Shelby American

Shelby American Las Vegas

Experiencing the Legend 

"I'm not an engineer or a designer but I think I know what people like." - Carroll Shelby

The humility of a man who grew to be one of the biggest idols in car history is incredible to me. Prior to visiting the Shelby Heritage Center I thought I knew who Carroll Shelby was, I thought I knew his story and I thought I knew about the Shelby empire but now I see my knowledge was only scratching the surface of this amazing man and his amazing story. 

 

The Story Behind the Prodigy

Carroll Shelby was born on January 11, 1923 in Leesburg, Texas. From the young age of 7 he suffered from a heart valve leakage problem which ultimately forced him to end his racing career in October 1959. Prior to racing, Carroll served in World War II as a flight instructor and test pilot eventually graduating with the rank of staff sergeant pilot. After the war was over, Carroll had a handful of businesses that failed before he began racing cars as an amateur in 1952. Shelby quickly becomes victor race after race and in 1954 Aston Martin team manager, John Wyer, offers him the opportunity to race a car in England for the Aintree race which he finished in second. Between 1954 and 1959 Carroll continued racing in The U.S. and Mexico earning the title in 1957 of Sports Illustrated's "Driver of the Year". In 1960, he completes his last race, Laguna Seca, and in 1961 he is forced to retire from racing due to his heart condition. I was told by a good friend of Carroll's that his response was "If I can't race anymore, I want to build them." and that's what he did. He sent a proposal to AC Cars, based in England, asking them to provide a chassis to him so he could place a Ford V8 engine in it. Once the proper engine was found (a Ford 4.2 liter small block) the two were merged together and, in Febraury 1962, the Cobra was born in Dean Moon's Speed Shop. The original Cobra was painted a pearlescent yellow and then re-painted a new color every time a magazine came to test drive the Cobra so that it would appear they had many cars in production (good marketing move, don't you think?). Shelby American was established and went on to build many cars and win many races which built the name and brand we know today. In June of 1990, Carroll finally received a heart transplant. While in the hospital, Carroll saw how many families were affected by children with heart conditions and that a lot of them couldn't afford treatment so in September 1991, he started what is now known as the Carroll Shelby Foundation which has helped many families receive the medical attention they've needed every since. In the mid-90s the Shelby factory and World Headquarters were established in Las Vegas and is home to a collection of cars, dedicated to producing high quality Shelby vehicles and houses an official Shelby store that offers exclusive merchandise. Several employees told me they couldn't imagine working anywhere else and that they are "excited to be here in the morning and hate to leave at night.". The Senior Designer, Vincent LaViolette, had the privilege of taking Carroll on his last test drive at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway before he passed. In fact, the very car they sat in is displayed in the showroom, a Shelby 1000 proto car. Vincent told me that Carroll was passionate about the company and would come out in 110 degree weather just to watch the newest test drives and make sure they met his expectations. That he would call his employees "hot rodders" and call in every morning to see how everyone was doing. Vincent went on to say how Carroll would never forget a face, even if years would pass since the last time he saw you, he would pick up the conversation where it left off. He loved and cared for his employees as if they were family. Carroll Shelby passed on May 10, 2012 in Dallas at the age of 89. The employees of Shelby American find it a privilege to carry on his legacy daily and bring honor to his name.

The one and only original Cobra

The Heritage Center & Shelby American Tour   

The 10,400 square foot Heritage Center displays a collection of about 30 Shelby cars that have had a prominent role in the company's history. It once housed the original Cobra (yes, the one that was painted about 7 times!), which was recently auctioned. The museum is displayed as a walking timeline, starting with the oldest vehicle and ending with the newest prototype. There is a FREE tour (for hours of showroom & tour schedule click here http://shelby.com/?topic=museum&art=SHC) that is led by a gentleman named Jim who knew Carroll personally and has a wealth of knowledge regarding anything and everything Shelby. He spent some time with me while I was there and I was absolutely mesmerized listening to him. No wonder Shelby has a perfect 5/5 star rating on Yelp and everyone seems to praise Jim and the tour he leads. Jim first did business with Shelby American 51 years ago as a young mustang owner while building his own incredibly fast mustang (so fast, in fact, Jim said he is thankful he is still here!). He would buy performance parts from Carroll and grew to know him well. Jim went on to work for Ford for most of his life until he retired, came to Vegas and was offered a position at Shelby as a historian. In my opinion, I can't imagine anyone more fitted for the job than Jim. I asked him what is one thing you want people to know about Shelby and he replied with a smile, "I want them to know his legacy. I want them to know that when Shelby American was formed it really changed the definition of performance through out North America and the world." and by the end of the tour you will truly understand why that statement is so powerful and authentic. The tour takes about an hour with private tours available for no charge but donations to the Carroll Shelby Foundation are encouraged and appreciated.

Jim leading the FREE tour

The Factory 

This building after all is the Shelby World Headquarters and that means authentic Shelbys are built everyday in the factory. While you can't have direct access to the factory, there is a glass wall in the showroom that overlooks it and you can watch the technicians work on, build and customize vehicles. I was lucky enough to get a private tour and peek inside the factory operations, so I will fill you in on the magic that happens behind that wall. Across the entire front of the factory you will see technicians working on a variety of performance modifications. An ocean of mustangs graduating into the Shelby class. This area is the most visible and you are more than welcomed to hang out and watch for as long as you'd like. In the back of the factory you will find cars being Dyno tuned and tested to achieve maximum performance. Moving across the back wall you will find the body area where fiberglass pieces are made and where custom paint jobs are born. While I was being guided through this area I was informed that all the paint is mixed in house and some custom colors have taken up to a month to achieve the perfect shade (Talk about dedication!). The body and paint technicians work hard back here to shape, mold, paint and create the perfect finished product to make for a happy customer. Once the body work has been performed and is completed the piece is sent to a special light booth where it is meticulously looked over to find any imperfections.While in factory I couldn't help but notice how hard everyone was working and how much they seemed to care to make sure the job was done right. The passion these workers pour into the cars cannot go unnoticed.

A Mustang on the Dyno

  

The light booth where all imperfections are searched for

The Shelby Store & Foundation

At Shelby American you will find the Shelby shop which features a variety of genuine items and exclusive items you can only find at the Las Vegas store. The store manager informed me that one of the biggest purposes of the shop is that "Not everyone can afford an authentic Shelby vehicle but everyone can have a Shelby experience and take home a piece of Shelby," because they offer something in everyone's price range from a key chain to authentic autographed pieces. All the proceeds from the autographed pieces, and a percentage of the proceeds from all items sold, go directly to the Shelby Foundation. (*Mention The WannabeGypsy blog and you will receive a 10% discount on your purchase!) There are kiosks available in the store where you can donate to the Carroll Shelby Foundation. The charity held such a big and special place in Carroll's heart and his staff carries that on today. There have been many cars that were built specifically for auction and 100% of the sale price went to his charity. Carroll would sign his autograph and charge for his signature and 100% of the money collected was donated. Over the years so much has been raised that the foundation was able to expand to care for kids from "their first heartbeat through their education years" providing medical treatment, organ transplant management programs, financial grants for organizations who specialize in organ transplant research and provide scholarships for children who continue their education in the automotive field. A great way that we the fans can honor Carroll Shelby is to take the time to donate and continue his passion and legacy to provide for these amazing causes. 

Find this awesome dude by the front door so you can donate to the Carroll Shelby Foundation

 
After spending the day at Shelby American I walk away not only gaining an understanding of how much of an impact Carroll Shelby has had on American culture but the influence he's had across the world. Coming to experience the empire this racing legend built is on the bucket list of many people across the world. The manager told me she has met people from so many different countries who come to the U.S. to visit Shelby American and that it is a dream fulfilled for them. This is one experience you won't soon forget. 

Bonnie Springs Ranch Las Vegas

  Bonnie Springs Ranch

Experiencing the Wild West like never before 

“The Old West is not a certain place in a certain time, it’s a state of mind." – Tom Mix

About 30 minutes off the Las Vegas Strip, tucked away at the base of the Springs Mountains, is a wonderful little gem known as Bonnie Springs. As a girl who grew up in Vegas, Bonnie Springs is definitely keeper of some of my most cherished memories. It always offered a magical experience that took me back to a time of lawlessness, cowboys & offered a true Wild West encounter. This is not something to experience with only 2 hours available, I would encourage you to set at least half a day aside to truly enjoy all that Bonnie Springs has to offer. 

First things first, a little background of the Ranch. Originally the land was home to the Paiute Indians until immigrants took over the land while expanding the Old West, forcing the Indians to dwell in the enclaves located just beyond the Ranch area. This land, which had natural springs, was established in 1843 as the last stop along the Old Spanish Trail for pioneers to refill their water barrels before heading to California. In 1952, Bonnie McGaugh purchased the land which consisted of a house and an old run down bar which she operated without electricity for years. In 1964 she added electricity and expanded the bar to include a restaurant (Fun fact: Bonnie herself laid the floor that is in the restaurant by hand!). In 1974 her husband, Al Levinson, opened the old west style town now known as Old Nevada and in 1986 a 50 room motel was added to the area. Ever since, Bonnie Springs has been a local favorite and a staple of many childhood memories most of us can't imagine being without.

Old Nevada Mining Town 

Old Nevada was built with the vision of an 1880s old west mining town. It is complete with a wedding chapel, various souvenir stores, an antique photo shop (where you and your family can create old west style pictures), a school house, wax museum and a Saloon (which also doubles as a fully stocked bar). The buildings are either a collection of multiple old structures pieced together to create new ones or were transported as a complete building to the town. Some have witnessed paranormal activities and say the buildings are haunted. Ask any of the employees and they will tell you story after story of creepy accounts. This area of Bonnie Springs also has the talent! The wonderful staff put on displays such as a Melodramas, a Hanging and a Posse Show that will engage you and make you laugh until you cry. For a show schedule click here https://bonniesprings.com/activities/old-town/. The town is scattered with authentic mining equipment, wagons and other fun historical objects. Take a stroll with one of the cowboys walking around town and they will be nice enough to tell you all they know about Bonnie Springs and all the displays. The passion that went into building Old Nevada can still be felt. The love that fueled the labor into creating this Western town is seen in all the small details that make you feel as if you have traveled back in time to relive the Wild Wild West.  

The Petting Zoo 

The petting zoo opened in the early 1960s after someone abandoned sheep at the Ranch. Bonnie had such a love for animals she couldn't turn them away, so she took them in. Ever since, the zoo has adopted several species of animals including emus, deer, llamas, wolves and more! Most of these animals were donated, abandoned or injured and nursed back to health thanks to the Bonnie Springs Ranch. Bring your quarters so you can buy animal food from the dispensers and get a hands on experience with some amazing little creatures. 

The Restaurant & Bar

While you're out visiting the old west you're bound to get hungry for some food, food fit for a cowboy in fact. Good news is you won't have to travel far. The Ranch has an awesome restaurant on site with a beautiful view of a man made pond where ducks and turtles abound. This affordable little place was essentially where all of Bonnie Springs started and history lives on, in fact some of Bonnie's original recipes are still served and adored at the restaurant. For hours of operations click here https://bonniesprings.com/

The bar is also a great destination for motorcycle riders to head out to. Hop on your Harley, ride through the scenic mountains and enjoy a nice cold drink and some delicious food with your friends. You'll notice from the ceiling of the bar hang hundreds if not thousands of dollar bills. It was a tradition that started many years ago and on the day after 9/11 they took down all the money that was collected over the years (totaling almost $19,000!) and donated it to the local fire department. Since then, every couple of years they pull down all the dollars hung from the ceiling and continue to donate them to various non-profits.

Events

If your child's birthday is coming up, company party or if your signing the dotted line on that marriage license soon, Bonnie Springs wants to help you celebrate! They offer in house catering & various locations available on site to accommodate any size gathering. The events manager will guide you through the planning of your event and help you customize your special occasion to bring your vision into a reality. By understanding your specific needs he will be able to provide you and your guests with an experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else. For more information, call the main office at (702) 875-4194

While out at the Ranch you can also enjoy horseback riding, pony rides, a train ride and on the last Saturday of every month you can shoot live zombies (talk about an oxymoron!) with paintball guns for the ultimate Walking Dead experience. For information regarding all of these activities click here https://bonniesprings.com/   

The Wild West is still alive and well in the back mountains of the Las Vegas area. Only a short drive from The Strip it will offer you memories to last a lifetime. 

Bonnie Springs Ranch

Phone: (702) 875-4194

16395 Bonnie Springs Road

Las Vegas, NV 89124

www.bonniesprings.com 

Wild West Cowboy Show, they love interacting with the folks!

Bonnie Springs will take you to an entirely different world

My son being deputized, receiving his badge and taking his oath

This little guy can't wait to get some treats!

The Bonnie Springs restaurant serves up some delicious food

Talk about a beautiful backdrop

LAS VEGAS - WHO SAYS IT'S NOT FOR KIDS?

THINGS TO DO ON THE STRIP WITH YOUR KIDS 

"In the end, kids won't remember that fancy toy or game you bought for them, they will remember the time you spent with them" - Kevin Heath

How true are those words? Think of your own childhood, you remember the memories made and the time well spent as a family more so than any lavish toys you had. Most people think Las Vegas isn't the place for kids but as someone who grew up in Vegas there is plenty to do for the youngsters. I'm going to give you some "on strip" ideas in this post and in another post I'll give you "off strip" things to do that are well worth your time to travel there - some of them are even better than the things on the Strip! I've put my recommended ages next to each entry but these are not mandatory from each location. Let's get started: 

Shark Reef Aqaurium at Mandalay Bay (All ages)

Address: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Cost: Please notify them if you are a Nevada resident as there is a discounted rate.

Adult - $20
Seniors (65+) - $18
Children (Age 4-12) - $14
Children (3 & under) - FREE

Hours: Sun-Thurs 10 am - 7 pm

             Fri&Sat 10 am - 9 pm

Website: http://www.sharkreef.com/

Virtual Tour: http://www.motion-vr.net/mbsr/shark/shark-reef.html

This $60 million aquarium opened in June 2000 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino and houses hundreds of animals ranging from Komodo Dragons to Piranahs to Jellyfish to Sharks and everything in between! It is home to several endangered species that you may only see once in a lifetime. It takes about an hour to walk through but with the ticket purchases you are welcomed to stay as long as you'd like. There are incredible things to see and do during the tour, our son's favorite area is a place where there is a shallow pool full of stingrays that you can touch and if you want to dish out a little more money you are able to experience one of the "Animal Encounters" programs where you are able to feed the stingrays, turtles or sharks yourself! (For pricing & program info click here http://www.sharkreef.com/visitor/animal-encounters.aspx). Lastly, if you are a certified scuba diver you are able to dive with the sharks for an encounter you'll never forget (For info & pricing click http://www.sharkreef.com/visitor/dive-with-sharks.aspx).  

The Container Park (Ages 2-12 for the play area, all ages for food & shopping)

Address: 707 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Cost: FREE

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 am - 9 pm

             Fri & Sat 11 am - 10 pm

             Sun 11 am - 11 pm

Website: http://downtowncontainerpark.com/

This one-of-a-kind play area that was opened in December of 2013 was constructed of 43 re-purposed shipping containers and 41 locally manufactured Xtreme cubes and includes a Treehouse with a 33 foot tall slide! The play area features a NEOS play system to get your kids moving and to have fun doing it! While the kiddos are having a blast in the gated playground, mom & dad can go to all the boutique shops for a little shopping and grab a meal at one of the many dining options. Through out the year they have live entertainment (Click here for current events http://downtowncontainerpark.com/events/month/). Parking can be a bit tricky as there is no parking lot for the Container Park but there is metered parking around the outside of the park, in all honesty it's probably best to take a taxi cab. To be fair, it's not technically on the Strip, it is downtown but about 10 minutes North of the Stratosphere Casino. You could easily spend a couple hours here shopping, dining and enjoying any entertainment that might be going on. 

The AdventureDome at Circus Circus (All ages)

Address: 2880 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas, NV 89109

Cost: Pricing varies greatly, please click this link to view options http://www.adventuredome.com/general_information.aspx#ride

Hours: The hours vary greatly as well, please click this link to view http://www.adventuredome.com/general_information.aspx#ride

Website: http://www.adventuredome.com/

You could easily spend all day in the Adventuredome riding rolling coasters, playing laser tag, a game of mini golf anyone? This unique indoor amusement park will be an action packed fun filled day for kids of all ages. They provide kiddie rides for the youngsters, family rides everyone can enjoy and extreme rides for the adrenaline junkie! It's connected to the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino but provides a family friendly environment. The all day wristbands are probably you're best deal as far as bang for your buck at $32 for a regular admission and $18 for a junior (juniors qualify as being 48" and under). For a list of all rides & attractions click here http://www.adventuredome.com/rides_and_attractions.aspx 

The Midway at The Circus Circus (All ages) 

Address: 2880 Las Vegas Blvd S., Las Vegas, NV 89109

Cost: $1-$3 per game 

Hours: 10 am - 9 pm

Website: http://www.circuscircus.com/las_vegas_entertainment/midway.aspx

The Midway will always provide an awesome time for people ages 2 to 100! It has carnival style games with prizes up the wazoo! I would recommend planning to be here 1 to 2 hours, depending how addicted to the game playing you get. There is an arcade within The Midway you can also enjoy but there are no prizes to be won there. At 11 am everyday there are FREE world class circus acts for you to enjoy (Current acts & schedules can be found here http://www.circuscircus.com/las_vegas_entertainment/circus_acts.aspx). This is a great place to take the kids for some fun and to feel like a kid again yourself! 

   

The Fun Dungeon at The Excalibur (All ages)

Address: 3850 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109 

Cost: $1-$3 per game 

Hours: 10 am - 10 pm

Website: https://www.excalibur.com/en/entertainment/fun-dungeon.html

The Fun Dungeon is similar to The Midway, carnival style games for a chance to win prizes and an awesome arcade to enjoy. The Fun Dungeon is located at the South end of the Strip (The Midway is on the North end) inside the Excalibur Hotel & Casino. There are more than 150 games and 65 arcade games. Our family prefers The Fun Dungeon over The Midway cause we think the games and prizes are better, plus there is more to do at The Excalibur after you're done playing all those games! 

Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat (All ages)

Address: 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Cost: Adult - $22

Children 4-12 - $17

Children 3 & under - FREE

Hours: 10 am - 6:30 pm (last admission at 5:30)

Website: https://www.mirage.com/en/amenities/siegfried-roys-secret-garden-and-dolphin-habitat.html#/Overview

Located at the Mirage Hotel & Casino, this is by far one of our most favorite things to do in Vegas. It is a fun, entertaining and educational experience. The garden and habitat is home to Bottlenose dolphins, leopards, white lions & white tigers. The dolphins have a large pool where they perform tricks that will leave you in awe. There is a trail you can take that heads underground to the bottom of the dolphin pool and you can watch from windows for a bottom level view of them diving deep down in the water swimming & playing. There are different experiences for purchase (painting with the dolphins, yoga with the dolphins, trainer for a day etc.) that can be found here https://www.mirage.com/en/amenities/siegfried-roys-secret-garden-and-dolphin-habitat.html#/Dolphin%20Experiences. The passes are good all day and good for re-entry.   

  

New York New York, The Big Apple Roller Coaster - 54" tall & above

Address: 3790 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109

Cost: $14 per ticket or $25 for an all day ride pass

Hours: Sun-Thurs 11 am - 11 pm

             Fri-Sat 10:30 am - midnight

Website: https://www.newyorknewyork.com/en/entertainment/the-big-apple-coaster-and-arcade.html

 This ride only lasts a couple minutes but the memories will last a lifetime! The first plunge of this ride is so steep I actually lost my voice while screaming on the way down. The Big Apple reaches speeds up to 67 mph on the Vegas Strip and will leave you breathless. 

 Bodies - The Exhibition (Ages 10 & up)

Address: 3900 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Cost: Adults - $32

          Children 4-12 - $24 

          Children 3 & under - FREE

Hours:  10 am - 10 pm (last admission at 9 pm)

Website: https://www.luxor.com/en/entertainment/bodies-the-exhibition.html

I gave this one a minimum age of 10 because although none of the bodies are presented in a scary or disrespectful way, I do believe some of the displays can be a little traumatic for younger kids. This exhibit features real human bodies and organs displayed in various rooms each room serving a different purpose to teach you about the skeletal, muscular, respiratory & circulatory systems. There is a room that also displays fetuses and babies to showcase the different stages of pregnancy. The entire exhibit is highly educational and very interesting. It takes about an hour to walk through and audio guides are available for an additional $5. 

Titanic: Artifact Exhibition (All ages)

Address: 3900 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Cost: Adults - $32

          Children 4-12 - $24

          Children 0-3 - FREE

Hours: 10 am - 10 pm (last admission at 9 pm)

Website: https://www.luxor.com/en/entertainment/titanic.html

I must confess, I'm partial to this exhibit because I'm completely obsessed with everything Titanic - that being said, to miss out on this would be a tragedy (am I being a bit dramatic here? Probably). This exhibit is so rich in history, education & experience. This 25,000 square foot display includes over 250 authentic artifacts recovered from the actual Titanic wreckage located miles below the Atlantic Ocean. There is even a re-created Grand Staircase and a Promenade Deck that you can walk on complete with frigid temperatures that re-create the atmosphere from that April night. It takes about an hour to walk through and you can grab an audio guide for an additional $5. There is a current offer to see both the Bodies Exhibition and the Titanic Exhibition for $42 per ticket for a savings of $22 per adult. 

Who says Vegas isn't for kids? These are just a handful of the fun & educational activities for children around the city. Let some of these be lasting memories that you give your family while vacationing in the Entertainment Capital of the World. 

Happy Travels!