Latest news with #TheMirage
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Late magic legends Siegfried & Roy's Vegas palace is DEMOLISHED after being left to rot just years after their deaths
LATE magic legends Siegfried & Roy's Las Vegas palace has been demolished after being left to rot just four and five years after each died. The iconic Jungle Palace fell into disrepair after homeless squatters moved in, leaving rubbish scattered across the estate. 8 8 8 8 8 8 Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn's estate was once full of life with extravagant decor and big cats roaming the grounds. But it has sadly been demolished after being abandoned following the duo's deaths. A tour organizer who knew the couple well, René Meinert, said: 'It hurts like hell to have to watch these historic houses being simply demolished." The impressive property was built in the 1954 and featured a number of animal enclosures, as well as a bird sanctuary. The 8,750-square-foot estate included a main house, three guest houses, two detached studios, three swimming pools and a jacuzzi. The main house had two bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as its own jacuzzi and a pool. The premises also included its very own casita and a cabana. The magicians moved into the lavish estate in 1982 to give their beloved lions and tigers a place to roam free. Roy even allowed the big cats to sleep in his bed and would often swim with them in the pool. The couple decorated their home with priceless Persian rugs, crystal candle holders, baroque carved furnishings, a clock owned by Napoleon, gold candelabras and a jewel-encrusted sword thought to have belonged to Genghis Khan. Siegfried and Roy perform on stage for the final time The estate was sold for $1.87 million in 2022 after Siegfried died from pancreatic cancer. Roy Horn died a year prior after suffering complications from Covid. A year later it changed hands again and was sold for $3million to Carden International Circus owners, Brett and George Carden. The Carden's planned to turn the property into a tourist attraction and had a grand vision for an "entertainment venue and museum". But sadly these plans never came to light and the estate fell into disrepair. Homeless squatters began living in the property, leaving rubbish scattered across the grounds. Photos from inside the grounds show prescription drugs, shopping carts, beer bottles and food remnants on the abandoned floors. Disused clothing, rough sleeping arrangements and tattered furnishings can also be seen. Who were Siegfried and Roy? Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn were German-American entertainers who performed an animal-based magic show together as Siegfried & Roy. Siegfried was the magician and Roy was the animal trainer. The pair met in 1959 while working on a cruise ship and soon began performing together on ships and in European clubs and theatres. In 1967 they began performing in Las Vegas - headlining a show at the iconic venue The Mirage. Their acts featured exotic animals including white lions and white tigers. But after 5,750 performances their performing career came to an end in 2003 when Roy was injured by a tiger during a show. The couple were thought to be romantically involved, living together at Jungle Palace, a Moroccan-themed 8-acre estate in the Las Vegas area. Siegfried died in January 2021 and Roy died in May 2020. The pair was also known as Masters of the Impossible. Siegfried & Roy were a pair of German magicians best known for their illusions and acts with tigers. The duo first met while working on a cruise ship in 1957. Roy felt underwhelmed by Siegfried's magic tricks and decided to smuggle a cheetah onboard before their next voyage. The pair went on tour and performed at clubs and theatres around Europe. The entertainers made their Las Vegas debut in 1967 and became a headline act at the iconic venue The Mirage. Roy was famously attacked by a white tiger named Mantecore during performance at the Mirage Las Vegas in 2003 - leaving him partially paralyzed. This marked the pair's 5,750th performance. It wasn't until March 1, 2009 that they reappeared on stage for a benefit show. 8 8
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elaine Wynn, Las Vegas casino co-founder, dies at 82
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Elaine Wynn, a prominent philanthropist who co-founded a casino empire in Las Vegas with her ex-husband Steve Wynn, passed away at the age of 82, according to a release from the Elaine Wynn and Family Foundation. 'She played an instrumental role in shaping the modern-day Las Vegas, from the Golden Nugget where she infused glitter gulch with a little luxury, to The Mirage, establishing the paradigm for everything that followed, including Bellagio, Wynn and Encore resorts,' the release announcing her death read. 'She understood that Las Vegas was not just a destination; it was an experience—an ever-evolving tapestry woven with threads of art, culture, and the human spirit.' The release, which was sent at around 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, did not list a cause of death. 'As we remember Elaine Wynn, we celebrate a life lived with purpose—a life that embracedthe extraordinary potential of Las Vegas, a city she truly loved. Her legacy will echo throughthe vibrant streets and the stories of those she touched,' the release stated. The largest individual shareholder of Wynn Resorts, Wynn's impact extended beyond Las Vegas. At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Wynn championed accessibility to the arts, helping to enhance the cultueral fabric of the community. 'Her leadership was characterized by grace and ambition, ensuring that art remained an essential part of our shared experience,' the release read. Wynn recently announced a collaboration with Pritzker Prize-winning architect Francis Kere to build the Las Vegas Art Museum, another example of her commitment, not just to the cultural arts, but to Las Vegas itself. Through the Elaine P. Wynn and Family Foundation, Wynn supported community organizations that aligned with her passions, including improving children's lives through education. Wynn co-chaired Nevada's Blue Ribbon Education Reform Task Force in 2011 and served on Nevada's State Board of Education, even elected as its President twice. The release stated that Wynn's family was her greatest pride. She was a mother to two daughters, Kevyn and Gillian, and a grandmother of seven grandchildren. 'In the heart and soul of Las Vegas, she will forever reign, not as Ms. Las Vegas, but as a visionary who turned possibilities into realities, inspiring all who followed in her footsteps.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A year later, Super Bowl's tourism impact on Las Vegas clear to see
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas tourism indicators were down across the board in February, but the reason was pretty easy to see in comparisons to February 2024. The Super Bowl effect was noticeably gone. Hotel revenue and occupancy rates suffered in comparison, and visitor volume plunged by about 12%, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). An overtime thriller in 2024 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers had Las Vegas hopping, with Patrick Mahomes and his team crowned NFL champs, 25-22, at Allegiant Stadium. For 2025, the game moved on to New Orleans — the 11th time it's been played there. People were already talking about the next time the game comes to Las Vegas. But that's not on the schedule just yet, and all eyes are on 2029 as insiders make Las Vegas a favorite for its second Super Bowl. This year, 'Mahomes Magic' was MIA as the Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 40-22, at the Caesars Superdome. No matter where the game is played, people flock to Las Vegas for the experience. And having the game return is definitely a priority for tourism officials. So how much difference did it really make? Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip won just over $690 million in February, about $110 million less than in 2024. Nevada casinos retreat from December-January wins, 2024 Super Bowl hype The LVCVA reports that hotel occupancy shrank by 3.4% and revenue per available room (RevPAR) dropped by 28.1%. RevPAR this February was $149.86. The average daily rate for the entire month fell by 25% to $186.16. On the Strip, RevPAR was $165.91 — 28.9% less than a year ago. The average room price on the Strip was $198.69 — 26.2% lower than last February's $269.37. That's not all because 2024 was a leap year and had an extra day in February. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated that the Super Bowl's presence made a $1 billion impact on the city. There were a couple of factors that shouldn't go without mention: hotel room inventory and conventions. Last year, The Mirage and Tropicana Las Vegas were both open for business. This year, with the Tropicana just a memory and The Mirage shuttered as it rebrands as a Hard Rock International property, the room count was significantly higher — 8,864 rooms, by the LVCVA's count. And convention attendance was significantly lower this February, with 615,400 people in town for company events. That was 19.5% less than attendance levels in February 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
