Tropicana Las Vegas is set to be imploded in late 2024. Mark Loizeaux, president of Controlled Demolition, Inc who has handled many Las Vegas implosions previously, confirmed to a local Vegas news channel on Thursday. This will be the 15th major Las Vegas casino implosion property demolition since 1993, while others were simply torn down.
Let’s look back at some of the best Las Vegas casino implosions. These dramatic demolitions provide great memories for those who visited the casinos when they were open. Las Vegas was built on these memories and implosions are a great way to mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. It would be a shame if the Tropicana doesn’t receive a grand send-off but that’s just my opinion.
Stardust
Boyd imploded Stardust in 2007 to make room for Echelon Place. The project was supposed to be similar to City Center but was never built. Resorts World now occupies this land.
Dunes
Dunes was imploded to make way for Bellagio in 1993. The casino was gone before I visited Las Vegas but I think about it often thanks to the closing scene from Ocean’s 11. After a short fireworks show, the implosion of the north tower of the casino was started by a cannonball shot from Treasure Island.
Landmark
The Landmark implosion in 1995 might be the most well-known because of the visual experience. The building doesn’t look like a normal hotel and seeing it crumble to the ground is different than all of the other more famous Las Vegas casino implosions.
Sands
Sands came down in 1996 so The Venetian could rise. Many people remember this casino as the home of the Rat Pack. Like many of the casinos that were imploded, this is my main memory of Sands.
Riviera
The Riviera was imploded with a plan that the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) could expand to the Vegas Strip. Well, the LVCVA didn’t expand that far and the land was sold. Unlike the other implosions here, I visited the Riviera. I wish I didn’t but that’s another story.
Aladdin
I’m familiar with Aladdin because the version of the property that was built after this implosion became Planet Hollywood. My first visit to Planet Hollywood was while it was being de-themed from Aladdin. When I first started visiting Las Vegas, it became my home base. I’ll get into that another time but we’re here for the BOOM today.
El Rancho
Let’s end this look at Las Vegas casino implosions with the land where the newest Vegas Strip casino recently opened. Fontainebleau now stands where El Rancho used to operate.
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Marc grew up on the mean streets of the South Bronx. He's the rare combination of Yankees and Jets fan which explains his often contrarian point of view. He learned about gambling at a young age working down the street from a bookie who took action on anything from the mainstream sports to the last three digits of the purse for certain horse races. Yeah, that's a thing. Today Marc is a freelance writer and social media consultant which allows him to work anywhere there's a wifi signal. This allows him to work from the sportsbook at Red Rock Resort or the food court at The Venetian where you’ll find fast and free wifi. Writing about steak, booze, gambling and Las Vegas is a tough job but somebody has to do it.
