Description
Caesar's Palace and Casino and Colosseum
Caesars Palace, one of the grande dames in the history of Las Vegas’s Strip, is considered the forerunner of the opulence that is now standard fare. Originally created and owned by Jay Sarno and his partner, Nate Jacobsen, the hotel and casino was funded to the tune of $10.6 million dollars by the Teamsters Union (of Jimmy Hoffa notoriety) – specifically the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund - because no bank would finance such an extravaganza. The hotel opened in 1966 to incredible fanfare and rave reviews for the sophisticated and utterly decadent Baroque Roman architecture and setting. Always closely associated with the entertainment industry, Caesars Palace is one of the most prestigious casino hotels in the world and perhaps Vegas’ largest and best known landmark. Jefferson Graham, now a Los Angeles based tech columnist for USA Today, wrote that the result was "the gaudiest, weirdest, most elaborate, and most talked about resort Vegas had ever seen. [Its] emblem was a chesty female dipping grapes into the waiting mouth of a recumbent Roman, fitted out in toga, laurel wreath, and phallic dagger". From day one Caesars Palace has been focused on attracting serious gamblers, or in Las Vegas terms, “high rollers”. Today facilities include Blackjack, Baccarat, Craps, Roulette, Spanish 21, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow and Pai Gow poker, along with slot machines ranging from 1¢ to $500. There are, at last count, 18 fountains on the grounds. A 20 feet high statue of Julius Caesar hailing a taxi dominates the driveway leading to the entrance. Other replica statuary depicting the Rape of the Sabine Women, Venus, and David greet guests as they arrive. Near the entrance is a four-faced, eight-handed Brahma shrine which weighs four tons. Imported Italian Cypress line the drive up to the entrance. The Colosseum is the resort’s huge concert venue and always has top-of-the-line entertainers. Be sure to check in advance of your trip for who is on and for seats! Six Towers comprise the hotel - each one unique and lavish. The seven major pools at Caesars Palace are modeled after ancient Roman baths. There are 15 restaurants and 3 nightclubs plus a massive outdoor tent set up as a “theater-in-the-round” and used to host Absinthe, a live show that’s a combination of burlesque, cabaret and Cirque du Soleil-style acrobatics with risqué emceeing. Worth a peek into “old Las Vegas” is the often photographed replica of Cleopatra’s Barge, a bar and lounge since 1970. Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin hung out here for years. Cleopatra’s Barge opens at noon and functions as a lounge until 9:15pm (21:15) then becomes a nightclub with no cover charge until 2:15am. Caesars Forum, opened in 1966 with 30 gaming tables and 250 slot machines, is the original casino. It contains 20 black Italian marble columns with white marble and gold leaf trimmings. Friezes and statues depicting Roman conquests and female motifs are prevalent. The ceiling center is a flat ornate dome with a massive chandelier in the shape of a Roman medallion. Made from 100,000 handmade and hand polished crystals was reputed to have been the world's largest crystal ceiling fixture made of the finest German crystal. Fun Fact: Hitting the tables? Lore has it that there are four "lucky spots” where, if you rub one or more of them, the dice will look kindly on you. 1) The glove on heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis’ statue near Mesa Grill 2) The Statue of David’s big toe 3) The finger on the Caesar statue at main entrance and 4) Cleopatra’s breasts on Cleopatra’s Barge.
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