Historical Photos of the Now-Imploded Las Vegas Tropicana Hotel

Oct 09, 2024

Jaron Schneider

Aerial view of a large, round hotel and casino complex surrounded by desert. Adjacent is an outdoor swimming pool scene with sunbathers on lounge chairs, palm trees, and a few people in the water.

Early this morning, October 9, the historic Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas was imploded to make way for the new A’s Major League Baseball park. The hotel had been a mainstay on the Las Vegas strip for over 60 years.

The Tropicana Hotel — which the Bally’s Corporation says was often referred to as “The Trop” — first opened its doors in 1957 by Miami-based businessman Ben Jaffe, which goes a long way toward explaining the South Beach-inspired architecture and tropical theme. At the time, the Tropicana was considered the standard in Las Vegas for opulence and luxury and was even called “The Tiffany of the Strip,” Bally’s says.

A black and white photo of a mid-century modern building with a large overhanging roof, labeled "Tropicana." Several vintage cars are parked in front, and tall palm trees stand nearby. The sky appears clear above the structure. — August 13, 1956 | Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

When it opened, the Tropicana had the largest casino in Las Vegas and thus regularly drew a crowd of elites, celebrities, and high-rollers.

A group of men in suits and a woman in a dress participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The woman is standing in the center, holding scissors to cut the ribbon. Confetti is scattered on the floor, and a glass door is in the background. — The Tropicana’s opening ribbon cutting ceremony, photographed April 3, 1957 | Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

Aerial view of a mid-20th century desert motel complex with a circular central building and surrounding wings. Sparse traffic on nearby roads, a billboard, and distant mountains under a cloudy sky. — An aerial view captured May 4, 1957 |Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

“For over six decades, the Tropicana Las Vegas has remained an iconic fixture on the Strip, representing the evolution of entertainment, luxury, and gaming in the city,” Bally’s says.

A woman in a vintage swimsuit lies on a diving board, smiling and looking away from the camera. The backdrop features a "Hotel Tropicana" sign, a swimming pool, and palm trees, with a sunny sky overhead. — Rhonda Fleming at the Tropicana pool, taken June 13, 1957 | Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

Three men in suits stand together, smiling and engaged in conversation in front of a doorway. One is holding a cigarette. The image is in black and white, with "Tropicana Las Vegas" written at the bottom left corner. — Eddie Fisher, Eddie Cantor and Sammy Davis Jr. | Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

“From its Rat Pack-era heyday and the glamorous Folies Bergère to now the future home of the Athletics and a cutting-edge entertainment complex by Bally’s Corporation, the Tropicana’s history reflects the spirit of reinvention and excitement that defines Las Vegas.”

A black and white photo of the Tropicana hotel in Las Vegas, featuring a large Tiffany-style chandelier structure. A marquee advertises a revue with performers Celeste Holm and Dick Shawn. The foreground has palm trees and landscaping. — Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

A black and white photo of a mid-century modern building with a prominent overhang and the word "Tropicana" illuminated on the side. Palm trees line the right side, and classic cars are parked under the canopy against a cloudy sky. — April 22, 1957 | Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

The Tropicana didn’t remain the same throughout its over six-decade lifespan. It saw multiple renovations through the decades. In 1979, it expanded with the construction of a new tower which added 600 rooms and a $1 million glass ceiling over the casino floor.

An aerial black-and-white image of a large resort complex surrounded by a desert landscape. The hotel's circular and rectangular structures are visible, along with a pool area and palm trees. The scene includes parking lots and nearby roads. — Aerial photo of the hotel taken on March 16, 1961 | Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Aerial view of a mid-20th century hotel and golf course in a desert setting, featuring a large building with a terrace, neatly maintained lawns, and several parked cars. The background shows a road, sparse buildings, and distant mountains. — Tropicana Country Club, golf course and hotel as photographed by Don English on April 12, 1962. | Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Black and white photo of a mid-century outdoor pool scene with people sunbathing on lounge chairs, children swimming, and palm trees in the background. The setting has a vintage, relaxed atmosphere. — The Tropicana Hotel Pool, photographed on July 16, 1964 | Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

A vintage black and white photo of the Tropicana sign in Las Vegas at night, featuring advertisements for "Folies Bergere" and performances by Pete Fountain and Mary Kaye Trio. The sign is illuminated, highlighting the names and events. — Taken November 24, 1969 | Photo by the Las Vegas News Bureau for the Nevada Power Company and provided courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

The hotel changed hands multiple times throughout its long life, the last taking place in 2022 when Bally’s acquired the hotel for $148 million. While it was imploded this morning, the Tropicana closed to the public six months ago on April 2, 2024.

A snowy sidewalk leads to a sign for the Tropicana hotel, with palm trees and shrubs covered in snow. The sky is cloudy with patches of sunlight, and footprints are visible in the snow on the ground. — The Tropicana in the 1974 Las Vegas Snowstorm. | Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Aerial view of a cityscape with desert surroundings. Wide roads run through the area, flanked by large buildings, including hotels and casinos. Mountains are visible in the distant background, under a clear sky. — This is a view looking north along Las Vegas Boulevard on May 2, 1975. Visible in the image are the Tropicana, Marina, MGM Grand, Dunes, and Caesars | Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Las Vegas News Bureau

A group of performers pose in front of a large billboard for "Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana. They are wearing matching shirts and standing on a street with palm trees and power lines visible. — Folies Bergere group in front of the Tropicana on September 17, 1975 | Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

In 1986, the hotel underwent another $70 million renovation that added a five-acre pool that featured lagoons, waterfalls, and floating blackjack tables. Millions more would be spent renovating the Tropicana over the next 30 years, with the last major $180 million effort taking place between 2009 and 2011.

A performer in an elaborate costume adorned with feathers and sparkling jewels poses next to a vintage car. The text "Folies Bergere" appears at the top of the image. — Photo Courtesy Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Aerial view of a large building complex surrounded by desert landscape. The complex features a circular fountain and significant signage. Multiple cars travel on the roads, and mountains are visible in the background. — Aerial view taken January 15, 1976 | Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

A black-and-white photo of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. A large sign in front advertises "Follies Bergere '83" with additional show details. The building is multi-storied with a series of vertical lines on its facade. — Tropicana day front, Folies Bergere Marquee, photographed on January 12, 1983 | Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

The Tropicana was old, but it was just the third oldest on the Las Vegas Strip at the time of its implosion. The Sahara (1952) and Flamingo (1946) both remain standing. Off the strip on Fremont Street can be found even older hotels like the Golden Gate (1906), El Cortez (1941), and Golden Nugget (1946).

The Tropicana is No More

The implosion was preceded by a fireworks display and drone show (featuring 555 drones) but no public viewing area was set up due to safety restrictions. Instead, the Bally’s Corporation set up a live stream on X (formerly Twitter) and Bally Live.

Celebrating Tropicana’s legacy one last time ✨ https://t.co/5FM5oiLZYq

— Las Vegas (@Vegas) October 9, 2024

The implosion — facilitated by GGG Demolition in coordination with Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI) which has a long history of structure demolition in Clark County — took down a total of 917,400 square feet. The demolition team cut 220 points into the 23-story Paradise Tower and packed them with 490 pounds of explosives. The concrete-framed 23-story Club Tower was bored with 1,130 holes and filled with 1,700 pounds of explosives.

Tropicana leaves a legacy as a new era begins ✨ pic.twitter.com/pgSUqAMsVn

— Las Vegas (@Vegas) October 9, 2024

22,000 feet of detonating cord was used to initiate the implosion of both structures, starting with Paradise Tower, and both main buildings collapsed within 22 seconds of the implosion initiation.

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“The Tropicana Las Vegas was one of the original pioneers of the Strip, setting the stage for the vibrant, larger-than-life entertainment destination we know and love today,” Soo Kim, chairman of Bally’s Corporation, says.

Night view of the Tropicana Las Vegas hotel entrance with bright red neon signage against a dark sky. A multi-story building is in the background, and the foreground is lit by entrance lights. — Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

“It’s fitting that this iconic site now represents the future of Las Vegas as we look forward to welcoming Major League Baseball, the Athletics, and an exciting new entertainment complex. This moment in Las Vegas history represents more than just the next chapter—it’s the evolution of the Strip, where legend meets innovation to create something truly unforgettable.”

Night view of the Tropicana Las Vegas hotel, a tall building with bright lights illuminating its facade. The entrance is surrounded by palm trees and a paved walkway, with the red and white Tropicana sign prominently displayed. — Photo courtesy the Bally’s Corporation

“The demolition of the Tropicana is an important milestone in the process of bringing A’s baseball to the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip and the community of Southern Nevada,” John Fisher, owner of the A’s, adds. “We hope that, in time, this site will become a place of unforgettable experiences for fans of the game. We extend our gratitude to Bally’s and GLPI for their partnership as we embark on this project together.”

Futuristic architecture illuminated at dusk with multiple white, shell-like structures. A road in the foreground with light trails from moving vehicles. Buildings with colorful lights are visible in the background against a clear sky. — A rendering of the new A’s ballpark. | Render courtesy of BIG

The A’s will have to wait at least a couple of years before the new stadium is completed and the team already vacated its Oakland location, meaning that at least next year the A’s will play at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The park is currently home to the San Francisco Giant’s Triple-A affiliate team, the Rivercats. It can seat 10,624 people and opened on May 15, 2000.

Image credits: Photos courtesy of Bally’s Corporation and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Renderings of the new A’s ballpark courtesy of BIG.

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