Las Vegas Casinos Myths Busted: The Evel Knievel Attempt at Caesars Palace

Surprisingly, Evel Knievel did not nearly die from his infamous jump.
Although he sustained multiple injuries, Knievel remained conscious during and after the crash.
PR manipulation by Caesars’ founder enhanced the drama surrounding Knievel’s crash.

On December 31, 1967, Evel Knievel attempted one of his most legendary stunts, aiming to leap 141 feet over the Caesars Palace fountain, a feat that would become part of the high-stakes lore surrounding Las Vegas casinos. Tragically, he fell just one foot short of his target. Rather than a smooth landing, his back tire clipped the edge of the ramp, sending him somersaulting through the air and rolling chaotically for approximately 60 yards across the Dunes parking lot pavement.

Evel Knievel is shown attempting to jump the fountains at Caesars Palace in 1967. (Image: Las Vegas News Bureau)

Notably, media reports suggested that Knievel was unconscious for a month following the accident, an embellishment that was later shown to be exaggerated. At the time, he was not yet a household name; thus, coverage was minimal. However, the near-death narrative surrounding his injury would contribute significantly to his rise in fame.

Evel Knievel’s body acted like a rag doll tossed from a speeding car. (Image: Gravitas Ventures)

Contrary to popular belief, Knievel broke his femur, hip, pelvis, a wrist, and both ankles while also suffering a concussion. Remarkably, he never actually lost consciousness during the event, nor was he in any life-threatening danger. Reports later revealed that he was not even admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) following his injury.

As his wife Linda revealed in the documentary Being Evel, Knievel did often embellish the details of his injuries for publicity. Friends recalled him playing up his situation to generate media interest. In addition, recent insights from Caesars founder Jay Sarno’s son revealed that Sarno had a role in shaping the narrative. Sarno reportedly directed hospital staff to inform the press that Knievel was “barely hanging on” to generate attention.

The Role of Caesars Palace

At a recent architectural festival, Sarno Jr. recounted how his father’s efforts helped to shape the myth. The elder Sarno recognised that a headline like, ‘Moron Blows Jump!’ lacked pizzazz compared to, ‘Man Almost Dies After Jump!’

Evel Knievel poses near the fountain that launched him to stardom. (Image: Las Vegas News Bureau)

Although Sarno’s son was only a child at the time, he vividly recalled the chaos surrounding Knievel’s crash. Others in attendance at the hospital were frightened, and there were many rumors circulating about his fate.

The truth is that Knievel embarked on a legendary career, completing at least 65 more jumps following the jump at Caesars Palace, including his ill-fated 1974 attempt over the Snake River Canyon. He officially retired from the stunt game in 1980, leaving a remarkable legacy behind him. Knievel passed away in Clearwater, Florida, on November 30, 2007, at the age of 69.

Summary: Evel Knievel’s jump over the Caesars Palace fountain is one of the most legendary stunts in history. Despite near-fatal myths that arose, evidence shows he was not critically injured and played up his accident for publicity. This narrative continues to capture the imagination of fans and reinforce the larger-than-life persona that Knievel cultivated throughout his career. Keep an eye out for more Vegas myths as they are busted every Monday on Casino.org.