Las Vegas bid farewell to the Tropicana with an elaborate implosion that took place before dawn on Wednesday. The iconic hotel towers were demolished in a celebration that included a fireworks display, marking the end of an era for the last true mob building on the Las Vegas Strip. This implosion was the first in nearly a decade for a city that is known for its love of fresh starts and casino implosions that have become a part of its identity.
Former casino mogul Steve Wynn revolutionized the way Las Vegas demolishes casinos in 1993 with the implosion of the Dunes to make way for the Bellagio. His creative approach to the implosion, including televising the event and creating a fantastical story for the demolition, set a new standard for future implosions in the city. Since then, there has been a sense in Las Vegas that witnessing destruction on that scale is worth the spectacle.
The implosion of the Tropicana cleared the land for a $1.5 billion baseball stadium for the relocating Oakland Athletics, part of the city’s rebranding as a sports hub. This demolition leaves only the Flamingo as the remaining mob-era structure on the Strip, although the casino was completely rebuilt in the 1990s. The Tropicana, once known as the “Tiffany of the Strip” for its opulence, closed in April after 67 years of welcoming guests and hosting legendary figures like the Rat Pack.
The Tropicana opened in 1957 with three stories and 300 hotel rooms, undergoing major changes over the years as Las Vegas evolved into a city of megaresorts. The casino’s ties to organized crime, particularly through reputed mobster Frank Costello, are part of its storied history. Federal authorities investigated mobsters in Kansas City in the 1970s, resulting in charges related to skimming gambling revenue from Las Vegas casinos, including the Tropicana. Despite its past, the Tropicana remained a beloved vintage relic of old Vegas for many fans.
There were no public viewing areas for the implosion event, but fans of the Tropicana had a chance in April to bid farewell to the historic casino. The demolition of the last true mob building on the Strip marked the end of an era in Las Vegas, as the city continues to evolve and rebrand itself as a sports hub. The implosion of the Tropicana was a symbolic moment for the city, showcasing its ability to embrace change while preserving the rich history that has made Las Vegas an iconic destination for entertainment and gambling.
