Published on: November 25, 2025, 05:51h.
Updated on: November 25, 2025, 05:52h.
A spectacular realm of dining and enchantment once welcomed guests at Caesars Palace. Prior to the construction of the Colosseum for Celine Dion, a dreamlike experience unfolded in this same location.
The expansive 66,000 square-foot Caesars Magical Empire was constructed with an investment of $70 million, utilizing 800 tons of steel, and took more than a year to complete before its grand opening in 1996.
The adventure began as guests were mysteriously “lowered underground” through a simulated elevator, where walls elevated while the floor experienced sudden movements thanks to pneumatic actuators.
Illuminated by torches, guests navigated a labyrinth of ten dining chambers designed as medieval banquet halls, indulging in three-course gourmet meals complemented by unlimited wine, all while a wizard entertained with comedy, magic, and song between courses.
Don’t miss this delightfully kitschy promotional video…
Post-meal, visitors were directed to two performance venues: a 75-seat theater in the round dedicated to close-up magic, alongside the 150-seat Sultan’s Palace for grand stage illusions. A ghostly piano player in one of the themed bars took requests for any song known to man.
If the details sound somewhat familiar despite not having experienced Caesars Magical Empire, it’s likely due to the collaboration between designer Gary Goddard and Milt Larsen, the magic master who established Hollywood’s Magic Castle—a venue blending dinner theater for magicians with separate stages for intimate magic displays and illusions, all featuring a ghost piano player.
In retrospect, it was an adventurous endeavor to merge a theme-park attraction with the dining culture on the Strip. Initially, it succeeded, garnering a devoted fan base among visitors seeking an alternative to standard buffets or showrooms.
What Happened to the Magic?
Caesars Magical Empire wasn’t shuttered due to a lack of popularity; rather, it closed in 2002 because the financial demands of the Strip necessitated more lucrative uses for prime real estate, far beyond serving just 2,400 guests daily at $70 each.
With a crew of 200 receiving notice, the attraction was eventually dismantled to make way for a 4,300-seat venue for Celine Dion’s “A New Day” show, which premiered in 2003.
Today, the whimsical and theatrical ambiance that once characterized this casino dining experience has faded from collective memory.
“Lost Vegas” is a recurring series on Casino.org that explores the overlooked history of Las Vegas. Click here to discover other entries in the series. Do you have a captivating Vegas story that has been lost to time? Reach out at [email protected].