David Sandy and Lance Rich Build a Magic Museum at 101 Magic Lane

 A remarkable new home for magic history is taking shape just north of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Illusionists and lifelong collectors David Sandy and Lance Rich are developing 101 Magic Lane, an ambitious museum and performance venue designed to preserve historic illusions while allowing new audiences to experience the wonder of live magic.

According to a recent News-Press NOW feature, Sandy and Rich have spent approximately a year working on the facility and currently hope to open it during the summer of 2027.

Nearly 420 Stage Illusions Await Their Turn

The size of the collection alone makes 101 Magic Lane an extraordinary undertaking.

Nearly 420 stage illusions have reportedly been assembled for the project. Many are currently packed in boxes and cases while construction and restoration work continues. Some pieces need careful repairs, while others carry historical importance because of the magicians who owned or performed them.

That distinction is important. A stage illusion is more than wood, metal, paint and fabric. Each apparatus represents the work of performers, builders and creative minds who contributed to the development of theatrical magic.

By preserving these pieces, Sandy and Rich are also preserving the stories of the people who brought them to life.

More Than a Collection of Magic Tricks

The project is not intended to be a warehouse filled with old props. Sandy and Rich envision a place where visitors can connect with magic through stories, exhibits and live performances.

Earlier reporting by KQ2 in St. Joseph described the museum as a home for their personal collections, with spaces where the two magicians can continue entertaining groups and organizations.

This performance component could help make 101 Magic Lane feel like a living museum. Instead of presenting magic history as something frozen in the past, the venue can show how yesterday’s performers and inventions continue to influence the magic audiences enjoy today.

Specific public-access and tour details are still being developed, but interested visitors can follow the museum’s progress through the 101 Magic Lane social-media pages.

Two Lifetimes Devoted to Magic

Both David Sandy and Lance Rich discovered magic as young children.

Sandy’s fascination began when his father taught him a card trick at the age of six. After performing it for his first-grade classmates, he became captivated by their reactions.

His education in magic later included guidance from respected magician Faucett W. Ross, who taught Sandy that magic should be treated as an art rather than merely a puzzle or collection of secrets.

Sandy’s career eventually took him to prestigious venues including the Magic Castle in Hollywood and The Magic Circle in London. He has also worked as a producer for touring shows, concerts, festivals and major special events.

A profile published by the Performing Arts Association of St. Joseph explains that Sandy’s philosophy centers on helping audiences rediscover a childlike sense of wonder. That same philosophy now appears to be guiding the creation of 101 Magic Lane.

Rich also became interested in magic history at an early age. His collecting interests include important pieces connected to Las Vegas, giving the museum another fascinating historical direction. Las Vegas played an enormous role in turning stage magic into a major entertainment attraction, and artifacts from that history deserve to be documented and protected.

Why Preserving Magic History Matters

Magic can be unusually difficult to preserve.

Props are often altered, repainted, separated from their original documentation or discarded after a performer retires. Without photographs, programs, letters and accurate ownership records, the story behind an illusion can disappear even when the physical apparatus survives.

Restoration also presents a delicate challenge. A historic illusion may need to be stabilized and repaired without erasing the craftsmanship, markings and modifications that reveal how it was used during its performing life.

Projects such as 101 Magic Lane can help protect that history while introducing it to people who might never attend a magic convention or visit a private collection.

The museum may also inspire younger magicians by showing them that the art they practice has a rich history filled with inventors, builders, performers and entrepreneurs.

A Major New Destination for Magic Fans

If the planned summer 2027 opening remains on schedule, 101 Magic Lane could become an important destination for magicians, collectors and families traveling through the St. Joseph area.

The combination of historic artifacts, large-scale illusions and a functioning performance venue gives the project tremendous potential. It can honor the magicians who came before while creating new memories for audiences who may be seeing live magic for the first time.

Sandy and Rich have collected an impressive piece of magic history. Now they are taking the much larger step of building a place where that history can be protected, performed and shared.

That may prove to be their most meaningful illusion of all—not making something disappear, but ensuring that generations of magical history remain visible.