Sunset Stampede

Set amid the man-made beauty of cascading waterfalls and ridgeback mountains at Sam's Hotel and Casino, Mystic Falls offers a rare glimpse of the Las Vegas oasis as it might have looked some 2,000 years ago. With a dense, buzzing rain-forest encompassing an area over 25,000 square feet, Mystic Falls Park presents a vivid, lively background of color and enchantment – perfect for a leisurely stroll or relaxing afternoon beyond the throb of the Strip.

Some might be content to wander the exotic atrium, taking in the many thundering waterfalls and animated wildlife species positioned to add life to each jungle scene. Exuberant tropical birds flit from the swaying palm trees, while mesmerizing huge carp transform the rippling pools with a splash of orange color. Its only as the lights dim and the first few bars of an orchestral score emanate from deep within the foliage of the park, that you realize Mystic Falls offers far more than just a pretty faux rain-forest setting. A howling call quietens the chirping birds and from the crater of the focal mountain, a majestic animatronic wolf emerges. Suddenly the motionless grizzly bear guarding the waterfall is also brought to life, shrugging his shoulders as if awaking from deep sleep. This is the real Mystic Falls experience – one that sees over 2 million visitors each year make the short 8 mile trip to Sam's Hotel from Vegas. Located just two miles from the Western town of Laughlin, its as close to an authentic Nevada oasis you'll get!

Sunset Stampede is no new Las Vegas experience. In fact, the dazzling sound and light show has been wowing Vegas visitors four times a day, seven days a week for in excess of five years. Recent renovations and developments to the experience now include a synchronized fountain show, timed to gush water up to twenty feet in the air in accompaniment to an orchestral score. A combination of laser projections and strobe lighting simulate a realistic desert storm, bright forks of lightning piercing the scene and spotlighting the melange of wild animatronic animals suddenly emerging from every crevice of the mountain. High above the tumult, a lone eagle swoops, wheels and calls, as if warning fellow species of impending danger. The scene culminates in a crescendo of indoor fireworks, laser explosions and water projections before retreating back to that picturesque paradise of calm and tranquility once more.