Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah Ends Public Tours, Kitschy Las Vegas Attraction Returning to Private Status
Posted on: July 13, 2018, 12:00h.
Last updated on: July 13, 2018, 01:27h.
Casa de Shenandoah — the over-the-top 52-acre estate of Las Vegas entertainment icon Wayne Newton and his wife Kathleen — is shutting down just three years after it opened as a tourist attraction. Newton’s attorney said this week that the decision has been made to return the estate to a private residence, according to the?Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Casa de Shenandoah has been closed since May for “extensive maintenance, repairs, and renovation,” according to the attraction’s own website. Although an Instagram message previously promised that the property would be “closed for daily tours for a short period of time in order to take care of maintenance and upgrades to the property,” that?reopening never came. The official closure took effect on Tuesday, July 10, according to the R-J.
Return to Eden
When Newton turned the estate into a public museum in 2015, Sin City tourists and locals alike were given access to the property Newton settled on in the 1960s, during his heyday as one of Las Vegas’ most notable performers. With it came his love of animals of all kinds: Casa de Shenandoah has housed stables of Arabian horses, a bevy of peacocks who still roam the grounds, and other exotic animals.
Newton’s passion for collections extended to his Rolls Royces and half of a private jet he once used that he converted into a museum, and it was all part of the Casa tour.
The 76-year old performer is still a mainstay on the Las Vegas Strip, where he performs regularly at Bally’s Hotel & Casino.
“Mr. Las Vegas” is still going strong after 60 years, but the city itself has changed dramatically since Casa de Shenandoah was first built. The retreat was created before Las Vegas’ booming expansion, and it’s now surrounded by fast food restaurants and convenience stores, not to mention being situated directly under the McCarran International Airport incoming flight path.
Burglaries May Be Driving Force
Newton provided no reason for closing his estate to the public after two years. According to the R-J, he just said “we are just taking a breather and deciding what we want to do in the future.” Back in 2015, he laid out the possibilities for a future return, however.
The entire property is ours. We’ve leased it for more years than I’ll ever see, and with the right and premeditated figure, which I can’t go into, should we decide that we wanted to buy it back, that’s the figure and it’s a done deal,” Newton said upon converting the estate to a public museum.
The Newtons haven’t lived at Casa since 2013. Their current residence — just a mile down the road — was burglarized in June. ?Though surveillance footage captured the suspects, no arrests have yet been made in the case.
In response to the burglaries, the couple announced increased security at the current residence, including 24-hour armed guards.
Related News Articles
Most Popular
Most Commented
Most Read
LOST VEGAS: First Documented ‘Trick Roll’ by a Prostitute
Last Comments ( 7 )
We live on warm springs— would love to take a tour of your home—when will you have tours again.worked at David Copperfield 10 yrs— you entertained there on Aug 4- Jim and Barbara— you performed on our wedding night Aug 4 1979 at Frontier Hotel getting ready for our 40 th wedding Anniversary Aug 4– will you be performing around that time — our e-mail [email protected]
I got to go on a private tour because I was the only one who showed up for the specific time slot. It was so much fun and very interesting. Shame it will no longer be available for the public, I hate seeing the old Vegas slowly disappear. Someone needs to do something to capture and preserve the history of Las Vegas, it is part of our American history! Such a shame...
I was here one year ago and very disappointed we couldn't get in so here we are again with no notice of you not being open until now. We live in Arizona anx we came back thinking that we we would do this but in livht of the situation we want our money back.Wayne you should have notified groupon to return peoples money because you knew you were closing. You had no regard for the people who came to see your place that is not good showmanship . I have no respect for you and your actions it has inconvenienced our trip but what do you care not your loss.
We have tickets to see Wayne in September and was so hoping we could see his estate then but I know it’s wonderful if they’re moving back in! I just hate that we missed a chance to see his home. It appears to be an awesome place. Looking forward to seeing Wayne in Vegas in two weeks!!! I’m so so excited!!!!!
I was wanting to go on the tour just to see the animals. I would love to see the arabian horses because they are so beautiful. I am happy that they may or have moved back home to be with all his precious horses and animals. They are part of the family too. I wish them all the best and home is where the heart is and many precious memories are there. I hope to see his shows this late fall. I have not been to see a show since 1993. I never had the money to go to Vegas since I had horses to feed and take care of. Wishing you all a great homecoming and may you never ever have to leave and move away again. It is a magical place with healing waters. Sincerely Karen E. Shannon
I am glad for Wayne and his family and I often wondered when this day might arrive. Kristine
My family and I have been going to see Wayne’s shows since 1976! We scheduled all of our vacations around his schedule! I am so glad that Wayne and his family are getting to move home, but so disappointed that due to my husband being diagnosed with cancer in November of 2015, we never got to go! He has been getting great reports for two 1/2 years now and we had planned to go this fall! We will still go to see his shows that are so awesome! My husband was so looking forward to seeing his beautiful Arabian horses, but I will feel better for them to be back home! All of our best to this wonderful family. We will see them in OK.In early September! Looking forward to that show!! Love to you all, Judy and Donnie Knight