{"id":12138,"date":"2015-09-20T23:34:55","date_gmt":"2015-09-21T06:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/?p=12138"},"modified":"2020-11-20T09:43:52","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T17:43:52","slug":"wayne-newton-opens-sprawling-casa-de-shenandoah-estate-to-the-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/wayne-newton-opens-sprawling-casa-de-shenandoah-estate-to-the-public\/","title":{"rendered":"Wayne Newton Opens Sprawling Casa de Shenandoah Estate to the Public"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Longtime Las Vegas headliner Wayne Newton’s former home, Casa de Shenandoah, has opened to the public as part equestrian center, part museum, part zoo and part Sin city time machine.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne
Wayne Newton says “Shenandoah” means “beauty” (so Casa de Shenandoah is said to mean “Home of Beauty”), but it’s more commonly translated as “daughter of the stars.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The perfectly-coiffed, 52-acre estate is about 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. (If you’re Google mapping it, try 3310 Sunset Road, Las Vegas, NV<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Guests first arrive at a shiny new Visitor Center.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne
Gird your loins for the long-awaited, immersive Wayne Newton experience.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the moment you enter the Visitor Center, it’s clear serious bucks have been invested in this new enterprise. It’s reportedly cost $100 million to turn Casa de Shenandoah into a tourist attraction.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne
Wayne Newton’s visitor center has more floor space than a Costco. There must be a lot of pent-up Mr. Las Vegas demand out there.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to our buddy Norm Clarke, the financial investment came from bajillionaire and philanthropist Lacy Harber. Read more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Harber and Wayne Newton have come to an agreement, with Harber a majority owner of the endeavor. More on this<\/a>. Harber says he’ll donate his portion of the profits to a local charity, Opportunity Village.<\/p>\n

\"Stardust
The visitor center boasts two classic blackjack tables from the Stardust (where Newton performed). Talk about winning over Vegas fanatics from the moment they arrive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new Visitor Center is decked out with a bar, theater and far more Wayne Newton-inspired merchandise than we could ever have imagine exists.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne
The visitor center theater seats approximately as many people as their are seats for. We hate taking notes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a 15-minute film in the Visitor Center theater, guests are shuttled approximately 30 feet to the gate of Casa de Shenandoah. It’s complicated, but we suspect this arrangement was made so visitors didn’t disrupt traffic or the sometimes touchy neighbors nearby. Oh, and there’s the aforementioned merch, of course.<\/p>\n

Once inside the estate, guests arrive at a building which has been converted into the Wayne Newton Museum.<\/p>\n

The museum features Wayne Newton’s Fokker F-28 twin-engine jet.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne
Meet the Fokker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was in the museum where we caught up with “Mr. Las Vegas” himself, flanked by cast members from Luxor’s “Fantasy” and schmoozing members of the media.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne
It’s good to be Mr. Las Vegas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was our first time meeting Wayne Newton, but we found him to be entirely charming, which is why, to be honest, you’ll find this blog post almost entirely bereft of snark.<\/p>\n

Newton exuded class and graciousness, and seemed genuinely appreciative of, and humbled by, the fact everyone was making a fuss over him. Strange qualities given his decades in the international spotlight.<\/p>\n

Also in the museum were a virtual fleet of vintage vehicles, including Rolls Royces formerly owned by Johnny Cash, Steve McQueen and Liberace.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne
This is how Wayne Newton rolls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Liberace will come into play once we hit the mansion, as Newton’s tastes seem to run in the same vein. But we’re not there yet. Between the museum and the mansion, it’s all about the horses.<\/p>\n

\"Wayne
It’s like a country club for equines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wayne Newton has long been known to have a fondness for Arabian horses, and Casa de Shenandoah remains a working Arabian breeding ranch. Newton himself has personally delivered more than 90% of the horses on the estate (that’s a lot of latex gloves), and there have been more than 600 foals to-date.<\/p>\n

Newton’s horses are pampered beyond belief, and guests are treated to exercise sessions and even a couple of laps in a private pool. Take a look.<\/p>\n

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