Let’s be honest, Las Vegas is packed with flashy, over-the-top mansions. With so many celebrities calling Sin City home for their residencies, it’s no surprise. But most locals know that one estate steals (or used to steal) the spotlight: the legendary home of Mr. Vegas. Casa de Shenandoah, which belonged to American actor and singer Wayne Newton, was a lot more than just a house.
Casa de Shenandoah was always evolving. When it was finally finished, it sprawled across nearly 40 acres in Paradise, Nevada. During Wayne Newton’s stay, the estate welcomed presidents, hosted his own wedding, and was even opened to the public for a while. From grand entertaining to family fun, Casa de Shenandoah went through countless phases over the years.
When all was said and done, Newton’s mansion cost $4 million. And yes, that’s a lot for the ’70s.
A lot more than a house
Here’s a quick look behind the walls, and inside this amazing space:
- Seven additional structures besides the main ‘house’
- Over 100 antique / unique vehicles
- Stables for breeding Arabian horses
- A horse hospital
- A zoo, which featured wallabies, deer, penguins, and swans
- A game room
- Beautiful wells and lakes
- (What we think was the only) private airport terminal in a Vegas mansion
- Around 70 servants at the property
Animals at the mansion
Newton clearly had a deep passion and love for animals, especially for horses. By the early ’70s, Casa de Shenandoah was devoted to breeding rare and expensive Arabian steeds. At one point, the horses even had their own dedicated swimming pool. Yep – the horses definitely had it better than most of us.
Moreover, peacocks at the lakes were also a common picture at the property.
Casa de Shenandoah, a tourist attraction
For only a couple of years, the famous villa was open to tourism. Guided tours introduced guests to Newton’s animals, his collection of cars, and even a tour of his Fokker jet. Visitors could also walk through a Las Vegas history museum, which honored people like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and of course, Newton himself.
However, the process wasn’t smooth. Locals thought traffic would be a problem, and didn’t like the idea of this brand new museum. Even though there were a couple of lawsuits and hurdles along the way, Casa de Shenandoah opened its gates to the public in September 2015. However, the most decadent of Las Vegas mansions closed for renovations in April 2018, and despite Newton’s promises for a reopening…it never happened. Newton withdrew his attraction permits for Casa de Shenandoah just three months later, and the place changed owners a couple of times since.
Just last year, the property hit the market again, for a staggering $31.3 million.