After 67 years, the Tropicana, once a gem of Las Vegas' history, has permanently closed its doors. Demolition is set for October to pave the way for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium for the relocating Oakland Athletics, marking Las Vegas' transformation into a sports entertainment hub.
Let's reflect on some pivotal moments from the vibrant history of the Strip's third-oldest casino.
When the Tropicana opened on April 4, 1957, it stood as the Strip's most opulent and costly casino. With a price tag of $15 million, the three-story building boasted 300 rooms split into two wings, forming a Y-shaped footprint.
Each room featured a balcony, and a half-moon pool nestled amidst lush landscaping and towering palm trees adorned the space between the resort's wings.
Earned the moniker "Tiffany of the Strip" for its lavishness, the Tropicana attracted over 12,500 attendees to its grand opening.
The casino underwent significant expansions over the years, including the opening of the Tiffany Tower in 1979, later renamed the Paradise Tower, and the Island Tower in 1986.
Behind its glamorous façade, the Tropicana had ties to organized crime, particularly through reputed mobster Frank Costello. In the 1970s, federal authorities charged over a dozen mob operatives, including some connected to the Tropicana, with conspiring to skim nearly $2 million in gambling revenue from Las Vegas casinos.
One of the Tropicana's most iconic attractions was the topless revue "Folies Bergere," which premiered in 1959 and ran for nearly 50 years.
Featuring elaborate costumes, stage sets, original music, and performances by renowned entertainers like Elvis Presley, Siegfried and Roy, and Lance Burton, "Folies Bergere" became synonymous with the Tropicana's entertainment legacy.
The Tropicana also left its mark on pop culture, with scenes from "The Godfather" and the James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever" filmed on its premises.
The casino played host to A-list celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr. In 1998, Robbie Knievel set a record by jumping his motorcycle 231 feet over a row of 30 limousines at the Tropicana.
During the tragic Las Vegas mass shooting in October 2017, the Tropicana provided refuge for thousands fleeing gunfire from the nearby Mandalay Bay.
Although its doors are now closed, the Tropicana will forever be remembered as a Las Vegas landmark, embodying the city's resilience and spirit in the face of adversity.