates capture to July 18, 1983, while structured data gives July 1983; the month is retained. Selected 1280×853 Commons derivative from the 2160×1440 original, visually inspected.

Depicted date: 1983-07

License

Resized from original photograph; responsive overview and index displays may crop presentation. No editorial alteration.

CC BY 4.0 International. Retain Larry D. Moore photographer attribution and license link; source link requested and retained, changes identified. No endorsement implied.

Image source ↗

Illustration of Bellagio and its fountains across the lake.

Creator unknown

Image source ↗

AI illustration of the historic Flamingo entrance and palms, adapted from the user-supplied postcard.

AI-generated illustration / Vegas Retold; adapted from user-supplied reference, original photographer unknown

Image source ↗

Jockey Club building beside the Cosmopolitan, photographed in 2018.

Raul Jusinto

Image source ↗

Bellagio’s illuminated exterior, photographed across the lake on 5 October 2021. The Chihuly ceiling is inside the hotel and is not shown.

“Bellagio Hotel & Casino exterior” — APK, 5 October 2021 / Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ . Unmodified.

Image source ↗

Bellagio Conservatory in a 2014 seasonal display.

Tomás Del Coro

Image source ↗
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