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

Last updated on: November 28, 2023, 10:50h.

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 firs, ranging in size from 8 feet to more than 30, lined up on a street behind the Bellagio fountains.

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

Or they could be a new set of trees headed for the alcoves. An e-mail Casino.org sent to MGM seeking clarifications and comment was not returned.

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

All trees planted in the area from now on are expected to be crated, so they can be removed each year for the race, which is expected to return at least nine more times.

Shady Move

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

When MGM released the renderings of its F1 grandstand in November 2022, it was obvious that the Bellagio’s sidewalk trees would need to come down in order 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 hacked and woodchipped overnight instead, Twitter exploded with rage.