Swim with the sharks at the Golden Nugget — PHOTOS
Put those airline miles away, Las Vegas. You don’t need to go anywhere to swim with the sharks.
At the Golden Nugget, aquatic animals, piggy-back rides and Miller Lites set the scene of the $30 million pool, as children play and groups of adults lounge in the sun on a spring day.
“It’s kind of the best of both worlds out here,” said Charles Castonguay, the general manager of the facility.
A 200,000-gallon live shark tank, and the three-story water slide, aptly titled the “Shark Chute,” that goes through it, is the centerpiece of those worlds.
“It’s amazing what $30 million will buy you for a pool,” Castonguay said with a chuckle, as he stood staring at the tank filled with sharks and fish.
Castonguay isn’t in charge of the animals, he said. That’s up to an entire life sciences team.
The 3.5-to-4-foot deep circular pool, which also features a waterfall, is surrounded by lounge chairs, gaming tables, a fire pit and private cabanas. At the end of May, there’s not an open seat at the 1,700 person capacity area.
“Memorial Day weekend is the peak of the peak,” Castonguay said.
For $350 on a weekday, or up to $600 during the weekend, you, too can lounge in one of the “Tank Cabanas” that overlook the pool. Towels, a couch, a TV and a refrigerator are included in the living room-like space.
Or, to feel luxurious on a budget, sneak away to the “Hideout Pool,” on the upper level of the pool area.
“It’s a quasi-speakeasy,” Castonguay said of the not-well-known infinity pool.
It’s for adults only, Castonguay said, and on weekends a DJ provides the tunes.
Pool and bar seating are complimentary, and it costs $45 to rent a chaise lounge for the day.
Both pools are open daily at 10 a.m., and on some nights do not close until 2 a.m.
Beginning in May, a locals-driven night swim, called “Hippies and Hipsters,” will be held the first Monday of every month.
Contact Kimberly De La Cruz at kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5244. Find her on Twitter: @KimberlyinLV
