for a brief six-year period Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas invited guests
to enjoy a three-hour up-close-and-personal dining
and entertainment experience where they would encounter the mysterious arts in a
high-tech elaborately themed multi-chambered Wonderland this is Caesars magical Empire
Caesars Palace luxury hotel opened on August 5th 1966 making it the 16th hotel on the Las
Vegas Boulevard Caesars Palace was founded by Jay Sarno and Stanley Mullen who sought to create an
atmosphere in which everybody staying at the hotel would feel like Caesar during the Roman Empire the
palace was adorned with statues columns and Roman theming including a 20-foot statue of
Augustus Caesar near the entrance the result was the gaudiest weirdest most elaborate and
most talked-about resort that Vegas had ever seen Caesars assured in a new era of lavish casinos
constructed after the late 1960s Caesars Palace didn't shy away from spectacle Frank Sinatra began
performing at the palace in 1967 then on December 31st 1967 daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to jump
over the water fountains a 141 foot attempt and his longest to date his most memorable stud gone
bad 1967 Caesar's Palace Las Vegas Nevada when he hit the takeoff ramp the motorcycle unexpectedly
decelerated causing Knievel to come up short and land on a safety ramp supported by a van the
handlebars were ripped out of Knievel's hands and crowds watched in horror as he tumbled across the
pavement and skidded into the dunes parking lot a final attempt was made on April 14 1989 Robbie
Knievel evil son successfully completed what his father wasn't able to do two successful during
the 70s and 80s Caesars continued to ride high on prestige as it hosted headline entertainers and
world-class sporting events but by the late 1980s the tides were changing and Caesars was about to
face new competition at the end of the 1980s Las Vegas was ready to shed its old Vegas image the
Mirage opened in 1989 setting a new standard for Vegas resorts and spurring a trend towards highly
themed family friendly entertainment other themed hotels including Treasure Island and
the Luxor began construction and the management of Caesars began to explore ideas for elaborate
features to compete with other modern Las Vegas developments the Forum Shops at Caesars opened
in 1992 it was the first high end destination mall at the time other hotels scoffed at the
idea of wasting valuable gaming floor space with shopping but it proved to be the most profitable
retail space in the entire nation and home to 270 retailers restaurants and bars the forum
shops paved the way for current establishments like Mandalay Place Fashion Show Mall and the
tahvalli Village the forum shops also pioneered the painted sky ceiling effect which dragged
Las Vegas out of Perpetual nighttime and into what would later be dubbed day life Caesars also spared
no expense on Roman theming and streetscaping welcoming guests to the mall was the animatronic
festival fountain show a seven-minute sight and sound show featuring Bacchus the Roman god of
wine and agriculture who holds a celebration filled with lighting effects smoke and lasers
however the festival fountain couldn't compare to a second animatronic show the fall of Atlantis a
free 11 minute spectacle which played out hourly in the fall of Atlantis King Atlas
had to decide which of his children would rule the throne a special-effects Laden
feud of fire and water and Sue's before the family learns the ultimate lesson
at the time of unveiling forum shops general manager Mark Bell was quoted as saying no other
indoor venue in Las Vegas has combined the special effects that are incorporated into
the new Atlantis show a review of the show quipped if all shopping malls had special
effects and fireballs there'd be a lot fewer bored husbands in the world if that wasn't
enough the mall also featured a 50,000 gallon saltwater aquarium that was home to 500 fish
including rays and sharks the Caesars Forum Shops impressed visitors and were an instant
hit with their mix of shopping and entertainment but Caesars had another trick up its sleeve that
would out do this all with both spectacle and grandeur by 1996 Las Vegas was at the height of
its family-friendly phase with competitors offering eye catching entertainment like
volcanic eruptions and live pirate battles Caesars Palace decided to build a new high-end attraction
that would create a themed experience to outdo all others when Caesars magical Empire opened
in June 1996 the multi-million dollar dining and entertainment complex offered guests a three-hour
up-close-and-personal magic experience inside an elaborately themed multi-chambered Wonderland
the 66,000 square foot immersive experience took 800 tons of steel and more than a year to
construct at a cost of around 70 million dollars attention was paid to the smallest details which
earned it the prestigious themed entertainment Association's award for outstanding achievement
for the price of admission guests were granted access to the magical Empire which included a
combination of dining and entertainment Caesars magical Empire a journey of discovery imagination
passing through the elegant celestial court guests of Caesar enter the lavish chamber
of destiny where they are magically transported to a maze of catacombs 60
feet below the earth a switch was dining experience awaits hosted by Caesars own
masters of illusion as the Explorers continue their journey through the mysterious catacombs
they will discover the Magnificent sanctum saccharum a fantastic chamber where nothing
is as its news where reality is in the hands of the Wizards and in the eyes of the beholder
ornate theatres mysterious creatures and dazzling displays of magic await around every corner
ceases magical Empire visitors entered through the celestial court the grand entrance to the magical
Empire which was crafted from imported Italian marble and bedecked with winged Griffin's and
other mystical figures and symbols guests were escorted by Roman centurions to the chamber of
destiny and greeted by the imposing voice of Sarah Nomis they would then experience
the sensory illusion that they were being lowered beneath the earth and into ancient
catacombs but in fact it wasn't the guests that moved but the walls themselves raised
by a giant electric winch while the floor was shaken by pneumatic actuators following
the descent guests would be led through dark catacombs which were a mixture of faux rock
work classical architecture magical effects and real marble floors and then into the dining hall
of the gods after being seated in a 24 seat themed dining chamber guests were served a three-course
meal with unlimited wine and entertained by a wizard who would perform magic comedy and
songs in between courses guests would receive a golden medallion engraved with the phrase Prix
de squad habis eight have us what you believe is real is real following dinner guests would
be led out of the catacombs and emerge in the sanctum Sikora a circular 70 foot high domed
rotunda and then treated to a dramatic display of dancing fire and lasers known as the Luminara
guests were free to explore the central cavern which was decorated with a forty eight foot tall
sage and a vessel of constantly pouring water that mysteriously floated in midair and reproductions
of artifacts from ancient Egypt and Iran which were based on authentic relics from the sanctum
Sakura guests could access two themed bars one which offered a panoramic view through the fangs
of a giant stone dragon inside guests would be entertained by a miniature wizard who is
no more than ten inches tall the other featured a ghost piano player he knew every song ever written
if that weren't enough guests would then experience not one but two theatre shows
the secret pagoda featured performances by talented magicians in a unique 75 seat
theater this theater-in-the-round seating was made specifically for the enjoyment of close-up magic
the first time would you name your card somebody else the 150 seat Sultan's Palace
hosted by the extremely funny and quick-witted Sultan featured large-scale stage illusions
after sampling all the wonders of the magical Empire guests would finally pass through the
Infinity chamber returning at last to the real world well fed and thoroughly entertained they
had experienced a memorable spectacle and a great entertainment value but after a short
six-year stint Caesars magical Empire disappeared as quickly as it began from early 2000 rumours
about the closure of Caesars magical Empire ran rampant so it wasn't a surprise when it finally
closed down on November 30th 2002 despite being a one of a kind attraction expectations of 2,400
guests a day proved to be wildly optimistic tickets were considered pricey for the time
starting at 70 plus dollars for the dinner and show experience and resulted in slower
than expected sales in the end the attention to detail and sizable crew of 200 staff employed
by the interaction proved to be its downfall the 66,000 square feet of space used by the
attraction proved to be too valuable spelling the end of one of Las Vegas most ambitious and
impressive themed attractions it was demolished to make way for the Pure Nightclub and the Coliseum
performance venue the 22,000 square foot stage was specially constructed for Celine Dion's show a new
day which ran from 2002 until 2007 the demand for family friendly entertainment had peaked and Las
Vegas began to look for adult alternatives the festival fountain was finally retired in 2013
after running for years in poor condition and with limited effects the fall of Atlantis show
also went on prolonged hiatus but was resurrected at the end of 2013 with 40 new state-of-the-art
speakers and 14 video LED screens Caesars magical Empire was truly a unique attraction and those
fortunate enough to experience it remember it fondly unfortunately the magical Empire didn't
receive the attention or recognition it deserved which led to it becoming another attraction