THE DUNES – 1993
UNLV Digital Collections, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 collection, 1950s-1960s
The Dunes Hotel and Casino was one of the oldest casinos on the Strip, opening in 1955. Despite its long history, the hotel faced many financial struggles. In 1993, its time came to an end when it was imploded to make way for the iconic Bellagio. The Dunes’ implosion was a major event, with fireworks accompanying the dramatic destruction, symbolizing Las Vegas’ trend of replacing the old with the lavish and luxurious. It also started what some call the “implosion craze”!
The iconic Dunes Sultan, which greeted guests from the roof of the hotel and is one of the coolest signs to ever grace The Strip, was destroyed during the implosion, but a smaller, familiarly-shaped Dunes sign can be seen at The Neon Museum.
THE LANDMARK – 1995
Courtesy Las Vegas Review Journal
The Landmark, known for its space-age architecture, opened in 1969 after years of delays. It was imploded on November 7, 1995, to make room for the Las Vegas Convention Center’s expansion, transitioning the area from hospitality to business-focused use.
THE SANDS – 1996
Courtesy Las Vegas Review Journal
The Sands, made famous by the Rat Pack during the 1950s and 1960s (we can picture them now, standing in front of The Sands’ marquee), was an iconic casino in its time. However, as the years went by, newer and more luxurious resorts outshined it. The Sands was imploded in 1996 to make way for The Venetian, a casino and hotel that showcases the city’s shift towards themed, destination-style resorts at the time.
Today, The Venetian takes up most of the same property where The Sands stood. Most of the signage was imploded with the building. One ‘Casino’ sign from the property is on display in the Neon Boneyard.
THE HACIENDA – 1996
Situated at the southern end of the Strip, The Hacienda opened in 1956 and what started as a 256-room motor lodge on the outskirts of town grew to a 1,200-room resort. The Hacienda was imploded on New Year’s Eve in 1996 to make way for Mandalay Bay. Its destruction was memorable as it coincided with a New Year’s Eve fireworks display, drawing huge crowds for a double celebration.
Fun fact: The Neon Museum officially “opened” with the installation of its first refurbished sign, the Hacienda Horse and Rider, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street in 1996.
THE ALADDIN HOTEL – 1998
AP Photo/Lennox McLendon/Review-Journal files
The Aladdin Hotel, opened in 1966 taking place of the Tally Ho, a Tudor architecturally themed property, is one of Las Vegas’ more puzzling demolitions. Popular and well-known, the hotel was in need of modernization, but instead of upgrading the existing structure, it was completely demolished to make way for a brand-new project.
The Aladdin had a colorful history, originally opening as a reimagined version of Kings Crown Tally Ho. Despite The Aladdin’s size and appeal, it was beset by financial woes, mob involvement, and legal challenges. These problems, combined with multiple ownership changes and denied requests for expansions, made it difficult for the hotel to thrive.
In 2000, a new Aladdin hotel opened, centered around the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts. The newly branded Arabian Nights-themed resort featured a shopping center, restaurants, and meeting rooms. However, financial troubles once again spelled the end for Aladdin, and in 2003, Caesars Entertainment acquired the property. By 2007, it had been replaced by Planet Hollywood, which still occupies the site today.
While our Boulevard Gallery is currently off-limits to visitors, Aladdin’s iconic 1966 fiberglass sculptural genie lamp is stored there. The 1976 Aladdin lamp is on view in the Neon Boneyard.
EL RANCHO – 2000
Las Vegas Strip, 1986, UNLV Special Collections
The El Rancho, not to be confused with the original, ill-fated 1940 El Rancho Vegas that was lost to fire, opened in 1982 (after a couple rebrands) but struggled for years before closing in 1992. It was imploded on October 3, 2000. The land stayed vacant for years but is now occupied by Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The property was originally called The Thunderbird and a smaller replica of the 1960s neon bird sign now adorns the new Thunderbird Hotel, a boutique property located north of the Strip. The Neon Museum is home to the El Rancho bell that adorned the properties’ pylon.
THE DESERT INN – 2001
Courtesy Las Vegas Review Journal
The Desert Inn, opened in 1950, was a Las Vegas landmark known for its elegance and connections to celebrities such as Frank Sinatra. After a successful run of over 50 years, the property was closed and imploded in phases in 2001 to make way for Wynn Las Vegas. Today, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore stand where the Desert Inn once welcomed guests.
BOURBON STREET – 2006
Courtesy: Vintage Las Vegas
Bourbon Street Casino seemed doomed from the start. Plagued by financial struggles and delays in obtaining a gaming license, the hotel-casino struggled to gain any traction. Originally named the Shenandoah, with Wayne Newton (aka Mr. Las Vegas) as a partial owner, it was expected to be a hit. Unfortunately, it never lived up to expectations and filed for bankruptcy before ever fully opening.
In 1981, a Canadian company took over and made history as the first foreign company to obtain a Nevada gaming license a few years later. They renamed the property Bourbon Street Hotel and Casino, adopting a New Orleans theme.
Despite their best efforts, the hotel and casino were closed in October 2005 after changing hands multiple times. Bourbon Street was demolished in January 2006, and today, its site serves as a parking lot.
CASTAWAYS – 2006
Courtesy: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Originally opened in 1954 as the Showboat, the Castaways casino met its end on January 11, 2006 at an exclusive implosion with only 100 guests. Today, the site is home to an apartment complex, leaving behind the glitz of the casino days for a more practical development in the city. Today on the land where this property once stood is an apartments called the Showboat Park Apartments, paying homage to the historic property.
BOARDWALK HOTEL & CASINO – 2006
Courtesy: Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, with its Coney Island theme, was intended to be a major attraction. In 1995, a $9 million renovation was planned to include dummy rides and a casino expansion. However, what was supposed to be a revitalizing effort turned out to be a visual disaster. The additions ended up looking tacky, and the hotel couldn’t keep up with its more luxurious neighbors like the MGM Grand, Monte Carlo, and New York-New York.
By 2000, MGM acquired the hotel, but it couldn’t overcome its financial issues. The Boardwalk was eventually closed in 2006 and demolished. Its former site is now home to several modern structures, including Aria, The Waldorf Astoria, and The Shops at Crystals.
STARDUST – 2007
Courtesy Las Vegas Review Journal
On March 13, 2007, this beloved Las Vegas resort bid farewell with a firework display, ending in dust and rubble. Boyd Gaming had closed the casino in November 2006, anticipating that it would lose popularity once their new project, Echelon, came to life. Echelon was meant to be a massive complex featuring resort hotels and convention facilities, but plans were scrapped following the 2008 financial collapse.
In 2013, the land found new life when Resorts World took over the space where Stardust once stood. Though locals were saddened to see Stardust go, Resorts World quickly became one of the city’s most popular destinations. To honor its predecessor, Resorts World features a tribute to the iconic Stardust sign with a sculpture at its entrance. While the hotel may be gone, the memory of Stardust lives on.
For those wanting a glimpse of the original Stardust pylon, you can find it proudly displayed at the Neon Museum.
THE NEW FRONTIER – 2007
Courtesy Las Vegas Review Journal
The New Frontier, one of the oldest casinos on the Strip, originally opened as the Last Frontier in 1942, and transitioned to the New Frontier, Frontier, then New Frontier before its closure in 2007. It was imploded on November 13, 2007, after years of operation, to make way for future development. However, the site still remains vacant more than 15 years after its demolition. The “longhorn” Frontier signage in the Boneyard at The Neon Museum is from the 1980s.
QUEEN OF HEARTS HOTEL – 2010
The Queen of Hearts Hotel, originally known as the Casbah Hotel and Casino, opened in 1963 under the ownership of Danny Jackson. After Jackson’s passing, his family ran the business until 1976, when Ann Myers purchased the property, becoming one of the first female hotel owners in Las Vegas.
What Myers could not anticipate was the Casbah’s notorious reputation. Over the years, it had been associated with gangs, prostitution, and violence, making it a less-than-ideal destination for guests. Determined to change its image, she renamed it the Queen of Hearts Hotel in 1990 and introduced four-star service at budget prices. While her efforts did bring some success, the hotel was never able to fully shed its troubled past.
By January 2010, plans were announced to demolish the Queen of Hearts, and the site was eventually replaced by the Las Vegas City Hall. However, the original sign from the Queen of Hearts Hotel and a portion of the Casbah sign now resides at the Neon Museum, where its story continues to be told.
THE CLARION – 2015
Courtesy: NBC News
The Clarion Hotel and Casino, originally built in 1970 as the Royal Inn, and eventually transitioned into the Paddle Wheel Hotel and Casino, Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Hotel and Casino and the Greek Isles Hotel and Casino. The property met its fate on February 10, 2015. The implosion left a void, and though the site remains undeveloped today, its location near the Las Vegas Convention Center holds a lot of potential for future development.
THE RIVIERA – 2016
Courtesy Las Vegas Review Journal
The Riviera, which opened in 1955, was another classic Las Vegas hotel that couldn’t stand the test of time. Known for its glamorous history, including appearances in films like Casino and Ocean’s 11, the Riviera was ultimately imploded in two stages in 2016. The demolition made room for the expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center and many of the Riviera signs were donated to The Neon Museum, including in working condition.
THE TROPICANA – 2024
The Tropicana, which opened in 1957, is scheduled to be imploded on October 9, 2024. One of the last remaining mid-century hotels on the Strip, its demolition will pave the way for new developments, including a planned major league ballpark. This demolition marks the city’s move to becoming an entertainment hub that goes beyond just casinos.
The Neon Museum currently has one sign from The Tropicana on display, The Miami-inspired stylized red sign from the iconic property was donated to the Museum prior to the implosion to preserve the property’s rich history.
PRESERVING HISTORY AT THE NEON MUSEUM
At the Neon Museum, we strive to preserve the memory of these long-gone hotels and casinos. Our History. Brought To Light. Tour showcases signs and memorabilia from many of Las Vegas’ most iconic demolished properties. While these hotels may no longer stand, their legacy and stories continue at The Neon Museum.
