LATE magic legends Siegfried & Roy’s Las Vegas palace has been demolished after being left to rot just four and five years after each died.
The iconic Jungle Palace fell into disrepair after homeless squatters moved in, leaving rubbish scattered across the estate.
Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn’s estate was once full of life with extravagant decor and big cats roaming the grounds.
But it has sadly been demolished after being abandoned following the duo’s deaths.
A tour organizer who knew the couple well, René Meinert, said: “It hurts like hell to have to watch these historic houses being simply demolished.”
The impressive property was built in the 1954 and featured a number of animal enclosures, as well as a bird sanctuary.
The 8,750-square-foot estate included a main house, three guest houses, two detached studios, three swimming pools and a jacuzzi.
The main house had two bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as its own jacuzzi and a pool.
The premises also included its very own casita and a cabana.
The magicians moved into the lavish estate in 1982 to give their beloved lions and tigers a place to roam free.
Roy even allowed the big cats to sleep in his bed and would often swim with them in the pool.
They adorned their house with valuable Persian rugs, crystal candle holders, ornately carved baroque furniture, a clock once owned by Napoleon, golden candelabras, and a jewel-encrusted sword believed to have been owned by Genghis Khan.
The estate was sold for $1.87 million in 2022 after Siegfried died from pancreatic cancer.
Roy Horn died a year prior after suffering complications from Covid.
A year later it changed hands again and was sold for $3million to Carden International Circus owners, Brett and George Carden.
The Carden’s planned to turn the property into a tourist attraction and had a grand vision for an “entertainment venue and museum”.
But sadly these plans never came to light and the estate fell into disrepair.
Homeless squatters began living in the property, leaving rubbish scattered across the grounds.
Photos from inside the grounds show prescription drugs, shopping carts, beer bottles and food remnants on the abandoned floors.
Disused clothing, rough sleeping arrangements and tattered furnishings can also be seen.
Who were Siegfried and Roy?
- Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn were German-American entertainers who performed an animal-based magic show together as Siegfried & Roy.
- Siegfried was the magician and Roy was the animal trainer.
- The pair met in 1959 while working on a cruise ship and soon began performing together on ships and in European clubs and theatres.
- In 1967 they began performing in Las Vegas – headlining a show at the iconic venue The Mirage.
- Their acts featured exotic animals including white lions and white tigers.
- But after 5,750 performances their performing career came to an end in 2003 when Roy was injured by a tiger during a show.
- The couple were thought to be romantically involved, living together at Jungle Palace, a Moroccan-themed 8-acre estate in the Las Vegas area.
- Siegfried died in January 2021 and Roy died in May 2020.
- The pair was also known as Masters of the Impossible.
Siegfried & Roy were a pair of German magicians best known for their illusions and acts with tigers.
The duo first met while working on a cruise ship in 1957.
Roy felt underwhelmed by Siegfried’s magic tricks and decided to smuggle a cheetah onboard before their next voyage.
The pair went on tour and performed at clubs and theatres around Europe.
The entertainers made their Las Vegas debut in 1967 and became a headline act at the iconic venue The Mirage.
Roy was famously attacked by a white tiger named Mantecore during performance at the Mirage Las Vegas in 2003 – leaving him partially paralyzed.
This marked the pair’s 5,750th performance.
It wasn’t until March 1, 2009 that they reappeared on stage for a benefit show.
