Envision a monstrous insect. The Fire Breathing Praying Mantis Statue towers before you. It is a metallic marvel guarding Downtown Container Park in Las Vegas. This isn’t just any statue. It’s a fire-breathing spectacle.
The Fire Breathing Praying Mantis Statue stands 40 feet tall. It is 30 feet wide. This metal beast is more than meets the eye. Kirk Jellum an aerospace engineer created it. It was a wedding anniversary gift for his wife Kristen Ulmer in 2010.
Originally, the Fire Breathing Praying Mantis Statue was built for Burning Man. This Mad Max-like creature is a 150:1 scale model. It replicates a female praying mantis. Jellum and a team of 20 spent countless hours designing and constructing it. They mounted it on a truck chassis. It became an art car.
Tony Hsieh, former Zappos CEO, saw its potential. He bought it for the Downtown Container Park. Hsieh envisioned it as a centerpiece for downtown Las Vegas. Ulmer never imagined selling it. But the Fire Breathing Praying Mantis Statue found its home here.
The Mantis breathes fire nightly. The fire-emitting performances start at sundown. A drum circle awakens the Mantis. It is a celebration. The Mantis then shoots flames from its antennae. Its legs move at random. The show continues until 11 p.m. on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends.
This giant art piece is a photo opportunity. It roars back to life after a COVID-forced hibernation. The Mantis belches fire. It does this seemingly at random. The high volume often shocks first-time visitors. Some duck and shudder.
The Fire Breathing Praying Mantis Statue is a relic of Tony Hsieh’s vision. It lords over the neighborhood at the corner of 7th and Fremont Streets. The Mantis burns about 50 gallons of propane each night. Flames reach six stories high.
The Mantis claims to speak 20 different languages. It has a 4000-watt surround sound system. The Fire Breathing Praying Mantis Statue is operated by a team of four trained professionals.
The “Call to the Mantis” awakens it every night. This drum circle invites everyone to participate. It is more than just a statue. The Fire Breathing Praying Mantis Statue is a symbol of creativity. It embodies the spirit of Las Vegas. It is a fiery, metallic guardian. The Fire Breathing Praying Mantis Statue stands as a monument to art, love, and a little bit of madness.