It is perhaps the most elegantly stunning free show anywhere. Fountains at
Bellagio attract a huge crowd both on the walkway in front of the fountain and
on the other side of the street, and even stopping traffic sometimes every
Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to midnight every 30 minutes and on the
weekend they blast off every half an hour until 8 p.m. than every 15 minutes
after midnight.
It is located right on the Strip in front of the Bellagio which is on the
southwest corner of Flamingo Ave. and Las Vegas Blvd. next to CityCenter and
across from Bally’s and the Paris.
The fountains were created by WET Design, and they’ve received accolades
galore for the feat of water and beauty. When Eepy Bird became and internet
sensation by dropping mentos in liters of Diet Coke creating a Diet Coke
fountain extravaganza similar to the Bellagio’s fountain Mark Fuller so enjoyed
it that the two mad-scientist types who created the video were invited to the
Bellagio for a private showing.
"When I first saw it I thought it was just fabulous," said Mark Fuller, chief
executive officer of WET Design. "It's very flattering."
Mark Fuller says equally enjoyable as the fountains to him is watching the
reactions of those stopping by to take a look at the show, "People laugh and
literally cry when they see it," Fuller said. "I typically stand with my back to
the fountains because I enjoy watching the expression of the crowd."
Bellagio Fountain plays to various professionally choreographed musical
routines. The routines are constantly changing. It is a favorite spot for
proposals as well, Bill Mayers, assistant manager of operations for the
fountains proposed to his wife their to Elton John’s hit “Your Song” and almost
daily proposals are made to different songs before the fountains.
The water reaches an amazing 460 feet and there are 1,214 water emitting devices
across the $40 million dollar 8.5 acre lake. It has been featured in a number of
shows and films through the years.
Keeping the fountain running is no easy task. A staff of 37 work tirelessly
to keep it running 7 days a week and 365 days a year. There are numerous
components to the fountains that must constantly be maintained. Much of the
fountain is automated and a computer program determines weather conditions and
the fountain closes in specific weather like high winds.
