Excalibur Hotel & Casino: 10 Surprising Facts Revealed on its 35th Anniversary
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Amidst the shimmering lights of the Las Vegas Strip, Excalibur Hotel & Casino stands out—not just for its striking castle turrets but for its role as a vibrant entertainment destination. Nestled near the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Excalibur continues to attract travelers with its combination of gaming, live shows, dining, and family attractions. More than three decades since its grand debut, Excalibur’s distinctive medieval theme remains a fixture on the Strip. As the resort celebrates its 35th anniversary, let’s explore 10 intriguing, and sometimes quirky, facts that define its legacy.
The Birth of a Vegas Fairytale: Excalibur’s Unusual Origins
The land Excalibur now occupies was once tied up in years of development delays. Originally owned by Xanadu Corporation, it was set aside in the 1970s for a massive 1,730-room resort. Yet, disagreements over sewage infrastructure left the property dormant for over a decade.
In May 1988, Circus Circus Enterprises acquired the plot and quickly unveiled plans for an ambitious castle-themed resort. Architect Veldon Simpson and Circus Circus founder William Bennett journeyed to Europe, drawing inspiration from iconic structures, most notably Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle. To ensure originality, the company even consulted trademark experts to avoid duplicating designs from Disney resorts.
The resort’s name was chosen from an extensive contest: from 180,000 submissions came 33,000 unique names—ultimately, “Excalibur” emerged victorious. The castle opened its gates on June 19, 1990, adding a playful medieval landmark to the Strip.
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Highlights and Oddities: 10 Curious Facts About Excalibur
Once the World’s Largest Casino Destination
When it welcomed guests in 1990, Excalibur held the title of the world’s largest casino. This accolade was short-lived, as the nearby MGM Grand surpassed it in scale just three years later. However, Excalibur’s scale still impresses today. The property features 3,981 guest rooms—outnumbering giants like Caesars Palace and the Bellagio—and it remains among the world’s largest hotels.
The Legendary (and Short-Lived) Dragon Show
No medieval castle is complete without a dragon, and Excalibur’s opened with a 70-foot-long animatronic creature that battled the wizard Merlin outside its entrance. The show was ambitious, envisioning even larger dragons at first, but it failed to capture visitors’ imaginations. Voted “worst attraction in Las Vegas” in 2002 and 2003 by local readers, the show was discontinued the same year. Yet, the enormous dragon figure still lingers by the drawbridge, offering lucky visitors a rare glimpse if conditions are right.
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Room Complaints: A Blast From the Less-Desirable Past
While Excalibur’s retro theme is intentional, guests often discover that the décor feels less nostalgic and more outdated. Common grievances include dated rooms, persistent dampness, and musty odors throughout the hotel. Some reviewers highlight difficulties with humidity, unclean carpets, and pervasive cigarette smoke. Despite these drawbacks, many visitors appreciate the prime location and spacious pool facilities, although expectations for modern amenities are not always met.
Family Appeal: Excalibur’s Fun Dungeon Arcade
Beneath the whimsical castle exterior lies a distinctly family-friendly feature: the Fun Dungeon. This lively arcade boasts more than 200 different games, catering to all ages with traditional cabinets, carnival-style challenges, and prize-redemption opportunities—including plush dragons as souvenirs. The Fun Dungeon operates daily, with extended hours on weekends, making it a favorite stop for families seeking non-casino activities during their stay.
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Evolving Tradition: The Iconic Jousting Dinner Show
In true medieval style, one of Excalibur’s signature experiences is its in-house jousting dinner show. Since the hotel’s inception, guests have gathered in a vast 900-seat theater to watch armored performers and horses reenact chivalric battles—while eating with their hands, just as medieval tradition demands.
The original “King Arthur’s Tournament” show ran until 1999 before reemerging as the “Tournament of Kings,” which continues today. Known for its elaborate production (and its legendary Cornish game hen dinners), this spectacle is the Strip’s longest-running dinner show, with more than 6.7 million hens served between 1990 and 2018. The horses are carefully maintained on-site in air-conditioned stables.
Unexpected Entertainment: Thunder from Down Under
Breaking from its medieval motif, Excalibur hosts the high-energy “Thunder from Down Under” revue, featuring Australian male performers in choreographed dance routines. Since 2001, this popular act has performed twelve shows a week in a 400-seat showroom renamed in the group’s honor. The show draws large crowds, thanks to themed routines and a playful atmosphere, cementing it as one of the hotel’s most famous resident acts.
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Dick’s Last Resort: Where Dining Comes With a Side of Sarcasm
For guests craving a unique meal, Dick’s Last Resort serves up both comfort food and cheeky insults from its theatrical waitstaff. Instead of traditional hospitality, visitors here are the target of playful banter, unexpected antics, and custom insults scribbled on paper hats. The eatery also features a quirky, mismatched décor and offers a range of themed souvenirs, from shirts to bumper stickers. For a less confrontational experience, Dick’s menu can even be ordered as room service.
Excalibur and the MGM Rewards Connection
Though once industry rivals, Excalibur and MGM Grand are now under the same resort umbrella. The property was transferred to MGM Growth Properties in 2016, and later acquired by Vici Properties in 2022. Still operated by MGM Resorts under a lease, Excalibur participates in the MGM Rewards loyalty program, enabling guests to accrue rewards points valid across a network of affiliated properties and partner platforms nationwide.
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The Curious Case of the Wrestling Steakhouse
Medieval knights weren’t the only warriors to appear at Excalibur. In 1999, the hotel launched the WCW Nitro Grill, a wrestling-themed restaurant in partnership with World Championship Wrestling. The venue hosted monthly wrestler appearances, weekly television watch parties, and themed décor, occupying 16,000 square feet and costing $2 million to develop. Unfortunately, the grill lasted only 16 months as wrestling’s popularity declined. Today, its former space is now the location of Dick’s Last Resort.
Ongoing Concerns: Reports of Bedbugs
In addition to mythical dragons, real-life pests have been an ongoing issue at Excalibur. Repeated reports of bedbug infestations have emerged over the years, most recently confirmed by health authorities in early 2024. Multiple online testimonials and inspection documents highlight this persistent challenge, so travelers are encouraged to inspect their rooms on arrival for peace of mind.
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Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter for Excalibur
While Excalibur capitalizes on its whimsical medieval nostalgia, Las Vegas continues to evolve with fresh entertainment and massive new projects. In 2025, the hotel added high-tech attractions like the MaxFlight 360 flight simulator, catering to thrill-seekers of all ages. Meanwhile, recent renovations in 2017 modernized guest amenities, helping the property remain competitive amid newer Strip developments.
Major changes are happening just across the boulevard—the New Las Vegas Stadium, soon to host the relocated Oakland Athletics, is under construction on the former Tropicana site. This $1.5 billion project could draw new crowds and opportunities to Excalibur, testing whether the resort’s unique medieval charm and enduring entertainment can thrive for decades to come. The future, like any good fairytale, remains unwritten.
