If you’ve ever walked down the Las Vegas Strip, you’ve seen it. That massive, sprawling complex of marble statues, fountains, and Corinthian columns that looks like a Roman emperor decided to take a vacation in the Mojave Desert. But when was Caesars Palace built in Las Vegas? It wasn't just a random construction project. It was a massive gamble that changed the city forever.
Jay Sarno was the guy with the vision. He wasn't some corporate suit; he was a guy who loved the high life and wanted everyone else to feel like royalty. He broke ground in 1962. It took years to get those fountains just right. Finally, on August 5, 1966, the doors swung open.
It cost $24 million. In today's money, that's a drop in the bucket for Vegas, but in the mid-sixties? It was astronomical. Sarno borrowed a huge chunk of that from the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund, which, as anyone who knows Vegas history can tell you, comes with a lot of colorful backstories.
The 1966 Grand Opening that Changed Everything
The opening was legendary. Sarno spent a million bucks just on the party. We’re talking two tons of filet mignon and more champagne than the desert had seen in a century.
People think Caesars was always this giant city-within-a-city, but it started with just one tower. That original "Roman Tower" is now known as the Julius Tower. It had 680 rooms. Think about that compared to the nearly 4,000 rooms they have now. It’s wild.
Sarno was obsessive about the details. He didn't put an apostrophe in "Caesars Palace." He wanted it to be the palace of all Caesars, where every guest was a king. If you look at the name today, you’ll notice the missing apostrophe is still there. It wasn’t a typo. It was branding before branding was even a "thing."
Why the 1960s Construction Mattered
Before 1966, Vegas hotels were mostly "Old West" or "Mid-Century Modern." You had the Sands and the Flamingo. They were cool, sure, but they weren't grand. When Caesars Palace was built, it introduced the concept of the "themed" mega-resort.
The architecture was intentionally set back from the road. Sarno wanted people to drive through the fountains and the cypress trees. He wanted to transport you. He hired Jo Harris to handle the interior design, and she leaned hard into the Roman aesthetic. They imported actual marble from Italy.
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Expanding the Empire
You can't talk about when the hotel was built without talking about how it never actually stopped being built. It’s a perpetual construction site in the best way possible.
- The Centurion Tower: This popped up in 1970.
- The Forum Tower: Added in 1979 to keep up with the growing crowds.
- The Palace Tower: This arrived in 1997, bringing a more refined, upscale vibe to the property.
- The Augustus Tower: Opened in 2005, facing Flamingo Road.
- The Octavius Tower: The latest major addition, finished around 2012.
Each of these phases reflects a different era of Las Vegas. The 70s were about expansion. The 90s were about the "Mega-Resort" boom when places like the Bellagio and Luxor were going up.
The Evel Knievel Factor
Just a year after it was built, the hotel became world-famous for something other than gambling. In 1967, Evel Knievel tried to jump the fountains on his motorcycle.
He didn't make it.
He crashed spectacularly. He broke over 40 bones and spent a month in a coma. But that moment cemented Caesars Palace as the place where "big things" happen. It wasn't just a hotel; it was a stage. It’s where Ali fought, where Sinatra sang, and where Celine Dion eventually took up residence.
Architecture and the Roman Illusion
If you look closely at the original building, it’s shaped like a crescent. This wasn't just for looks. It was designed so that every room had a decent view.
The fountains are the real star, though. There are 18 of them. Sarno insisted on them because he wanted the sound of water to drown out the noise of the Strip. He wanted you to feel like you were in an oasis. Honestly, it still works. Even with the traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard, standing near those fountains feels like a different world.
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The Forum Shops and the 90s Revitalisation
In 1992, they added the Forum Shops. This was a game-changer. It was the first time a mall was built inside a casino that people actually wanted to go to. They put in an animatronic show called the "Festival of Fountains" and a sky that changes color to simulate the passing of a day.
It sounds cheesy now, but in the early 90s? It was revolutionary. It proved that Vegas could be a shopping destination, not just a gambling one.
Misconceptions About the Age of Caesars
A lot of people think the hotel is much younger than it is because it looks so well-maintained. Others think it’s one of the "original" 1940s joints. Neither is true.
It sits in that sweet spot of the "Second Wave" of Vegas history. It outlived the Dunes, the Sands, and the Stardust. While those were being imploded, Caesars was just adding more towers. It’s a survivor.
The hotel has changed hands a dozen times. ITT Sheraton, Park Place, Harrah’s, and now Caesars Entertainment. Each owner added their own flavor, but they all respected Sarno’s original Roman theme. Well, mostly. There was a period in the 80s where things got a little "disco-Roman," but they've since pivoted back to a more classic look.
Realities of Building in the Desert
Construction in Vegas in the 60s was a nightmare. You’re dealing with extreme heat and a lack of local materials. Everything had to be trucked in. Sarno was known for walking the site and demanding changes on the fly.
If a statue didn't look "regal" enough, he’d have it torn down. He spent $20,000 on each of the imported statues. In 1966, you could buy a couple of houses for that. He didn't care. He was building a legacy.
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The Impact on the Strip's Layout
Before Caesars, the Strip was pretty linear. You stayed in your hotel and maybe walked next door. Sarno’s palace was so big and had so much going on—from the Circus Maximus showroom to the Bacchanal Room restaurant—that people stayed put.
It forced other casinos to level up. You couldn't just have a dark room with slot machines anymore. You needed a "vibe."
How to Experience the History Today
If you want to see the original "When Was Caesars Palace Built" history for yourself, you have to look for it.
- Visit the Julius Tower: The bones of the 1966 original are still there. The rooms have been renovated a hundred times, but the footprint is the same.
- Check the Statues: Some of the replicas are based on actual museum pieces in Rome. The "Winged Victory of Samothrace" at the entrance is a direct nod to the Louvre.
- The Fountains: They are the same ones Evel Knievel jumped (or tried to jump). Stand on the sidewalk and imagine a guy on a 1960s Triumph motorcycle trying to clear those rows of water. It’s terrifying.
- The Garden of the Gods: The pool complex has been expanded, but it still maintains that tiered, Roman bathhouse feeling that Sarno envisioned.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Visit
Don't just walk through the casino. Take ten minutes to look at the black-and-white photos near the registration desk. They show the hotel when it was surrounded by nothing but dirt and scrub brush.
Pro Tip: If you want the best "old school" feel, grab a drink at the Cleopatra’s Barge (if it’s open for an event) or find a quiet corner in the original casino floor near the Julius Tower elevators. The ceiling heights there are lower than the newer sections, giving you a real sense of that 1960s scale.
The hotel wasn't just "built" in 1966; it was born. And it’s been evolving ever since. Whether you’re there for a poker tournament or just to see the fountains, you’re standing in a piece of architecture that redefined what a vacation looks like.
Next time you're there, look at the lack of an apostrophe. Think about Jay Sarno and his $24 million dream. It’s a reminder that in Vegas, being a little "extra" is exactly what it takes to last for sixty years.
Next Steps for Your Vegas Trip History Tour:
- Compare the Architecture: Head across the street to the Flamingo. It’s the only place older than Caesars that still has a major footprint. You can see the shift from the "Miami-style" 1940s neon to the Roman grandeur of the 60s.
- Locate the Original Entrance: Try to find the original circular driveway. It’s much smaller than the current main valet, but it gives you a sense of how intimate the "Palace" felt when it first opened its doors to the high rollers of the Lyndon B. Johnson era.