The Dunes’ Dramatic Demolition

In the final hours of January 26, 1993, on the eve of the closure of the Dunes Hotel & Casino, employees shared memories and hugs. The night culminated in a midnight champagne toast, celebrating the property’s nearly 40-year contribution to Las Vegas history.

Once hailed as the “Miracle in the Desert,” inspired by the stories of the Arabian Nights, the then-property’s owner, entrepreneur Steve Wynn, planned to implode the Dunes in a spectacular fashion. In the weeks leading up to the October 1993 demolition, nearby properties raised concerns about airborne dust, portions of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road were closed, and technicians from Controlled Demolition Inc. (CDI) carefully prepared the Dunes’ 235-foot north tower—and its prominent signage, designed by Lee Klay of Federal Sign—for destruction.

Wynn’s vision for the property’s demolition, which he aimed to tie into the opening of his ambitious Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, came with a hefty price tag, costing an estimated $2 million. CDI’s president, J. Mark Loizeaux, incorporated black rifle powder to create a brighter flash, used 650 pounds of dynamite and explosive charges to topple the tower and onion dome pylon sign. He also coordinated the blasts via explosive rope to prolong the demolition from an estimated 10 seconds to nearly half a minute. Nearby properties offered close-up viewing locations, bleachers were staged in parking lots and concessions were distributed, and enterprising vendors sold demolition-themed T-shirts. In addition to the crowd of over 200,000 spectators who gathered to view the demolition firsthand, were 300 off-duty police officers, and more than 400 international journalists. Upon his command of “ready, aim, fire,” Wynn ordered one of the ships from the pirate show at his newly opened Treasure Island to take aim at the Dunes next door. This set off its dramatic demolition and became the first Strip hotel in Las Vegas’ history to be brought down by explosives. Seemingly in an instant, the tower was replaced with a pile of rubble and the iconic tall neon sign—which, perhaps ironically, displayed the phrase “NO VACANCY” on its marquee—toppled over.

Although the tall-onion domed pylon was permanently lost in the demolition, The Neon Museum acquired a smaller “entrance” sign in 2002, which has since been on display in the Neon Boneyard and is the last remaining piece of the Dunes building known to exist. Made possible by a generous donation from Roger Thomas in honor of Joyce & Jerry Mack and Peggy & Parry Thomas, this signage will be restored by a team of skilled experts before its relighting on September 26, 2025, allowing us to share the history and stories behind one of the most well-known and beloved properties of Las Vegas’ storied history.