Connect with us

Latest

Abandoned resort of Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, other Hollywood stars returns with $298 million remake

Published

on

A historic Lake Tahoe resort once frequented by legendary Hollywood icons as well as political figures is preparing for a comeback after more than a decade of closure.

The Cal Neva Resort, which hosted such stars as Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. — as well as frequent guest Marilyn Monroe — is being redeveloped into the Lake Tahoe Proper Resort and Casino, with a planned reopening in 2027, real estate developer Realberry announced.

Frank Sinatra partially owned the property in the 1960s, according to reports.

LAS VEGAS CASINO CEO REVEALS HOW DINING HABITS ARE EVOLVING AMID TOURISM DROP

Developers recently secured a $298 million financing package to restore the property — marking a major step toward its revival.

“The history of Cal Neva inspired every decision, from the reimagined Circle Bar to the cultural programming we’re bringing back to the theater,” Brad Korzen, co-founder and CEO of Proper Hospitality, told Fox News Digital.

“The design, the casino and the performances are all a nod to that golden era of Hollywood glamour, but translated” for a modern audience, he said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Located along the California-Nevada border, the resort became “a magnet for Hollywood stars,” drawing Monroe, Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., along with political figures such as President John F. Kennedy, developers said.

Monroe is said to have spent her final weekend there in July 1962, shortly before her death, according to FOX 2.

We’re “creating an experience that feels both rooted in history and completely of the moment,” Korzen said.

The showroom’s engineering allowed performers to see every face in the audience, while a network of private tunnels allowed guests to move discreetly throughout the property, creating what developers described as an “aura of glamour and mystique.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

Despite its celebrity past, the resort has faced years of uncertainty.

It closed in 2013 for renovations that never materialized. It later changed ownership multiple times, including a purchase by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison in 2018 before being sold again in 2023, FOX 2 reported.

“With a property as storied as Cal Neva, the approach isn’t about simply re-creating the past, but about being deliberate in what is carried forward,” Chad McWhinney, CEO of Realberry, told Fox News Digital.

Nearly a century after it first opened, the redevelopment aims to “reclaim that legacy” while introducing a new era for the property, the company said.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Plans for the reimagined resort include 197 guest rooms, suites and private villas, along with multiple restaurants and bars, a casino, a spa and event spaces including a restored theater.

Developers say the project is expected to boost tourism and economic activity in the Lake Tahoe region while preserving the resort’s historic character.

McWhinney added, “We are focused on preserving its cultural relevance while shaping a future that feels considered, enduring and deeply connected to Lake Tahoe.”

Continue Reading

Latest

Ro Khanna says DHS must be funded after pressed on WHCD shooting fallout

Published

on

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said Sunday that Congress should maintain full funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) while reiterating his opposition to specific Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spending. The remarks came during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” following an overnight shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington.

When asked by host Kristen Welker if Congress needed to act in response to the violence at the Washington Hilton, Khanna emphasized his support for DHS, but drew a firm line regarding ICE.

“Absolutely, we’ve been funding [DHS]. The Democrats have been saying we want to fund DHS,” Khanna said. “We just don’t want to fund ICE agents for raids against American citizens and immigrants in ways that break the law.”

7 HOUSE DEMOCRATS BREAK WITH JEFFRIES TO PASS DHS FUNDING DESPITE ICE BACKLASH

The congressman appeared on the program the morning after a gunman breached a security checkpoint at the hotel where the annual black-tie event was being held. Authorities confirmed that a suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, was carrying a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives when he was intercepted by Secret Service agents. One agent was struck by a bullet but was saved by a ballistic vest; the agent is expected to make a full recovery.

Khanna condemned the attack and praised the law enforcement officers who intervened.

“It was absolutely horrific,” Khanna said. “I’m so relieved that the president, the First Lady, every administration official, and all the guests are safe. I appreciate law enforcement, particularly the Secret Service agent who was shot, and I hope he makes a full recovery.”

ICE ASSAULTS SPIKE 1,500% AS DEMS DRAW ‘HARD RED LINE’ TO UNMASK AGENTS IN DHS BATTLE

Beyond the immediate investigation, Khanna called for a unified, bipartisan effort to address the rise in domestic political violence.

“We need a bipartisan national commission on political violence in this country,” Khanna suggested. “We should look at social media, mental health issues, and the impact of our political rhetoric. We need to do something to bring the temperature down.”

When asked about his confidence in the Secret Service and FBI investigation, Khanna expressed full support for the agencies while suggesting that security protocols for major Washington events may require a comprehensive review.

ICE HEAD SAYS AGENTS FACING ‘CONSTANT IMPEDIMENTS’ AFTER MIGRANT SEEN RAMMING CARS WHILE TRYING TO FLEE

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

“I do believe they are going to conduct a thorough investigation,” Khanna said. Noting that he has attended similar events, he added that current security configurations could be improved: “It has always struck me as a bit odd that the metal detectors are placed just before the ballroom as opposed to the hotel entrance. Perhaps there are things that need to be fixed.”

Trump addressed the nation following the incident, praising the bravery of the Secret Service and vowing that the dinner will be rescheduled. Officials state that the motive for the attack remains under investigation.

Continue Reading

Latest

Archaeologists pinpoint site of doomed ‘Spanish Roanoke’ colony after unearthing single clue

Published

on

Archaeologists pinpointed the exact location of the so-called “Spanish Roanoke,” a doomed colony that collapsed within years — after they uncovered a single coin that helped confirm the site.

A group of Chilean researchers recently announced the discovery of the exact location of Rey Don Felipe, later known as Port Famine, along the Strait of Magellan in Chilean Patagonia.

The colony was established by King Philip II of Spain in 1584 in an effort to control the strait, a critical passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

LONG-LOST SOLDIER’S GRAVE DISCOVERED AT REMOTE US NATIONAL PARK AFTER 150 YEARS

But within three years, the site was found abandoned and its colonists dead — earning the name Port Famine.

Using metal detection and high-precision geolocation, researchers tracked variations in signal strength across the ground to pinpoint where to dig.

There, they unearthed a coin — a significant find because it was recovered in situ, meaning exactly where it was originally placed.

The find was consistent with historical accounts describing a coin placed as part of a founding ritual.

“We initially detected a very strong signal, but we didn’t know what it was,” Francisco Garrido, an archaeologist at Chile’s National Museum of Natural History, said in a press release.

WARRIORS FOUND STACKED IN ANCIENT WELL REVEAL VIOLENT TALE OF BATTLEFIELD DEFEAT: ARCHAEOLOGISTS

“With the data we gathered, we selected the excavation point — and that’s where we found the coin.”

The silver coin is a real de a coho, or “piece of eight” — commonly used across the Spanish Empire.

Pictures of the more than 400-year-old coin show it has an irregular, hand-cut shape, typical of early Spanish colonial minting.

In a press release, researchers called Port Famine “one of the most tragic and mysterious colonial experiments in the Americas.”

They added, “The discovery highlights the fragility of early colonial ventures, showing how settlements like Rey Don Felipe and Roanoke were shaped by isolation, limited resources, and uncertain support from distant imperial centers.”

LOST 18TH-CENTURY SPANISH MISSION UNEARTHED AFTER DECADES OF SEARCHING OFFERS ‘RARE SNAPSHOT’

The site was discovered in the 1950s, but it hasn’t been excavated in more than half a century, said Soledad González Díaz, a researcher at Bernardo O’Higgins University in Santiago.

González Díaz told Fox News Digital in a translated email that since then, historians have uncovered multiple historical documents, including a 16th-century map — and that survey and analysis technologies “have advanced greatly in precision.”

She added, This demonstrates the importance of returning to already known sites with new questions and tools.”

She also noted that the coin indicates “the exact point where the colonizing project was materialized,” referring to a ceremonial placement described in historical records.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

“Its discovery not only coincides with documentary descriptions, but it also has deep symbolic value, since it forms part of a foundational rite,” added González Díaz.

“These ceremonies were solemn occasions through which the Spanish monarchy marked its presence and took possession of new territories.”

The researcher hopes that the excavation will reveal more why the colony failed — and shed light on the lives of the colonists and Indigenous populations in Patagonia.

“The most widespread version of the story of Rey Don Felipe states that the colony failed due to hunger and desolation. …  While there is some truth to that, the reality was much more complex,” she said.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“What we see instead is a scenario also marked by tensions, conflict and violence — elements that must be incorporated into the analysis in order to understand the failure of the project.”

Despite excavating in a remote environment, the historian noted that her team only faced “logistical challenges, nothing impossible to overcome.”

González Díaz said the project has been documented in audiovisual format from the start — and that the team is working on a documentary set to be released next year.

“The research began in a very spectacular way. During our first campaign, in 2019, two bronze artillery pieces belonging to the expedition came to light,” she added.

“This finding marked a very strong starting point for the work we have carried out since then.”

Continue Reading

Latest

King Charles and Queen Camilla to visit Trump at White House in first US trip as British monarchs

Published

on

King Charles and Queen Camilla have a packed schedule for their first visit to the United States since becoming Britain’s monarchs.

Their visit to the United States marks the first time a British monarch has visited the country since the late Queen Elizabeth visited in 2007 to celebrate the anniversary of the Jamestown settlement.

“The visit will be an opportunity to recognise the shared history of our two nations; the breadth of the economic, security and cultural relationship that has developed since then; and the deep people-to-people connections which unite communities,” reads a press release from the U.K. Embassy.

During their four-day visit, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, the King and Queen will travel to Washington D.C., New York and Virginia, where they will meet with the country’s leaders and different community organizations.

PRINCE HARRY’S BETRAYAL SHATTERED KING CHARLES’ TRUST BEYOND REPAIR: EXPERT

The royals’ visit comes after Washington D.C. was shaken by a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. 

President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, first lady Melania Trump and other top officials were evacuated from the Washington Hilton Hotel ballroom on after a gunman exchanged fire with Secret Service agents in the lobby before being subdued and taken into custody. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen, of Torrance, Calif., shot a Secret Service officer in his ballistic vest before being tackled to the ground.

The Secret Service agent is expected to make a full recovery and was released from the hospital Sunday. Allen is facing federal charges including assaulting a federal officer and using a firearm during a crime of violence, with additional charges possible.

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Sunday, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed that Charles and Camilla’s trip to the US was moving forward despite the shooting.

“Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of Government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned,” the spokesperson said. “The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow,” the spokesperson added.

A palace source told Fox News Digital that Charles and Camilla reached out privately to the president and the first lady “to express their sympathies with all those affected on the night and their gratitude to the security services who prevented further injury.”

The first stop on the royals’ journey will be Washington D.C., where they will be greeted by Trump and Melania, with a private tea at the White House on Monday, April 27.

Also included in their itinerary is a garden party, a ceremonial military review and a bilateral meeting, which the president and king will attend, while the queen and first lady have their own meeting.

“His Majesty, accompanied by The Queen, will deliver an address to Congress,” the press release says. “This will be only the second time a British Monarch has addressed a joint meeting, following Queen Elizabeth II’s speech at the Capitol during a State Visit to the United States, in 1991.”

They will then return to the White House for a state dinner hosted by President Trump and Melania. The following day, the king and queen will leave Washington D.C., but not before laying “a wreath and flowers in honour of the fallen,” to recognize the military alliance between the U.S. and the U.K.

During an interview with the BBC, President Trump showed his excitement for their visit, telling the outlet that King Charles is “a fantastic man” and that he can “absolutely” see the two countries remaining lasting allies.

According to the press release, the royals will then travel from Washington to New York.

“In New York, The King and Queen will undertake engagements reflecting the modern relationship between the UK and the US, including strong economic and cultural ties connecting the British and American people. The visit will also celebrate community initiatives, working to improve the lives of people in New York and across the United States.”

While in New York, the monarchs will visit first responders and families of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

In addition, they will visit an organization that teaches children affected by food insecurity how to farm sustainably, an event for The Queen’s Reading Room as well as an event with business and financial leaders “representing the breadth of the economic relationship driving growth in the UK and the US.”

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

“The King and Queen will conclude their visit to New York at a reception celebrating the work of The King’s Trust in shaping the lives of young people across America, as well as showcasing the cultural links between the US and the UK, including the UK’s world-leading creative industries,” the statement explained.

Charles and Camilla will then travel to Virginia where they will meet with local community organizations, attend performances by local Appalachian groups, which have historical ties to the region, and attend a block party to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

The King will travel next to one of America’s national parks, where he will learn about the programs in place to protect the country’s natural environment, while the Queen will visit a farm and learn of America’s horse racing industry, which has “long-term links with the sport in the U.K.”

Their visit to the United States comes just a few months after the President and First Lady traveled to the U.K. in September 2025, making Trump the first elected political leader to be invited for two U.K. state visits. Trump was previously invited for a state visit in June 2019 by Queen Elizabeth II during his first term as president.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 Political Signal