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The Dunes Hotel & Casino opened amidst a boom period for properties in Las Vegas, which also included the openings of the Royal Nevada, Riviera, and Moulin Rouge over a span of just six weeks. The media was skeptical of this rapid growth, with The New York Times posing its question via a provocative headline: “Las Vegas is Settling Down: Bloom is Off the Boom, But Resort Town Still Grows.” Despite ownership changes and financial difficulties, the Dunes still managed to attract high-profile talent and generate constant buzz. In the 1960s alone, the property saw the wedding of Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim, the discovery of performer Ann-Margret by comedian George Burns, and a title fight between boxers Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. Reflecting on its legacy and international relevance, the Las Vegas Review-Journal opined in a 1993 report: “[The Dunes] was the jewel of the Strip. Celebrities of the highest magnitude were patrons [there]… There used to be a lot of glitter and glamour in this town. People [went in] with jewels and fur. They dressed like what you thought Las Vegas should be.”

Another undeniable aspect of the Dunes’ legacy is its contribution to the “implosion craze” of the 1990s and 2000s, which saw—in quick succession—the demolition of properties like the Landmark Hotel, the Hacienda, and the Sands Hotel & Casino. While it has been over 30 years since the Dunes was imploded and considering that the rate of these spectacular demolitions has considerably slowed down since, Las Vegas still manages to make a spectacle out of the demise of its properties, evident in the demolition of the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in October 2024. This recent demolition, including its fanfare, marketing, and attendance, was hugely evocative of the Dunes implosion in January 1993. Writer Ken White summarized the event in the form of a question: “Las Vegas. What a town. Where else can you get free fireworks, booming cannons, explosions, and a famous landmark turned to rubble?”