Little Bavaria was the name of the Las Vegas estate owned by the late illusionist duo Siegfried and Roy. The 100-acre property was a staggering hideaway of connected mansions, with fields as vast as a dozen soccer pitches, an aquatic park that rivals the Bellagio fountains, and miles of interlocking walkways. The estate was not open to the public during Siegfried and Roy's lifetimes, and it is unclear whether this has changed since their deaths. The pair made changes to the property to accommodate Roy's health following a life-changing injury sustained during a tiger attack in 2003.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Little Bavaria |
Owners | Siegfried and Roy |
Size | 100 acres |
Features | Connected mansions, vast fields, an aquatic park, miles of interlocking walkways, a private chapel, a ten-car garage, a gatehouse, a Bavarian-style cottage, a prop house, a tiger sanctuary, two guest houses, an Olympic-sized pool, air-conditioned animal houses |
Purpose | Home, sanctuary for white lions and tigers |
Status | Closed to the public, set to be demolished and turned into apartments |
What You'll Learn
Little Bavaria was home to a menagerie of exotic animals
Little Bavaria was a 100-acre estate in Las Vegas owned by the celebrity magicians Siegfried and Roy. The pair were known for their exotic animals, including white tigers, which were a huge part of their stage show. Their estate was home to a menagerie of animals, including horses, mini-donkeys, black swans, exotic chickens, African cranes, royal turkeys, canines, and assorted cats, big and small.
The property was a "staggering hideaway of connected mansions, with fields as vast as a dozen soccer pitches, an aquatic park that rivals the Bellagio fountains, and miles of interlocking walkways that encircle and cut through the property." The aquatic park rivalled that of the famous Bellagio fountains. The estate also featured an Olympic-sized pool and air-conditioned houses for the animals.
The magicians' home was filled with priceless artifacts, including a clock owned by Napoleon, gold candelabras gifted by Liberace, and a jewel-encrusted sword that once belonged to Genghis Khan.
After Roy Horn was attacked on stage by a white tiger in 2003, Siegfried Fischbacher had the estate altered to accommodate his partner's new physical limitations. Hip-high rails were constructed along the winding sidewalks so Roy would have something firm to grasp during his walks around the property. Siegfried also oversaw the construction of a new house designed to ease Roy's transition.
Despite their fame, Siegfried and Roy kept their home private and it remains closed to the public.
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The estate was remodelled to accommodate Roy's health needs
Siegfried's changes to the property allowed Roy to retain a sense of freedom despite his injuries. In an interview with Las Vegas Weekly on the 10th anniversary of the attack, Roy said:
> "Pain is my best friend. I have to live with it. [But] I am doing pretty well. I am a little bit handicapped, but I'm not an invalid. I can do a lot of things. I can walk, I can go swimming, I can go to the gym, I can go shopping."
He added:
> "I am very grateful, every day, for every breath I am taking. That is my message to anyone who has had a stroke or a heart attack: Keep moving. Make progress. Pull yourself together, because you can do it."
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Little Bavaria is closed to the public
Little Bavaria, the Las Vegas estate of the late illusionists Siegfried and Roy, is closed to the public. The duo, who were partners in life as well as work, lived on the 100-acre property for over three decades. They shared their home with a menagerie of exotic animals, including horses, mini-donkeys, black swans, exotic chickens, African cranes, royal turkeys, canines, and assorted cats, big and small.
The estate, which has been described as a "hideaway of connected mansions", features an aquatic park, a private chapel, and miles of interlocking walkways. Siegfried and Roy's living quarters were separate but adjoined, with a central house where they would spend time together.
After Roy was attacked by their pet tiger, Mantecore, in 2003, Siegfried made alterations to the property to accommodate Roy's new physical limitations. These included the construction of hip-high rails along the walkways, as well as a new house designed to ease Roy's transition to life with impaired mobility.
Despite their fame, Siegfried and Roy kept their home private and never allowed public tours. Siegfried was adamant that Little Bavaria would never be open to visitors, even after the pair's deaths. The current owner of the estate is unknown, but it remains closed to the public.
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The property is set to be demolished and turned into apartments
The property, known as Little Bavaria, is set to be demolished and turned into apartments. The 100-acre Las Vegas compound was once owned by the legendary magicians Siegfried and Roy. The duo were famous for combining magic with a dazzling show of tigers and other exotic animals that were part of their menagerie of pets.
Little Bavaria is a staggering hideaway of connected mansions, with fields as vast as a dozen soccer pitches, an aquatic park that rivals the Bellagio fountains, and miles of interlocking walkways that cut through the multi-million-dollar property. The land was home to the couple's many exotic animals, from horses, mini-donkeys, black swans, exotic chickens, African cranes, royal turkeys, canines, and assorted cats, big and small.
The property is set to be demolished to make way for a 334-unit apartment complex. The sale comes after Siegfried Fischbacher's death from pancreatic cancer in 2021, following the death of his lifelong partner and showbiz partner, Roy Horn, aged 75, from COVID-19 in 2020.
The luxury estate was home to the master illusionists and their menagerie of animals for over 30 years. The pets had free rein of the place, with their own Olympic-sized pool and air-conditioned houses. Siegfried and Roy slept in separate sleeping quarters and came together in an authentic Bavarian-style cottage that served as the property's centerpiece.
The homes were decorated with priceless artifacts, including a clock owned by Napoleon, gold candelabras that were a gift from Liberace, and a jewel-encrusted sword that once belonged to Genghis Khan.
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Siegfried and Roy's ashes are kept in the estate's chapel
Little Bavaria was the name of the Las Vegas estate owned by the legendary magician duo Siegfried and Roy. The pair met in 1957 while working on a cruise ship and quickly bonded over their shared passion for performing. They started performing together and soon rose to fame, eventually earning the chance to bring their act to Las Vegas.
The duo became synonymous with Las Vegas' over-the-top entertainment scene, featuring white tigers and lions in their shows. However, tragedy struck in 2003 when Roy was attacked onstage by a white tiger named Mantecore, which resulted in severe injuries and health issues that would affect him for the rest of his life. Despite this, Roy insisted that the attack was not the tiger's fault and protected the animal from calls to put it down.
After the attack, Siegfried had their home altered to accommodate Roy's new physical and mental limitations. He had hip-high rails constructed along the winding sidewalks to provide something firm for Roy to grasp during his walks around the property. Siegfried also oversaw the construction of a new house designed to ease Roy's transition and improve his quality of life.
Sadly, Roy passed away in 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. Siegfried was devastated by the loss and insisted on spending his final days at their beloved Little Bavaria estate rather than in a hospital. He passed away in 2021, just eight months after Roy.
Siegfried and Roy's ashes are now kept in the chapel on their estate, ensuring that they remain forever in the place they called home.
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Frequently asked questions
Siegfried and Roy were the legendary German illusionists who became the most successful act in Las Vegas history during their three-decade-long career on The Strip.
Little Bavaria was a 100-acre estate in Las Vegas owned by Siegfried and Roy. The property was set to be demolished in 2022 to make way for a 334-unit apartment complex.
Little Bavaria was a "staggering hideaway of connected mansions, with fields as vast as a dozen soccer pitches, an aquatic park that rivals the Bellagio fountains, and miles of interlocking walkways that encircle and cut through the property."
After Roy was attacked by their pet tiger, Mantecore, in 2003, Siegfried remodelled Little Bavaria to accommodate Roy's new physical limitations. Hip-high rails were constructed along the winding sidewalks so Roy would have something firm to grasp on his walks around the property.
No, Siegfried was very clear that Little Bavaria would never be open to the public.