Las Vegas Strip
WATCH: Las Vegas bids farewell to the Tropicana with spectacular celebration, implosion

by: Justin Walker
Posted: Oct 8, 2024 / 06:42 PM PDT
Updated: Oct 9, 2024 / 06:13 AM PDT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The seconds ticked away early Wednesday morning until the husk of the Tropicana Las Vegas resort, deserted since its April 2024 closing date, met a final and spectacular end, bringing to a close the era of the 67-year-old structure once a bastion for visitors from across the country.

The Las Vegas classic came down in style with a seven-minute celebration involving 550 drones and 150 “pyrodrones” counting down to the controlled demolition of the resort originally erected in 1957.

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Phil Grucci, CEO and president of Fireworks by Grucci, previewed the celebration ahead of the demolition, revealing that the show will feature images of the Tropicana logo, the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, and a tribute to the Athletics franchise, whose proposed $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat ballpark could open in the footprint of the former Tropicana in time for the 2028 season.

What else will occupy the 35-acre site, aside from the 9-acre stadium, is a mystery. In July, Bally’s, the company that controlled most of the site, entered into a merger agreement with its top stockholder, Standard General.

A total of 917,400 square feet will be imploded with the use of nearly 2,200 pounds of explosives. The demolition sequence will begin with the implosion of the 23-story Paradise Tower and end with the implosion of the 23-story Club Tower. It’s expected both buildings will collapse within 22 seconds after the implosion button is pressed, according to the Bally’s Corporation news release.


Tropicana Las Vegas opened in 1957. (Credit: Bally’s Corporation)


Tropicana Las Vegas prior to the grand opening. It was the only property at the Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Blvd. intersection. (Credit: Bally’s Corporation)


Aerial View of the Tropicana. (Credit: Bally’s Corporation)

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Countdown to Tropicana implosion

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25,671 views Oct 8, 2024
Countdown to Tropicana implosion

The Trop is dropped: See the implosion from every angle

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352K subscribers

40,042 views Oct 9, 2024
The seconds ticked away early Wednesday morning until the husk of the Tropicana Las Vegas resort, deserted since its April 2024 closing date, would meet a final and spectacular end, bringing to a close the era of the 67-year-old structure once a bastion for visitors from across the country.

The Las Vegas classic was set to come down in style with a seven-minute celebration involving 550 drones and 150 “pyrodrones” counting down to the controlled demolition of the resort originally erected in 1957.

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