Franklin’s Guide to Living Rent-Free in Las Vegas

By Scott Roeben, on July 29 2013
1 min read 2 comments
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One of our favorite Las Vegas discoveries in recent months involves a hotel bar and a bird. The bird’s name is Franklin.

Franklin has Vegas wired.
Franklin has Vegas wired.

See, for the last three years, Franklin has taken up residence at the lobby bar inside the Elara Resort, formerly called Planet Hollywood Towers. Yes, inside.

At first, we thought Franklin had flown inside by accident. It was no accident.
At first, we thought Franklin had flown inside by accident. It was no accident.

His nest is in one of the faux palm trees that looks out over the Elara’s pool, and he’s also got a bird’s eye view (ahem) of shoppers inside the adjoining Miracle Mile Shops.

Patrons and bartenders at the lobby bar feed Franklin, and when bartenders they leave a faucet running, he’ll sometimes swoop in for a sip.

We're pretty sure Franklin is a House Sparrow. They're sexually dimorphic. We don't know what that is, but you go, Franklin.
We’re pretty sure Franklin is a House Sparrow. They’re sexually dimorphic. We don’t know what that is, but you go, Franklin.

Franklin’s become the unofficial mascot of the bar, and he doesn’t appear to be interested in leaving the bar anytime soon. Why would he? Free food. Free beverages. Views of bikini-clad babes. Franklin might be a bird, but in Vegas terms, he’s a whale.