diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_vrayscene.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_vrayscene.py
index 61be634a42..5a67ab859d 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_vrayscene.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/plugins/load/load_vrayscene.py
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ class VRaySceneLoader(api.Loader):
         with lib.maintained_selection():
             cmds.namespace(addNamespace=namespace)
             with namespaced(namespace, new=False):
-                nodes, group_node = self.create_vray_scene(name,
-                                                           filename=self.fname)
+                nodes, root_node = self.create_vray_scene(name,
+                                                          filename=self.fname)
 
         self[:] = nodes
         if not nodes:
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ class VRaySceneLoader(api.Loader):
         colors = settings['maya']['load']['colors']
         c = colors.get(family)
         if c is not None:
-            cmds.setAttr("{0}.useOutlinerColor".format(group_node), 1)
-            cmds.setAttr("{0}.outlinerColor".format(group_node),
+            cmds.setAttr("{0}.useOutlinerColor".format(root_node), 1)
+            cmds.setAttr("{0}.outlinerColor".format(root_node),
                 (float(c[0])/255),
                 (float(c[1])/255),
                 (float(c[2])/255)
@@ -120,17 +120,21 @@ class VRaySceneLoader(api.Loader):
         mesh_node_name = "VRayScene_{}".format(name)
 
         trans = cmds.createNode(
-            "transform", name="{}".format(mesh_node_name))
-        mesh = cmds.createNode(
-            "mesh", name="{}_Shape".format(mesh_node_name), parent=trans)
+            "transform", name=mesh_node_name)
         vray_scene = cmds.createNode(
             "VRayScene", name="{}_VRSCN".format(mesh_node_name), parent=trans)
+        mesh = cmds.createNode(
+            "mesh", name="{}_Shape".format(mesh_node_name), parent=trans)
 
         cmds.connectAttr(
             "{}.outMesh".format(vray_scene), "{}.inMesh".format(mesh))
 
         cmds.setAttr("{}.FilePath".format(vray_scene), filename, type="string")
 
+        # Lock the shape nodes so the user cannot delete these
+        cmds.lockNode(mesh, lock=True)
+        cmds.lockNode(vray_scene, lock=True)
+
         # Create important connections
         cmds.connectAttr("time1.outTime",
                          "{0}.inputTime".format(trans))
@@ -138,11 +142,9 @@ class VRaySceneLoader(api.Loader):
         # Connect mesh to initialShadingGroup
         cmds.sets([mesh], forceElement="initialShadingGroup")
 
-        group_node = cmds.group(empty=True, name="{}_GRP".format(name))
-        cmds.parent(trans, group_node)
-        nodes = [trans, vray_scene, mesh, group_node]
+        nodes = [trans, vray_scene, mesh]
 
         # Fix: Force refresh so the mesh shows correctly after creation
         cmds.refresh()
 
-        return nodes, group_node
+        return nodes, trans
diff --git a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/maya.json b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/maya.json
index 52b8db058c..2712aeb1b2 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/maya.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/defaults/project_settings/maya.json
@@ -575,6 +575,12 @@
                 12,
                 255
             ],
+            "vrayscene_layer": [
+                255,
+                150,
+                12,
+                255
+            ],
             "yeticache": [
                 99,
                 206,
diff --git a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schemas/schema_maya_load.json b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schemas/schema_maya_load.json
index 7c87644817..6b2315abc0 100644
--- a/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schemas/schema_maya_load.json
+++ b/openpype/settings/entities/schemas/projects_schema/schemas/schema_maya_load.json
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@
                     "label": "Vray Proxy:",
                     "key": "vrayproxy"
                 },
+                {
+                    "type": "color",
+                    "label": "Vray Scene:",
+                    "key": "vrayscene_layer"
+                },
                 {
                     "type": "color",
                     "label": "Yeti Cache:",