the evel knievel experience

What the evel knievel experience does

The Evel Knievel Experience operates a single 31,000+ square foot immersive attraction in the Las Vegas Arts District at 1001 S 1st Street, showcasing the life and legacy of daredevil Evel Knievel through a combination of authentic physical artifacts and interactive media. Its collection includes more than 100 artifacts and 75 exhibits, anchored by Big Red (a fully restored Mack truck), the 1967 Caesars Palace helmet, and the Snake River Skycycle, supported by interactive exhibits such as a Jump Planner (which lets visitors experiment with stunt variables) and a Broken Bones exhibit. The attraction's signature technology element is a 4D virtual reality motorcycle jump sold as a $15 add-on to general admission. The Evel Knievel trademarks are licensed from K&K Promotions, Inc., making the brand rights themselves a licensed input rather than owned IP.

The business model is direct-to-consumer and venue-based, monetized across four streams: (i) timed-entry admission tickets purchased primarily online with discounts for youth, seniors, locals, military, and groups of 8+, (ii) the $15 VR 4D Jump upcharge, (iii) merchandise sales (apparel, collectibles, toys, accessories) through an on-site gift shop and a separate e-commerce storefront, and (iv) private-event bookings (corporate events, birthdays, anniversaries, team gatherings) in the 30,000+ sq ft venue. Marketing is multi-channel: a content blog, The Thrill Show podcast, organic social, and significant earned media coverage in Nevada and national outlets. The customer base is segmented into families, longtime Evel Knievel fans/nostalgists, general Las Vegas tourists seeking non-gambling entertainment, and corporate/private event hosts.

The company traces to a 2019 founding in Topeka, Kansas, where Lathan McKay (a collector), Mike Patterson (Historic Harley-Davidson), and attorney Jim Caplinger built the original 12,000 sq ft museum and won a THEA Award from the Themed Entertainment Association that year. Following Caplinger's unexpected passing, the team — joined by Joe Pennington and Rob Steele — relocated and scaled the operation to Las Vegas, with the grand opening on June 27, 2026. The company remains privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent company.

Name

the evel knievel experience

Legal name

Evel Knievel Experience

Website

https://ekexperience.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Evel Knievel Experience is a privately held Las Vegas immersive attraction operating under license from K&K Promotions, Inc., featuring 75+ exhibits and 100+ authentic Evel Knievel artifacts in a 31,000+ sq ft venue, monetized via timed-entry tickets, a $15 4D VR jump add-on, merchandise, and private events, serving Las Vegas tourists, families, fans, and corporate event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from admission tickets to the immersive attraction. Timed-entry tickets are available for purchase online in advance or on-site. Children 5 and under receive free admission.
2. VR Experience Add-on: High-adrenaline virtual reality 4D jump experience available as a $15 add-on to general admission.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of official Evel Knievel merchandise including apparel, collectibles, accessories, drinkware, jewelry, print items, toys, and souvenirs through on-site shop and online store.
4. Private Events: Revenue from hosting private events including corporate events, team gatherings, birthday parties, anniversaries, and other celebrations in the 30,000+ square foot venue space.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Evel Knievel Experience operates a 31,000+ square foot immersive museum and attraction dedicated to the life, career, and cultural legacy of legendary daredevil Evel Knievel. Visitors self-guide through 75+ exhibits featuring 100+ authentic artifacts, interactives, and a signature 4D virtual reality jump experience, with paid add-ons, merchandise sales, and private event hosting as supplemental offerings.

Product overview

The Evel Knievel Experience is a single immersive attraction in Las Vegas combining an interactive museum, authentic artifacts, and VR experiences. The core product is the 31,000+ square foot attraction featuring exhibits including Big Red (restored Mack truck), the Virtual Reality 4D Jump ($15 add-on), Caesars Palace Helmet, Jump Planner interactive exhibit, Broken Bones exhibit, and the Snake River Skycycle. Supplementary offerings include The Thrill Show podcast, private event hosting, and an online merchandise shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Most visitors spend approximately 90 minutes exploring the self-guided experience
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Historic Harley-Davidson (Topeka, Kansas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Patterson family's Harley-Davidson dealership in Topeka where Big Red restoration was led by Mike Patterson, Chuck Stover, and Todd Williams. The restoration team of over 90 individuals contributed to bringing Big Red back to life.
• Jim CaplingercoreOthersTopeka attorney who joined Lathan McKay and Mike Patterson as co-founder, helping secure the vision and expand the collection to museum-worthy status. Passed away unexpectedly during the transition to Las Vegas.
• Rob SteeleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusinessman who acquired Evel Knievel's vintage 1970s yacht and connected with Lathan McKay. Joined the team in Las Vegas as part of the next chapter.
• Trump International HotelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred lodging partner offering exclusive discounted rates for Evel Knievel Experience visitors through a booking link.
• The Plaza HotelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred lodging partner offering exclusive discounted rates for Evel Knievel Experience visitors using promo code EVEL.
• Wynn Las VegasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred lodging partner offering discounted rates using Block Code 6EVE0626 for Evel Knievel Experience visitors.
• Station Casinos PropertiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred lodging partner offering discounted rates using promo code EKNIEVEL for Evel Knievel Experience visitors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Merlin Entertainments: Global entertainment operator running LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, and other attractions. Comparable as a large-scale portfolio operator of branded tourist attractions with similar ticketing, merchandise, and event-based monetization.
• Universal Destinations & Experiences: Global theme park operator with immersive branded experiences, VR/AR attractions, and THEA Award recognition. Cited alongside the Evel Knievel Experience at the 2019 THEA Award, providing benchmark for the broader immersive-attractions competitive set.
• Walt Disney Parks and Resorts: Global operator of theme parks known for immersive themed experiences, interactive attractions, and THEA Award-winning innovation. Cited directly as an industry peer via the 2019 THEA Award, relevant for benchmarking experience quality rather than scale competition.
• Madame Tussauds: Global wax-museum chain operating tourist-focused attractions featuring authentic celebrity memorabilia and figures in major cities including Las Vegas. Directly comparable as a paid-admission immersive museum attraction with merchandise sales and a similar tourist customer base.

Emerging players

• Meow Wolf: Immersive art experience company featuring large-scale interactive installations in multiple cities. Comparable as an immersive, technology-enabled themed attraction monetized through timed-entry tickets and merchandise with multi-location expansion ambitions.

Regional players

• The Neon Museum: Las Vegas museum dedicated to preserving iconic neon signs and Las Vegas history. Comparable as a single-location Las Vegas museum attraction focused on a specific cultural/historical subject with paid admission and event hosting.

Direct peers

• Area15: Las Vegas-based immersive entertainment and retail complex featuring themed experiences, art installations, and VR attractions. Comparable as a Las Vegas immersive-experience destination targeting tourists seeking non-gaming entertainment with technology-driven interactive elements.
• Ripley's Believe It or Not!: Chain of oddity/experience museums featuring unusual artifacts, interactive exhibits, and themed attractions in tourist destinations. Comparable as a single-IP themed museum attraction monetized through tickets, add-on experiences, photos, and gift shops.
• National Automobile Museum: Museum in Reno, Nevada featuring over 200 historic vehicles and automotive memorabilia with paid admission and event hosting. Comparable as a niche-themed museum attraction focused on vehicular Americana with authentic artifact collections.
• The Mob Museum: National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement in downtown Las Vegas featuring authentic artifacts, interactive exhibits, and a themed speakeasy. Comparable as a Las Vegas single-location museum attraction monetized through tickets, events, and merchandise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@theevelknievelmuseum6178

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about the evel knievel experience