Excalibur Hotel and Casino
Encyclopedia
The Excalibur Hotel and Casino is a hotel
and casino
located on the Las Vegas Strip
in Paradise
, Nevada
, in the United States
. It is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International.
Excalibur, named for the mythical sword
of King Arthur
, uses the Arthurian theme in several ways. Its facade is a stylized image of a castle
. Until 2007, a wizard-like figure representing Merlin looked out from a high turret
(since replaced by a figure advertising Dick's Last Resort
).
Excalibur is situated at the Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection
. The hotel is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to neighboring casinos to the north (New York-New York
, across Tropicana Avenue
) and to the east (Tropicana
, across the Strip). There is a free tram
that connects Excalibur to its sister MGM Resorts International properties to the south, Luxor
and Mandalay Bay
.
Excalibur is home to two permanent shows: the all-male revue Thunder From Down Under and the medieval themed dinner show Tournament of Kings. Thunder From Down Under moved to Excalibur in July 2001 and since then has received recognition as one of the best all-male strip shows in Las Vegas. In 2006, the performance space was renamed the "Thunder From Down Under Showroom" in honor of the troupe. Tournament of Kings is a medieval jousting tournament performed with 12 breeds of horses and 32 cast members in a 925-seat amphitheater called King Arthur's Arena. The show includes a banquet feast served by a costumed serf or wench and is meant to be eaten without utensils. Tournament of Kings debuted along with the opening of Excalibur in 1990.
Dick's Last Resort
restaurant opened at Excalibur in June 2007. Dick's is known for its unusual dining experience in which servers purposefully act obnoxious towards guests. Employee "Taco" is considered Dick's mascot and entertains guests with his own version of the Bellagio
fountain show using water dispensers behind the bar. Other restaurants within Excalibur include The Steakhouse at Camelot.
, which was purchased in 2005 by MGM Resorts International. When it opened, Excalibur was the largest hotel in the world with over 4,000 rooms and covering over 70 acres. As of 2009 it was the fifth-largest hotel (by total number of rooms) in Las Vegas, and the seventh-largest hotel worldwide.
Excalibur was originally designed in line with the "theme resort" strategy popular among some casino operators during the 1990s which included the traditional Las Vegas gaming experience coupled with family-oriented elements. However, since 2006 most of the medieval themed statues and scenery have been removed as part of a four-year renovation and modernization project. As of 2010, few of the themed wall murals still remained as Excalibur was updated to include more modern and understated elements, including contemporary furniture and flat-screen plasma TVs in 2,000 renovated guest rooms.
On March 21, 2003, the largest Megabucks Jackpot at the time was hit at Excalibur. The winning jackpot was for US$39.7 million.
and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
. In television productions, Excalibur was the setting for a stunt on the Las Vegas edition of Fear Factor
and was featured in an episode of South Park
called "It Hits the Fan
". Also, season six of Top Chef
contestant Jennifer used Excalibur as the inspiration for one of her meals.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
located on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
in Paradise
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International.
Excalibur, named for the mythical sword
Excalibur
Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain. Sometimes Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone are said to be the same weapon, but in most versions they are considered separate. The sword was...
of King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
, uses the Arthurian theme in several ways. Its facade is a stylized image of a castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
. Until 2007, a wizard-like figure representing Merlin looked out from a high turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
(since replaced by a figure advertising Dick's Last Resort
Dick's Last Resort
Dick's Last Resort is a small bar and restaurant chain in the United States, known for its intentional employment of an obnoxious staff. The name consists of seven restaurants, including one near Petco Park, California and another in Las Vegas...
).
Excalibur is situated at the Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection
Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection
The Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection on the Las Vegas Strip , is noteworthy for several reasons...
. The hotel is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to neighboring casinos to the north (New York-New York
New York-New York Hotel & Casino
New York-New York Hotel & Casino is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip at 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International.-Description:...
, across Tropicana Avenue
Tropicana Avenue
Tropicana Avenue is a major east–west section line arterial in the Las Vegas area. The road is named after the Tropicana Resort & Casino which is located on the Las Vegas Boulevard where it intersects with Tropicana Avenue. Part of it is signed as Nevada State Route 593.-Route description:SR...
) and to the east (Tropicana
Tropicana Resort & Casino
Tropicana Las Vegas is located on the Las Vegas Strip, in the township of Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Resort Inc. and operated by Alex Yemenidjian's Armenco Holdings. It offers 1,658 rooms and is attached to a casino...
, across the Strip). There is a free tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
that connects Excalibur to its sister MGM Resorts International properties to the south, Luxor
Luxor Hotel
Luxor Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The 30-story hotel, which is operated by MGM Resorts International, features a casino floor that includes over 2,000 slot machines and 87 table games....
and Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is a 44-story luxury hotel casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by MGM Resorts International. Five floors of the main hotel building are occupied by the five-star and AAA Five-Diamond Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas...
.
Facilities and attractions
The 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) gaming area at Excalibur consists of both table games and over 1,700 slot machines. In addition to casino space, the Excalibur resort includes a renovated pool area, a 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²) spa and fitness center, the Canterbury Wedding Chapel, the Octane Lounge, a food court and children's attractions.Excalibur is home to two permanent shows: the all-male revue Thunder From Down Under and the medieval themed dinner show Tournament of Kings. Thunder From Down Under moved to Excalibur in July 2001 and since then has received recognition as one of the best all-male strip shows in Las Vegas. In 2006, the performance space was renamed the "Thunder From Down Under Showroom" in honor of the troupe. Tournament of Kings is a medieval jousting tournament performed with 12 breeds of horses and 32 cast members in a 925-seat amphitheater called King Arthur's Arena. The show includes a banquet feast served by a costumed serf or wench and is meant to be eaten without utensils. Tournament of Kings debuted along with the opening of Excalibur in 1990.
Dick's Last Resort
Dick's Last Resort
Dick's Last Resort is a small bar and restaurant chain in the United States, known for its intentional employment of an obnoxious staff. The name consists of seven restaurants, including one near Petco Park, California and another in Las Vegas...
restaurant opened at Excalibur in June 2007. Dick's is known for its unusual dining experience in which servers purposefully act obnoxious towards guests. Employee "Taco" is considered Dick's mascot and entertains guests with his own version of the Bellagio
Bellagio (hotel and casino)
Bellagio is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in the Paradise area of unincorporated Clark County, Nevada, USA and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is owned by MGM Resorts International and was built on the site of the demolished Dunes hotel and casino.Inspired by the...
fountain show using water dispensers behind the bar. Other restaurants within Excalibur include The Steakhouse at Camelot.
History
Excalibur opened on June 19, 1990 and was originally built by Circus Circus EnterprisesMandalay Resort Group
Mandalay Resort Group was a hotel-casino operator based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its major properties included Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and Circus Circus, as well as half of the Monte Carlo. In terms of market capitalization, it was one of the largest casino operators in the world. It was...
, which was purchased in 2005 by MGM Resorts International. When it opened, Excalibur was the largest hotel in the world with over 4,000 rooms and covering over 70 acres. As of 2009 it was the fifth-largest hotel (by total number of rooms) in Las Vegas, and the seventh-largest hotel worldwide.
Excalibur was originally designed in line with the "theme resort" strategy popular among some casino operators during the 1990s which included the traditional Las Vegas gaming experience coupled with family-oriented elements. However, since 2006 most of the medieval themed statues and scenery have been removed as part of a four-year renovation and modernization project. As of 2010, few of the themed wall murals still remained as Excalibur was updated to include more modern and understated elements, including contemporary furniture and flat-screen plasma TVs in 2,000 renovated guest rooms.
On March 21, 2003, the largest Megabucks Jackpot at the time was hit at Excalibur. The winning jackpot was for US$39.7 million.
In popular culture
Excalibur has been featured in several video game and television productions since opening in 1990. Excalibur itself or a hotel resembling Excalibur makes appearances in the video games Driver 2Driver 2
Driver 2: Back on the Streets is the second installment of the Driver video game series.-Gameplay:...
and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
. In television productions, Excalibur was the setting for a stunt on the Las Vegas edition of Fear Factor
Fear Factor
Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
and was featured in an episode of South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
called "It Hits the Fan
It Hits the Fan
"It Hits the Fan" is the first episode of the fifth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 66th episode of the series overall. It first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on June 20, 2001. In the episode, the word "shit" is said uncensored on television on...
". Also, season six of Top Chef
Top Chef (season 6)
Top Chef: Las Vegas is the sixth season of American reality television series Top Chef and was filmed first in Las Vegas, Nevada, and concluded in Napa, California...
contestant Jennifer used Excalibur as the inspiration for one of her meals.
Gallery
External links
- Excalibur Hotel and Casino website
- "Roy Vegas" - photos showing the Dick's Last Resort promotion that replaced Merlin
- Huzzah!: 'Tournament of Kings' is one of only three or four shows on the Strip with genuine family appeal