Casa de Shenandoah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Casa de Shenandoah |
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Aerial view of Casa de Shenandoah in May 2015
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| Former names | Sunset Springs Ranch (2013–2014) |
| General information | |
| Address | 3310 East Sunset Road |
| Town or city | Paradise, Nevada |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 36°04′14″N 115°06′09″W / 36.070530°N 115.102457°W |
| Completed | 1978 (main house) |
| Opened | September 18, 2015 |
| Renovated | 2013, 2015 |
| Closed | April 24, 2018 |
| Owner | Smoketree LLC |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m2) (main house) |
| Grounds | 39.5 acres (16.0 ha) |
Casa de Shenandoah is the former estate of singer Wayne Newton, who also used the property as a ranch for various animals. It is located on 39.5 acres (16.0 ha) in Paradise, Nevada, in the Las Vegas Valley. Newton initially purchased five vacant acres of the property in 1966 and gradually expanded it with several houses, including a mansion completed in 1978.
In 2010, Newton proposed turning the estate into a public attraction, an idea that received opposition from nearby residents who had concerns about the traffic that such a project would bring. Newton's proposal was approved by county officials, but was delayed in 2012, when his business partner on the project, CSD LLC, filed a lawsuit against him, alleging that he and his family had interfered in the development plans.
After legal issues were resolved, the property was put up for sale in 2013 and again in 2014. The estate ultimately opened as a public attraction on September 18, 2015, with Newton's involvement. It closed for renovations on April 24, 2018. Newton said the property would reopen to the public, although he and his wife subsequently withdrew the permits for the attraction in July 2018. It was sold in 2019 to Smoketree LLC, which put it up for sale a year later.
Attraction
The plans for Casa de Shenandoah were announced in September 2010. Tours would include Newton's garage of automobiles and his Fokker jet, while shuttle tours of the ranch would feature Newton's zoo of animals, including African penguins, peacocks, and more than 70 Arabian horses. In addition to tours, the project would include a dinner theater, museum, and a gift shop, all of which would be located on the ten acres. The museum would be a larger version of the Red Room, and would include items from Newton's career and from other entertainers affiliated with Las Vegas. Newton described it as a hall of fame for people such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. Newton said entertainers would be added to the hall of fame each year, and mentioned the possibility of a television special focusing on it. The 600-seat theater would be designed like Newton's favorite showroom, the Copa Room at the Sands Hotel and Casino. Newton would be the primary headliner. The museum and theater would be located in a vacant building that previously operated as the Napa Valley Pottery and Floral store.
A neighborhood meeting on the project was held later in September 2010. A film crew from Ruettiger's production company attended the meeting, where the project received unanimous opposition from nearby residents. Newton's home was located in a neighborhood designated for rural preservation, and residents expressed concern about shuttle bus traffic for the new project, although the site of the proposed museum and theater was already zoned for commercial use, and Newton's home would only require a special-use permit for tours.
During the town board meeting, 33 people spoke against the project, with 11 speaking in favor. Despite the board's recommendation, the Clark County Commission approved the project in November 2010. To alleviate concerns from residents, the public entrance to Casa de Shenandoah would be on Sunset Road instead of Tomiyasu Lane. Plans for a wedding pavilion were scrapped entirely, although Newton would continue to host private weddings at the estate. Casa de Shenandoah was originally intended to open as an attraction in February 2011, although work proceeded slowly on the project following the approval. The museum was later expected to be open by the end of 2011. In October 2011, Newton said he expected the estate to be opened for public tours by February 2012.
Work on the project was halted in May 2012, when CSD filed a lawsuit against Newton.
In April 2013, a settlement was reached. Newton and his family moved out of Casa de Shenandoah in June 2013, after purchasing new residential property nearby.
Casa de Shenandoah was sold to Smoketree LLC in July 2019, for $5.56 million.
In August 2020, Smoketree put the estate up for sale at a cost of $29.9 million.
