
As the sun dips below the horizon in Topeka, Kansas, the Evel Knievel Museum prepares to close its doors for the final time in October. As a tribute to the late, great daredevil, the museum hosted exhibits that paid homage to his thrilling and perilous career, capturing the essence of the man who risked his life for the adrenaline-infused thrill of the jump.
However, come sunrise, the museum will resurrect into a new life under the neon glow of Las Vegas’s dazzling strip. The Evel Knievel Museum is poised to take a leap of faith as it transitions to a new home in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Promising to be the crown jewel in the brand-new Mission Linen building at 1001 South 1st St, the museum’s transition represents a full circle journey back to where one of Knievel’s most extraordinary feats took place.
A vision realised by Las Vegas developer J Dapper, the museum’s location will likely prove as iconic as the man who inspired its creation. Although no official date has been announced for the grand opening, the anticipation in the air is palpable.
Decades ago, on a crisp winter day on December 31, 1967, Evel Knievel attempted a daring motorcycle jump over the fountains of Caesars Palace. Spanning 141 feet, it was set to be his most extended jump – a truly spectacular end to the year. However, the plan veered off course, and Knievel launched over his handlebars, skidding into the Dunes parking lot next door.
With a crushed pelvis and femur, multiple hip fractures, two broken ankles and a concussion, Knievel found himself facing a lengthy hospital stay. Despite the near-death experience, Knievel’s audacious stunt catapulted him into legendary status, making his untimely passing in 2007 all the more poignant.
For Knievel’s son and brand owner, Kelly, Las Vegas was the natural choice for the museum’s relocation. “With guts, charisma, and showmanship, he built himself a legacy that’s still going strong 50 years after that crash at Caesars Palace”, Kelly Knievel said in a statement. He also promises visitors a plethora of memorabilia that celebrates the life and spirit of his daring father.
The museum will not only continue to host Knievel’s storied artifacts, but will also add modern, interactive exhibits such as a virtual reality experience, a showcase of Evel’s most grueling X-rays, and a chamber honoring Knievel’s second most renowned jump over the Snake River Canyon in 1974.
However, disappointingly, one artifact will not be making the journey to Sin City – the Triumph Bonneville T12 that Knievel used in his Caesars Palace stunt, which mysteriously disappeared decades ago.
While the Evel Knievel Museum is undeniably the star attraction, the Mission Linen building will also cater to other tastes, housing Mothership Coffee Roasters and a heavy metal-themed pizza concept spearheaded by Las Vegas hospitality entrepreneur Branden Powers.
With the audacious legacy of Knievel, Powers will surely follow in Evel’s tire tracks, continuing to honor the daredevil’s legacy with the same spirit and panache that made Knievel a legend. As the bright neon of Las Vegas prepares to welcome the Evel Knievel Museum, residents and tourists alike eagerly anticipate what promises to be a thrilling ride.