Mermaids are magical, enchanting creatures, and Las Vegas is possibly one of the only places where you can see them in the desert. At Silverton Casino Lodge, you can find a huge aquarium filled with tropical fish, rays and sharks, with mermaids swimming among them on select days.
Ok, so they might not be real mermaids — but you don’t need to tell your kids that. And if you plan to take your children to see them, or simply want to check out one of the most unusual free attractions in Las Vegas, here’s everything you need to know.
What and Where Is Silverton?
- Address: Silverton Casino Lodge, 3333 Blue Diamond Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89139
- Phone: 702-263-7777
Silverton Casino Lodge is located near the southern end of the Las Vegas Valley, several miles south of the main Las Vegas Strip. It is not a Strip resort, but it is easy to reach by car, especially if you are staying near the south Strip, Town Square, Mandalay Bay, South Point or the airport area.
The resort has a rustic lodge theme, a casino, restaurants, bars, renovated hotel rooms and one of the most family-friendly free attractions in Las Vegas: the Silverton Aquarium.
The hotel is no longer closed for renovation. Silverton reopened its hotel rooms in 2023 after a major renovation, with 300 redesigned “rustic luxe” rooms and suites built around three design styles: Cowboy Kitsch, Rustic Modern and Refined Lodge.
Silverton also opened its renovated pool area, The Swimmin’ Hole, in 2024. The pool is primarily for hotel guests, with local access available on select terms, so check the current rules before planning a pool day.
Silverton forms part of a larger complex that includes Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and nearby Silverton Village restaurants and shops. This makes it easy to turn a quick mermaid show stop into a longer family outing.
The Aquarium and The Mermaids
Although there are plenty of other activities to do at Silverton and Silverton Village, the resort is still best known for its aquarium and mermaid swims, a unique free attraction in Las Vegas.
The aquarium is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even when the mermaids are not swimming, you can still stop by to see the tropical fish, rays and sharks.
The real magic happens on select days when the mermaids swim through the aquarium, interact with guests through the glass, blow bubble kisses, pose for photos and perform underwater movements among the fish.
Of course, they’re not real mermaids. They are trained performers, often with swimming, diving or synchronized swimming backgrounds, wearing elaborate mermaid tails.
The aquarium itself is also impressive. Silverton describes it as a 117,000-gallon aquarium filled with thousands of tropical fish. It also includes stingrays and sharks, making it more than just a backdrop for the mermaid shows.
The current mermaid swim schedule is Thursday through Saturday from 12pm to 8pm and Sunday from 10:30am to 6:30pm. Mermaids swim every half hour, except during scheduled stingray feedings, and they take a break from 3:45pm to 5pm.
There are also interactive stingray feedings daily at 1:30pm and 4:30pm. These are worth timing your visit around if your kids love animals.
Better still, the aquarium, mermaid swims and stingray feeding views are free to watch, making Silverton one of the best free family attractions in Las Vegas.
Mermaid School
For kids or adults who are particularly taken by the mermaids and want to experience the mermaid lifestyle for themselves, Silverton Aquarium also offers Mermaid School on select dates.
The experience gives participants the opportunity to learn how to swim like a mermaid before putting their skills to the test in the aquarium.
Current Mermaid School offerings include kids, adults and family-style experiences. The kids’ version is for children ages 7-15, and the experience lasts about 90 minutes.
Participants are transformed into a Silverton mermaid, learn basic mermaid swimming skills and swim in the 117,000-gallon aquarium with thousands of tropical fish and rays.
The activity is designed for competent swimmers. It is not suitable for anyone who is uncomfortable in the water or unable to swim.
Equipment such as the mermaid tail is provided, but participants should bring swimwear and a towel. Availability is limited and dates can sell out, so book in advance if Mermaid School is the main reason for your visit.
Opening Times for The Aquarium
The aquarium is open 24/7, so you can visit it at any time while you’re at the resort.
Mermaid swim times
- Thursday-Saturday: 12pm-8pm
- Sunday: 10:30am-6:30pm
- Mermaids swim every half hour, except during scheduled stingray feedings
- Mermaids take a break from 3:45pm to 5pm
Interactive stingray feeding times
- Daily: 1:30pm and 4:30pm
Mermaid School
- Select dates only
- Kids Mermaid School: ages 7-15
- Experience length: about 90 minutes
What Else Is There to Do at Silverton?
While Silverton is best known for its aquarium and mermaids, there’s plenty of other stuff to do while you’re there.
The resort has its own casino with slot machines, video poker, table games and a sportsbook. It has a more local, relaxed atmosphere than the giant Strip casinos, which can be appealing if you want something calmer and easier to navigate.
The resort also has a good range of dining options. Current restaurants and bars include Twin Creeks Steakhouse, Mi Casa Grill Cantina, Su Casa, Sundance Grill, WuHu Noodle, Shady Grove Lounge, Mermaid Lounge, Flare Bar, Starbucks and Johnny Rockets.
Sundance Grill is especially useful because it is open late, with current hours of Sunday through Thursday from 7am to 2am and 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. Shady Grove Lounge covers limited-menu late-night service during the overnight gap on Sunday through Thursday.
Twin Creeks Steakhouse is the resort’s higher-end dinner choice, while Mi Casa Grill Cantina is the Mexican restaurant, Su Casa covers sushi and coastal Asian cuisine, and WuHu Noodle offers Chinese and pan-Asian comfort food.
While you’re exploring the property, don’t forget to check out the freshwater aquarium inside Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World too. Kids who love fish and outdoor displays may enjoy walking through the store almost as much as the main Silverton aquarium.
So in short, if you make the trip down to see the mermaids, you won’t find yourself short of other things to do while you’re there — and you certainly won’t be going hungry.
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What About the Hotel at Silverton?
The hotel at Silverton is open again after a major renovation. The old information about the hotel and pool being closed is now outdated.
Silverton reopened its 300 renovated rooms and suites in 2023 with a rustic-luxe boutique hotel feel. The three room design stories are Cowboy Kitsch, Rustic Modern and Refined Lodge.
The pool area has also been renovated and reopened as The Swimmin’ Hole. Current official hours list the pool as daily from 9am to 9pm, with the bar open daily from 11am to 7pm and food service available Friday through Sunday until 5pm.
The Swimmin’ Hole is primarily available to hotel guests, though Silverton has promoted limited local access for guests 21 and older during certain periods. If the pool is part of your plan, confirm current access rules before booking.
If you want to stay near the mermaids, aquarium, Bass Pro Shops and Silverton Village, booking Silverton itself now makes sense again. Hyatt Place nearby remains another option if Silverton rooms are sold out or if you prefer a non-casino hotel.
A Unique Attraction and Fun for All the Family
There’s no shortage of attractions in Las Vegas, but Silverton’s mermaid aquarium remains one of the city’s most unusual free family experiences.
You can watch mermaids swim with tropical fish, see daily stingray feedings, sign up for Mermaid School on select dates, explore Bass Pro Shops and grab a meal at one of the resort’s restaurants.
And because the hotel and pool renovations are now complete, Silverton feels much more current than it did during the renovation period. For families, animal lovers and anyone looking for something different away from the Strip, the Silverton Aquarium is still well worth the trip.