A Brief History Of Caesars Palace

From the over-the-top Roman Emperor theme, to epochal moments such as the Evel Knievel jump and hosting the the modern pop star residency, Caesars Palace epitomizes Las Vegas.

First of all, it’s Caesars Palace, not “Caesar’s Palace.” Why no apostrophe? The resort’s creator, Jay Sarno wanted every guest to be Caesar for as long as they stayed—many “Caesars,” not just one. It’s been one of Las Vegas‘s premiere properties for over five decades, home to some of the city’s hottest nightspots, biggest headliners, most lavish restaurants, and most deluxe accommodations. There are six towers, dozens of restaurants, and over 600,000 square feet of retail space in the Forum Shops Mall.

Augustus Lobby at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

Caesars Palace opened on August 5, 1966 with a glamorous, celebrity-studded event that made headlines. The Las Vegas Sun commented on the “imported Romanesque statuary, spuming fountains and Italian cypress trees,” while The New York Times noted the “fountains, colonnades and Rococo statuary.”

The main casino had a crystal-studded ceiling above marble statuary, where waitresses in mini-togas and elaborate hairdos brought cocktails to thirsty gamblers. The Bacchanal restaurant offered neck massages and wine poured out of goatskins alongside its gourmet menu. Actors as “Caesar” and “Cleopatra” roamed the property, accompanied by random gladiators and waving royally at patrons.

Caesars Palace was the site of a number of major events over the years, beginning in 1967 when Evel Knievel attempted to jump the fountains out front. It was also the site of a number of major boxing matches, such as Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes in 1980, as well as the Caesars Palace Grand Prix in 1981 and 1982. Frank Sinatra headlined Caesars as “the noblest Roman of them all” for years; other stars to take the stage included Dean Martin, Liberace, Judy Garland, and Lena Horne. Caesars Palace has also been featured in a number of films, from The Electric Horseman to Rain Man and Iron Man

A chariot arrives during Caesars Palace’s 50th birthday celebration in 2016

Over the decades, the property has expanded in a sprawling and seeming haphazard fashion, not unlike that of an actual Roman city. Notable additions over the years include the glorious kitschy Cleopatra’s Barge lounge in 1970, complete with floating stage and bare-breasted golden statues. The Forum Shops opened in 1992, becoming one of Vegas’s first high-end shopping spots, featuring boutiques from the likes of Gucci and Versace.

In 2003, Caesars added the 4,000-seat Coliseum venue and signed Celine Dion to the Strip’s first major pop star residency, with Elton John, Rod Stewart, and Bette Midler also joining the roster at various times. The Nobu Tower was opened in 2013, creating a boutique hotel-within-a-hotel.

Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

Caesars Palace continues to stand as one of the dominant properties on the Strip. Among the restaurants are Restaurant Guy Savoy, Joe’s Stone Crab, Old Homestead, the Bacchanal Buffet and Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, and Reba McIntyre are still playing the Coliseum, and the edgy variety show Absinthe is in the Spiegeltent seven nights a week. In the future, when people look back upon “the glory that was Vegas,” Caesars Palace will be one of the brightest spots.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.