The Tropicana Las Vegas, a historic casino on the Strip, was demolished earlier this month. The Tropicana is among the most famous demolitions in Las Vegas history, following in the footsteps of other iconic landmarks like the Dune Hotel & Casino, the Landmark Hotel & Casino, the Hacienda Hotel Resort & Casino, the Stardust Resort & Casino, and the New Frontier Hotel & Casino.
The trend of demolishing historic casinos in outlandish fashion started with the implosion of the Dune Hotel & Casino in 1993. The implosion used 650 pounds of dynamite, black rifle powder, and 600 gallons of aviation fuel to create a spectacle that attracted around 200,000 spectators. Since then, it has become a tradition in Las Vegas to destroy historic casinos in grandiose ways.
The Landmark Hotel & Casino was the next to be imploded after the Dune. Inspired by the Space Needle in Seattle, the Landmark featured a flying saucer-style structure at the top of 31 floors. Financial troubles led to its closure and eventual demolition to make way for a parking lot for the Las Vegas Convention Center. The implosion used just 100 pounds of dynamite and attracted around 7,000 spectators.
The Hacienda Hotel Resort & Casino was demolished on New Year’s Eve in 1997 to make way for the Mandalay Bay resort. The Hacienda, which started as a 256-room motor lodge and grew into a 1,200-room resort, struggled to compete with larger resorts on the Strip. Its implosion was broadcast live on the FOX network and attracted 300,000 spectators.
The Stardust Resort & Casino, once the biggest hotel in Las Vegas, was demolished in 2007 to make way for Resorts World. The property, which opened in 1958, hosted famous acts like Siegfried and Roy. The implosion included a four-minute firework show and took more than 20 minutes for the dust to dissipate. The 32-story tower still holds the record as the tallest building to ever be imploded on the Strip.
The New Frontier Hotel & Casino, which opened in 1931, was imploded in 2007 and remains unused to this day. Plans to construct a new resort on the site fell through, and the property was eventually purchased by Wynn Resorts in 2018. The company has not announced any plans for the site yet.
Finally, the Tropicana Las Vegas, one of the last remaining original casinos on the Strip, was demolished earlier this month. The Tropicana was a historic venue that had been a staple of the Las Vegas entertainment scene for decades. Its demolition marks the end of an era for the iconic casino. The iconic Tropicana casino and resort closed its doors in April of this year after 67 years of operation. In its heyday, the Tropicana was a symbol of glitz and glamour in the 1950s, attracting visitors from all over with its luxurious amenities and entertainment offerings. However, the resort also had a darker side, as it was known to have made money for the mob through a partnership between its owner and infamous gangster Frank Costello.
Despite its storied past, the Tropicana fell into disrepair over the years and was no longer considered fit for purpose. In 2022, Bally’s purchased the property for $308 million and announced plans to demolish it in May of 2023. The decision to tear down the Tropicana was made in order to make way for a new 30,000-seater ballpark for the MLB’s Oakland Athletics. Bally’s cited the outdated nature of the resort and the substantial investment required to bring it up to modern standards as reasons for its closure.
The implosion of the Tropicana took place on October 9, 2024, and was a spectacle to behold. A fireworks and drone show accompanied the destruction of the two towers, providing a fitting end to the iconic resort’s legacy. The event was captured on social media, with many expressing awe at the dramatic display and the end of an era.
Overall, the closure of the Tropicana marks the end of an era in Las Vegas history. Once a symbol of glitz and glamour, the resort’s demise highlights the ever-changing landscape of the city’s entertainment industry. While the Tropicana may be gone, its legacy will live on in the memories of those who frequented its halls and experienced the magic of old-school Las Vegas.