Amidst the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood, lies a peculiar landmark: Lonnie Hammargren’s House. This isn’t just a house. It’s a three-house complex bursting with an eccentric collection that spills into the yard. Lonnie Hammargren, a retired neurosurgeon and former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, has transformed his property into a mesmerizing spectacle. It’s known by several names: “Castillo del Sol,” “Hammargren Home of Nevada History,” and “Paradise Castle.” He even considers it its own country, gifting visitors with faux gold coins bearing his image. Lonnie Hammargren’s House is a testament to a lifetime of collecting, a quirky blend of priceless artifacts, museum pieces, and quirky tchotchkes.
Lonnie Hammargren’s House started as a single home in 1972. Hammargren, a man who collected everything from dinosaur skeletons to Liberace’s staircase, quickly outgrew the space. He acquired the neighboring houses, creating a sprawling 12,000-square-foot estate. The collection grew to include an Apollo space capsule, the Batmobile, a full-size Venetian gondola, and countless other oddities. The first home, Castillo del Sol, even boasts a planetarium and a rooftop observatory. There’s also a replica of an Egyptian tomb where Hammargren reportedly planned to be buried.
The collection within Lonnie Hammargren’s House reflects Hammargren’s varied interests. There are pieces of Las Vegas history, like signs from the city’s mobster era and props from old casinos. Hammargren’s love of space is evident in the Saturn rocket capsule, filled with vintage TVs, and various space-themed paintings. A full-scale fire-breathing dragon sits next to a giant pink egg from one of Liberace’s Easter shows. Mannequins, dressed in various costumes, populate the house, adding to the surreal atmosphere. A full-sized T-Rex and elephant statues grace the backyard, visible from the nearby highway.
Over the years, Lonnie Hammargren’s House became a beloved Nevada Day attraction. For over 20 years, Hammargren opened his home to the public, sharing his unique collection. However, financial struggles eventually forced him to sell the main house and downsize his collection. While the public tours ended, the legend of Lonnie Hammargren’s House lives on. The home was purchased in 2017 by Amber Softing and her husband, Mike, who have continued to add to the collection and share its story online. While they don’t host public tours on Nevada Day anymore, they’ve started their own Halloween tradition, opening the backyard for a spooky, one-night-only event called Monsters at the Manor. Lonnie Hammargren’s House, now Paradise Crest Manor, continues to be a unique and unforgettable piece of Las Vegas history.