Las Vegas' iconic Tropicana Casino was reduced to rubble in an elaborate implosion on Wednesday. The 22-storey building, which opened in 1957, was torn down to make way for a baseball stadium. It marked the first implosion in the Sin City in nearly a decade. While it marked the end of an era, its demolition was turned into a party, with a drone and fireworks display at 2:30 am.
Watch Tropicana Las Vegas ‘breathtaking’ implosion
Once known as the “Tiffany of the Strip” for its opulence, the Tropicana was the third-oldest casino on the Las Vegas Strip. It closed its doors in April after welcoming guests for 67 years. Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said, “It’s kind of a celebration of life for all that property has meant to Las Vegas.”
Vegas has not blown up a Strip Casino since 2016. “What Las Vegas has done, in classic Las Vegas style, they’ve turned many of these implosions into spectacles,” said Geoff Schumacher, historian and vice president of exhibits and programs at the Mob Museum, per NPR.
{{/usCountry}}Vegas has not blown up a Strip Casino since 2016. “What Las Vegas has done, in classic Las Vegas style, they’ve turned many of these implosions into spectacles,” said Geoff Schumacher, historian and vice president of exhibits and programs at the Mob Museum, per NPR.
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With the demise of the 300-room Tropicana, the Sahara now stands as the only Strip resort from the 1950s. Following the demolition, an air quality dust advisory was issued as a cloud of “Trop dust” was expected around the area, according to the Clark County Department of Environment & Sustainability.
“We expect the dust could hang around for a few hours, but it won’t likely last for 24 hours,” Division of Air Quality senior specialist Paul Fransioli said in a Tuesday news release. “The dust cloud will be heaviest near the implosion site and will likely dissipate as moves eastward,” the release added.