Where Did Siegfried And Roy Live And How Big Is The Estate?
Before magician Roy Horn (pictured right) passed away from the coronavirus on May 8, 2020 at age 75, the Siegfried and Roy performer and his partner, Siegfried Fischbacher (pictured left), lived together in their personal Las Vegas paradise. Known as Little Bavaria, the famous illusionists' oasis spans 100 acres and, as the Las Vegas Weekly noted, the estate isn't "little" by any means. Little Bavaria reportedly consists of "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."
"This is 100 acres, and we have all the water rights, which is why we can build the big pools. We could not build Little Bavaria today," Siegfried told the Las Vegas Weekly. "There are too many restrictions ... Out here, you are not in Las Vegas." According to Siegried, "There is a center house [where] we spend time together. We have houses on each side, one for Roy and one for me. They are like two arms, wrapped around, and we meet in the middle."
Little Bavaria was built more than three decades ago but over the years, the property continued to evolve, much like the pair's relationship. "Las Vegas implodes everything," Siegfried said. "But here, we keep building. We will not be knocked down." That's why, in the years after Roy was attacked by their pet tiger, Mantecore, Siegfried ensured that Little Bavaria offered Roy the ability to move freely about the grounds without struggle.
Siegfried remodeled Little Bavaria after Roy's tiger attack
After Roy Horn (pictured right) was attacked by a pet tiger named Mantecore — something he said was misrepresented by the media — the magician battled the physical limitations of paralysis — the tiger's bite severed his spinal cord. Because Roy had to learn how to walk again, Siegfried Fischbacher (pictured left) made sure Little Bavaria could accommodate his mobility. According to the Las Vegas Weekly, hip-high rails were constructed along the winding sidewalks so Roy would have something firm to grasp on his walks around the property. Siegfried also oversaw the construction of a new house designed to ease Roy's transition.
Thanks to these alterations, Roy was able to live out his final years with complete freedom. "Pain is my best friend," Roy told the Las Vegas Weekly on the 10th anniversary of his attack. "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."
"I am very grateful, every day, for every breath I am taking," Roy said. "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." And for 17 years, he did just that. Roy was a true inspiration.
Fans can't visit Little Bavaria, but they can visit Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden
From Wayne Newton's Casa de Shenandoah to Liberace's mansion, many famous Las Vegas residences have been opened to the public, but when asked if they'd ever allow fans to tour Little Bavaria, Siegfried Fischbacher didn't mince words. "Absolutely not," he told the Las Vegas Sun back in 2015. "This is our private — no, no, no. It's our thing. We've had some offers ... But no, no."
However, Las Vegas natives and tourists can visit Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage, where the two spent their 14-year Las Vegas residency. While it was originally designed to house the animals used in Siegfried & Roy's magic show, the Secret Garden transitioned to a small zoo after their residency ended and still serves as home to their many four-legged family members. So, what exactly does the venue entail?
Siegfried and Roy's Dolphin Habitat continues their dedication to animals
As mentioned, fans can visit the Las Vegas spot that was home to Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn's magic act for over a decade. As the tagline on the Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat website states, "Come face-to-face with some of nature's most exotic and majestic creatures at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Explore, learn and play in an enchanting world of Bottlenose Dolphins, White Tigers, White Lions and Leopards, right in our backyard."
The Dolphin Habitat also aligns with the pair's devotion to animal welfare, as the 2.5-million-gallon home aids bottlenose dolphins that were both rescued or born at the resort. While the venue is currently closed through June 30, 2020 likely due to social distancing guidelines, the habitat welcomed a new baby dolphin named Lady Ace last August, marking four generations of dolphins at the habitat, per the site.
"The certification of Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat ... demonstrates to the public their impressive leadership as a responsible, humane steward of the animals living in its care," American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert said (per American Humane). And now it represents a piece of Roy Horn's amazing legacy!