If you’re standing on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana today, staring up at that massive emerald-green mountain of glass, you’re looking at an icon. But if you ask a local "when was the MGM Grand built in Las Vegas," you might get two different answers. It’s kinda confusing.
The short answer? The current MGM Grand opened on December 18, 1993.
But history is rarely that clean in Vegas. See, there was an "original" MGM Grand that opened back in 1973. It was located about a mile north, where the Horseshoe (formerly Bally’s) stands now. Most people forget that the MGM name has lived two very different lives on the Strip. Honestly, the story of how we got the green giant we see today is a wild ride involving a movie mogul, a theme park that didn't last, and a literal ton of bronze.
The Birth of the Emerald Giant (1993)
The MGM Grand we know today wasn't just "built"—it was unleashed. Kirk Kerkorian, the billionaire who basically invented the modern megaresort, wanted something that would dwarf everything else.
Construction kicked off with a groundbreaking on October 7, 1991. Kerkorian didn't just want a hotel; he wanted a "City of Entertainment." The site was massive—112 acres that used to be the Tropicana Country Club and a smaller hotel called the Marina.
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The Marina actually still exists, sort of. Instead of knocking it down, they built the new MGM around it. If you’ve ever stayed in the West Wing, you’ve basically stayed in the bones of a 1970s hotel hidden inside the 1990s shell.
When it finally opened in December '93, it was the largest hotel on the planet. We're talking 5,005 rooms. It cost about $1 billion to build, which was a staggering amount of money back then.
Why is it Green?
People always ask about the color. It’s not just a random design choice. The original theme was heavily tied to The Wizard of Oz. The green glass was meant to evoke the Emerald City.
When you walked in back then, you didn't just see slot machines. You saw Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and a yellow brick road. There was even a 33-acre theme park out back called MGM Grand Adventures. It had log flumes and film-themed rides. But, as Vegas usually learns the hard way, families don't spend as much as gamblers. The park eventually closed in 2000 to make way for The Signature condos and Topgolf.
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The "Other" MGM Grand: 1973
To really understand the timeline, we have to talk about the first one. In 1973, Kerkorian opened the original MGM Grand. At the time, it was also the largest hotel in the world (a recurring theme for him).
That building is still there.
It’s just not the MGM anymore. After a devastating fire in 1980, the property was eventually sold and renamed Bally’s in 1986. Today, it’s the Horseshoe. So, when people ask when the MGM was built, they might be thinking of that 1973 opening, which really set the stage for the massive scale of the Strip today.
Major Milestones and Recent Upgrades
Vegas hotels are never really "finished." They’re more like living organisms that constantly shed their skin.
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- 1996–1998: The "Lion's Mouth" entrance was removed. Originally, you walked into the casino through the mouth of a giant lion. It looked cool, but many gamblers (particularly those from certain Asian cultures) considered it bad luck to walk into the mouth of a predator. It was replaced by the 50-ton bronze lion statue we see today.
- 2012: A massive $160 million renovation took place, stripping away the last of the "Hollywood kitsch" for a more contemporary look.
- 2024–2025: Just recently, the resort wrapped up a $300 million overhaul of nearly 4,000 rooms in the main tower.
If you visit now in 2026, the rooms look nothing like the 90s version. They’ve leaned into a "retro-glam" vibe—lots of disco-era nods but with modern tech like USB-C ports and smart lighting. It's a weirdly perfect mix of the property's 1970s roots and its 2020s future.
What You Should Know Before You Go
Knowing when it was built is great for trivia, but if you’re actually planning a stay, the "when" matters for your room choice.
- The Main Tower: This is the heart of the 1993 build. These were the rooms just renovated in 2025. If you want the "newest" feel, stay here.
- The Studio Tower (West Wing): Remember that Marina Hotel I mentioned? This is it. These rooms are generally smaller and further from the main action, though they were refreshed around 2022.
- The Signature: These are the towers built where the theme park used to be. They’re quieter, non-gaming, and great for people who want a kitchen and a balcony.
Actionable Tip for Your Trip
If you're a history nerd, head over to the Horseshoe and look at the layout. Then walk down to the MGM Grand. You can feel the evolution of Kerkorian’s vision—from the "lavish Hollywood" style of the 70s to the "integrated mega-resort" model of the 90s that still dominates the Strip today.
Also, don't miss the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It opened right alongside the hotel in late 1993 and changed the game for Vegas entertainment. Before that, big fights and concerts happened in temporary outdoor arenas or smaller showrooms. The Grand Garden made Vegas the "Fight Capital of the World."
The MGM Grand isn't just a building; it’s a timeline of how Las Vegas grew up. From a Wizard of Oz fantasy to a sleek, multi-billion dollar machine, it’s seen it all. Next time you're walking past that 45-foot tall bronze lion, remember: you're standing on what used to be a golf course, looking at a 1993 masterpiece that's still trying to reinvent itself every single year.