Caesars Palace Demolishes Iconic Rotunda for 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix

It’s the end of an era for a famed structure on the Las Vegas Strip.

The rotunda at Caesars Palace will soon be demolished, according to a permit issued by the city. This 5,006-square-foot Roman-themed structure, visible from the Strip, has welcomed guests for decades as they entered the historic casino. The upcoming demolition—projected to cost $157,500—will also remove the surrounding landscaping, pillars, statues, and obelisk.

This newly vacant space will make way for the much-anticipated Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, scheduled for November 16-18, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Caesars Palace first opened on August 5, 1966, bringing an opulent and international flair to the City of Lights. While the rotunda once linked a walkway to the main entrance of the casino, it has remained closed for several years. In light of the demolition news, the Review-Journal reported that the rotunda was “not in the original plan” and was “really just aesthetics.”

On social media, some travelers are saying goodbye to the landmark. One individual shared in a Facebook post that “a lot of people don’t want to see it go.” Another traveler reminisced about taking their engagement photos in front of the rotunda, expressing disappointment that “now it’s getting demolished for a race.”

Furthermore, other casinos and hotels along the Strip have already announced retrofits and new constructions to create viewing areas for the F1 race. For instance, the Bellagio Hotel & Casino revealed the Bellagio Fountain Club viewing experience earlier this year, while Wynn Las Vegas introduced the Paddock Club for a VIP experience along Las Vegas Boulevard.

iBestTravel reached out to Caesars Entertainment, which owns Caesars Palace, for a statement but has not received a response at the time of publishing this story.