Video: Historic Tropicana Casino Imploded to Make Way for New Beginnings

The iconic Tropicana Las Vegas Casino was reduced to rubble early Wednesday morning. The implosion, which took place at around 2:30 a.m. local time, marked the end of an era for the historic casino that had been a staple on the Las Vegas Strip for nearly 70 years.

A Night to Remember

The event was nothing short of a spectacle, featuring a dazzling display of drones and fireworks lit up the Vegas sky. Geoff Schumacher, historian and vice president of exhibits and programs at the Mob Museum, remarked, “What Las Vegas has done, in classic Las Vegas style, they’ve turned many of these implosions into spectacles.”

Crews imploded the historic Tropicana casino hotel on the Las Vegas Strip after more than 65 years of operation: https://t.co/J6LVecg42D pic.twitter.com/Li8Xp78QIg

— FOX 12 Oregon (@fox12oregon) October 9, 2024

The Tropicana’s two hotel towers came crashing down in a controlled demolition that lasted approximately 22 seconds. The implosion was part of a seven-minute celebration involving 550 drones and 150 “pyrodrones” that counted down to the moment of destruction.

After the demolition of the 300-room Tropicana, the Sahara is now the only Strip resort from the 1950s.

Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, reflected on the event’s importance, saying, “It’s kind of a celebration of life for all that property has meant to Las Vegas.”

A New Chapter for Las Vegas

The demolition of the Tropicana clears the way for a new $1.5 billion baseball stadium for the Oakland Athletics, who are relocating to Las Vegas. This move is part of the city’s transformation into a central sports hub. “This is what Vegas is,” said Marco Robinson, a bartender who has worked in the town for four decades. “You just have to embrace it”.

A Storied Past

Opened in 1957, the Tropicana was once known as the “Tiffany of the Strip” for its luxury and was a frequent haunt of the legendary Rat Pack. Its past under the mob cemented its place in Las Vegas lore. “The Tropicana’s original low-rise hotel wings survived the many renovations, making it the last true mob structure on the Strip,” noted Schumacher.

#WATCH : The Tropicana Hotel and Casino building was demolished last night in Las Vegas

The demolition was accompanied by a 7-minute fireworks and 700 drone show.

Now they plan to build a baseball stadium on the site of the Tropicana.#TropicanaHotel #Casino #LasVegas… pic.twitter.com/E5lsRclFlp

— upuknews (@upuknews1) October 10, 2024

Looking Forward

As the dust settles, Las Vegas looks ahead to its future. Jordan McCall, a local warehouse worker, summed up the sentiment of many residents: “I’m excited about the changes coming to Vegas. You just have to embrace it”.