When you stay at Oasis at Gold Spike, a hip hotel in Downtown Las Vegas near Fremont Street, you will be sleeping next to a giant flame throwing bug, but don’t worry she won’t hurt you. The praying mantis has quickly become a part of the downtown community and is a great place for visitors to take pictures.
Located on the southeast corner of Fremont Street and Seventh in front of Container Park, the 40-foot by 30-foot praying mantis made out of steel on top of a 1983 dump truck. The piece was originally made for 2010 Burning Man, the annual desert art and self-expression festival, by artists Kirk Jellum and Kristen Ulmer.
Jellum was originally an aerospace engineer before he turned into a large-scale metal artist. According to a 2012 Desert News article, Jellum and Ulmer never intended on selling the piece and didn’t even think there would be a market for it until Zappos CEO Tony Heish purchased the piece as a part of the Downtown Las Vegas revitalization project. Since then Jellum has created a large scale scorpion named Fluffy for another wealthy investor, and his next project, The Hummingbird, is still in the concept phase.
You’ll occasionally hear screams from unsuspecting tourists when the flames shoot from the mantis’ antenna. The Mantis is a five-minute walk from Oasis at Gold Spike hotel in Las Vegas. Catch the mantis in action after the sun goes down.
If you want to book your next stay at a hotel in Downtown Las Vegas, Oasis at Gold Spike offers a unique environment without the inconvenience of a casino. Unlike other small hotels in Las Vegas near Fremont Street, you will be surrounded by a fun and lively atmosphere. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 702-768-9823. Book your stay today!
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