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Circus Circus Adventure Dome

The Circus Circus adventure dome is a self-contained indoor theme park located in a hotel and casino. The establishment opened on August 1993 and had been operating since then. It is the only full-fledged theme park in Las Vegas.

Getting there

The Circus Circus establishment is located in northern end of the Las Vegas strip. It is situated near the Stratosphere Tower. It is however is not exactly accessible being located on the outskirts of the Las Vegas strip. Nonetheless, you can access it using the Las Vegas monorail from downtown strip. It is a short 10-15 minute walk from the Westgate station along Elvis Presley Blvd.

The front drop off point of Circus Circus hotel, casino and theme park
The front drop off point of Circus Circus hotel, casino and theme park.

Visually, the hotel does somewhat stand out in typical Las Vegas glittery. It is themed like a circus tent, which is lit by an array of lights at night. The theme park is located at the rest end of the casino establishment. The Circus Circus casino greets you at the main entrance full of jackpots and blackjack, roulette tables. Notably. There are shops and F&B outlets scattered throughout the casino grounds.

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Onward!
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Entry sign
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Entrance porch

After all, Circus Circus is a casino, hotel and theme park, with the theme park being the establishment being an additional unique selling point. Also, like all Las Vegas casinos, there is a faint smell of old carpets and cigarettes lingering in the casino grounds. Not surprising as this casino had been operating for decades. However, the Circus theme does start to look old.

The Circus Circus casino grounds leading up to the shops and theme park
The Circus Circus casino grounds leading up to the shops and theme park.

Notably, the casino grounds also has a small trampoline net and performance area suspended over a central area of the casino grounds. Moving further in brings you past a couple of restaurants before the entrance of the dome.

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Entrance to the dome
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trampoline!
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Air-conditioning!

Cooling oasis in the desert

Overview of the entire 5-arce climate controlled Adventure dome
Overview of the entire 5-arce climate controlled Adventure dome.

Notably, the entire theme park is fully air-conditioned, which not only shades but also protects the rides from the harsh Nevada dessert environment.

The hill climb of the Canyon Blaster roller coaster, going up to almost the dome ceiling
The hill climb of the Canyon Blaster roller coaster, going up to almost the dome ceiling.

Moreover, layout-wise the 5-acre theme park follows through a circular layout. It takes the shape of the round footprint of the glass dome it sits with a stairwell at the centre leading up to the upper floors. Access to roller coasters are all located on the second floor.

The vast indoor air-conditioned dome of the Adventure dome theme park.

Furthermore, the theme park adopts an open concept design, where you can enter and roam about the entire park for free and pay as you ride. If you plan to ride a number of rides, it is advisable to get a day pass.

Roller Coasters of Adventure dome

Roller coasters of are the mainstay of Adventure dome. The main attraction here are the Canyon Blaster and El-Loro coasters. Both roller coasters features track inversions elements.

 Canyon Blaster indoor Arrow Dynamics looping corkscrew roller coaster. One of the main attractions here in the Adventure Dome
Canyon Blaster indoor Arrow Dynamics looping corkscrew roller coaster. One of the main attractions here in the Adventure Dome.

Canyon Blaster Looping coaster

Canyon Blaster is an indoor Arrow Dynamics looping corkscrew roller coaster. The coaster is the World’s only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster.

The Canyon blaster roller coaster doing one of its two loops
The Canyon blaster roller coaster doing one of its two loops.

Also, it is the highest ride here in the dome, with the hill-lift nearly reaching the ceiling of the dome. The coaster enters a double vertical loop after its first drop and transits into a double corkscrew.

The train then speeds through several track elements in the Adventure dome up to speeds of 88 km/h, including helixes around the arcade areas on the ground floors.

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Canyon blaster!
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Train in station
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Off they go!

The train’s loading area is old school and large. A typical trait of roller coasters built in the early 90s era. There are also shelves for your bags on the opposite side of the loading area if you have bulky items which you can’t take on-board with you.

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Blasting thru the arcade
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Track round Chaos ride
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Central canyon

The coaster track generally travels around the uppermost parts of the park through the canyon-like structures above the arcade areas.

A view of the coaster train hill climb
A view of the coaster train hill climb.

Regularly, you can hear the thundering rolling trains of the Canyon Blaster. You can see the trains just simply zip by in an instant.

The canyon blaster train leaving the station. One train was operating at any one time when I was there
The canyon blaster train leaving the station. One train was operating at any one time when I was there.

Despite being over 20 years old, Canyon Blaster is still surprisingly stable, despite some vibrations at high speed on the loops. But it handles the corkscrews with much ease and smoothness.

El-Loco compact coaster

There is alot of upside down with El Loco
There is alot of upside down with El Loco!

In addition to Canyon Blaster is El Loco. The coaster is a compact inverting roller coaster built by S&S Worldwide. You can recognize by its yellow tracks. It is in contrast to the Canyon Blaster’s red-purple ones.

The rather compact roller coaster built indoors
The rather compact roller coaster built indoors!

A wild mouse of steroids

The ride in a nutshell is like wild mouse coaster on steroids. It is a very compact ride and well fitted into a space vertical limited environment like the Adventure dome.

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Queue area
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Going on-board!
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Loading station

Interestingly, even the 30 m initial hill lift climb is vertical, the top of the ride follows like a typical wild mouse, with sharp corners and wavy twists. The twists and turns you experience up here mimics to throw you out of your car it does instill a sense of vertigo.

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Edge run
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Barrel roll
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Ending drop

Also, in addition to its unique layout in the coaster world, El Loco sends riders over vertical drops pushing up to 1.5 vertical-Gs.

The first drop of El-Loro, it happens around the mid section of the ride
The first drop of El-Loro, it happens around the mid section of the ride.

A tiny zippy package of a coaster

Additionally, the train does a series of barrel rolls and some inversions which at one points of the track leaves riders hanging completely upside down. Also, you can often feel yourself being over the edge as the train seat pulls you back onto the track up an climb for a second drop.

There are lots of upside down in this ride
There are lots of upside down in this ride!

El-Loro trains comprises of small but nimble 2-abreast coaster trains which sit across 2 rows. They provide for a rather compact train layout. Also, the train is able to do inversions and hold riders in place with just a simple over lap restraint. This reduces the need for traditional over shoulder restraints.

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Drop into the station
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Brake run
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El-Loco facts

Lastly, the track goes about two steep beyond-vertical drops before going into an inverted half-loop back into the coaster station.

Rides are cleverly built around the central canyon which services the rides and aesthetics to the park theming
Rides are cleverly built around the central canyon which services the rides and aesthetics to the park theming.

Moreover, given the limited space, the dome has a very compact layout. Also, a central volcano-like Canyon sits at the centre of the adventure dome, with the Canyon Blaster built over it. Also, notably, the dome is free standing and encases all the attractions within which are placed surrounding the outer rim of this central spire.

Most of the attractions are placed surrounding the outer rim of this central spire of the dome
Most of the attractions are placed surrounding the outer rim of this central spire of the dome.

Flat and family rides

In addition to El-Loro, there is an assortment of thrill flat rides scared throughout the park. Also, these rides comprises of a mix of impulse thrill rides as well as family-friendly rides.

Upside down on the Inverter
Upside down on the Inverter!

Notable large Thrill rides includes a classic Viking ship, Inverter, Frisbee, Bumper cars and a Slingshot vertical drop tower. Let check them out!

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Pirate ship
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Inverter
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Slingshot riders

First up is the Sand Pirates ship by Zamperla. You can’t go wrong with plain old vanilla Viking ship. Here, it sits surrounded by an assortment of carnival Midway games booths and the Canyon Cars bumper car ride which you have to drive around in a clockwise manner to aid flow of traffic.

Circuit bumper cars (yes there is some highway code here)
Circuit bumper cars (yes there is some highway code here).

The Midway Games are a time-honored tradition to show your skills in classics such as darts, mini basketball, balloon bust and win fabulous prizes. Here, get behind the wheel of their circuit bumper cars and prepare for a crash-course in defensive driving.

Zamperla Disk'O spinner with outward facing seat configuration
Zamperla Disk’O spinner with outward facing seat configuration.

Additionally, there is also a Zamperla Disk’O spinner. The ride has a ride car with dual rocking/spinning motion facing riders outwards. This not only gives all riders a front-row seat but also impart riders the impression of the ride going out of control.

The slingshot tower at maximum height before the drop
The slingshot tower at maximum height before the drop.

Spin them crazy nauseous!

Moving on the Inverter. It is a Chance Morgan rotating inverter flat ride. It spins riders 360 degrees giving constant g-force action. Chance Morgan is here in full force with a large selection of rides, their Sling Shot is another such ride.

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More inverter!
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Slingshot tower
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The Extreme theater

It is a mini vertical sky shot tower which shoots you up with an acceleration up to 4Gs, and fall back down again. Topping up the Chance Morgan spree is the Chaos flipper. It is built around the Canyon Blaster corkscrew at the rear of the theme park.

Chaos thrill ride at the corkscrew section of canyon blaster
Chaos thrill ride at the corkscrew section of canyon blaster.

This ultra-thrill ride whirls riders in three ranges of motion. As the ride gondolas rotate random based on inertia, it is quite an intense ride that warrant a totally unpredictable experience every time.

There are rides for all age groups here, it is quite a nicely curated selection, despite the small number of rides
There are rides for all age groups here, it is quite a nicely curated selection, despite the small number of rides.

Family Junior Rides

Additionally not forgetting the little ones, we have a couple of tame rides for the thrill-adverse. Moreover, there is the B.C. rotating Bus ride, Flying airplanes, and a Zamperla Drifters Ferris wheel themed to festive hot air balloon.

The Zamperla Drifters is the only Ferris wheel here, the views are not that great up there (hint the roller coaster has the best views)
The Zamperla Drifters is the only Ferris wheel here, the views are not that great up there (hint the roller coaster has the best views).

Topping up the Junior selection of rides is a Leaping Frog Hopper, Road Runner, and a runaway coal train ride called Miner Mike.

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B.C Bus
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Got drink?
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Only in America!

No theme park is complete with a Carousel, or Merry Go Round. Chance Morgan is at it again with a Circus-themed animal Carousel. Hop on your favourite animal for a classic carousel ride.

No park is complete with an animal Carousel
No park is complete with an animal Carousel.

Arcade and Midway Games

Arcade machines are everywhere in the park alongside rides and drinks machines
Arcade machines are everywhere in the park alongside rides and drinks machines.

Moreover, in addition to rides are an assortment of arcade machines located throughout the park. Non-ride attractions include a movie theatre and a virtual-reality and a dry Roller skating rink.

A roller skating rink, a throw back to to retro times.

Interesting there are are action activity areas, like a Bank Heist Laser Challenge: Crack The Code, a laser timed race through web of laser beams, and mini-bowling on a Highway 66 themed bowling alley, without the silly bowling shoes.

Shoot 'em up
Shoot ’em up!

Moreover, there is a Zombie-like Blaster grounds called Lazer Blast and a couple of carnival style fair games. Of course, being in America, a couple of shoot ’em up ranges. Also, there is even a retro arcade gaming section called the “Classic Arcade”. Also, like the Roller skating rink, you pay a fee to enter a sector for unlimited plays of your favourite classic arcade games all day. This is on top of your entrance fees.

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Air hockey anyone?
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Retro arcade
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Lasers!

If mild sports are what you desire, there is Xtreme Zone indoors rock climbing and bungee jumping. Pirates Bounty 18 hole miniature golf.

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Midtown games
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More shooting!
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Moto racers!

In addition to physical rides is the virtual Extreme Ride Theater. This FX Theater showcase 4D Features by SimEx-Iwerks. We have Dino Island and SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D Great Jelly Rescue movies.

In the latter, SpongeBob and friends careening through Bikini Bottom, face off the Flying Dutchman and the villainous Plankton on a wildly hilarious adventure to rescue the Jellyfish. In addition, the Extreme Ride Theatre was also playing The Angry Birds the Ride. Also, it is based on the mobile game mischievous piggies and their never-ending bag of tricks, complete with swarms of buzzing bees and massive TNT explosions.

The 4D theather with interactive movie elements
The 4D theather with interactive movie elements.

Get an all-day pass

You can choose to do single rides or buy an unlimited regular pass ($34.95) for access to all rides for the entire day. Coaster Rides cost $12 a ride, per person and premium rides cost upwards of $9 per ride. Hence, recommendation is if you are planning to ride all rides is to purchase the whole-day pass. Moreover, if you demand more value and plan on visiting the adventure dome in addition to other MGM studios attractions such as New York New York, Body words, it is advisable to purchase the MGM Resorts 3 in one ticket at $57.

All in all, Adventure dome is one of the few retro theme parks you can still visit operating today without breaking the bank. If you desire a theme park experience here in the heart of Vegas, there is no other better place than here. You be good in adventure dome for about 3 hour tops in typical visit, with most rides not having any much of a queue. Also, the theme park typical opened 11am till midnight, with shorter hours to 6-9pm on weekends.

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