A HISTORIC Las Vegas resort has been shut down after more than six decades to make way for a new baseball stadium.
Tropicana Las Vegas, a popular destination for A-list celebrities, closed its doors Tuesday after nearly 67 years of business.
The glitzy $15 million resort and casino, built in 1957, featured three stories with over 300 rooms split into two wings.
A massive five-acre pool, manicured lawns, and an extravagant showroom earned it the nickname “Tiffany of the Strip.”
The resort, despite (or perhaps, thanks to) its ties to the mob in the ’50s, feverishly climbed the ranks in Sin City.
The Tropicana quickly attracted an elite clientele, including actresses Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds. It was a regular hangout spot for Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop, and it even grabbed the attention of James Bond.
The resort’s garish suites served as the backdrop for iconic films such as “The Godfather” and Agent 007’s crash pad in the 1971 film “Diamonds Are Forever.”
The British spy even made a line of deference to its swanky and glamorous reputation.
“I hear that the Hotel Tropicana is quite comfortable,” said Sean Connery’s James Bond.
The brainchild of business mogul Ben Jaffe, the Tropicana had originally been proposed as a $4.5 million project.
After convincing 30 investors, including one Phil Kaste, to back the resort, the costs ultimately crept up to a total of $15 million.
Worries about the resort’s opening came when the Gaming Control Board raised concerns about Phil Kaste’s connections to organized crime.
Even after Kaste sold his shares of the hotel, the allegations were confirmed with the 1957 murder of famous mobster Frank Costello, who was shot in the head.
Authorities had found a note containing confidential information about the Tropicana’s exact earnings figure, which were traced back to Phil.
Investigations and charges connected to the resort resulted in five convictions.
Despite its rocky start, the Tropicana officially opened for business on April 4, 1957.
The resort’s renowned cabaret, complete with line dancers, a live orchestra, intricate costumes, and stage sets, quickly became the home to the Las Vegas feathered showgirl in 1959 after a risque debut show.
Tropicana’s reputation and entertainment repertoire netted it a feature in Elvis Presley’s 1964 film Viva Las Vegas.
After more than a decade of flourishing success, the hotel and casino struggled in the ’70s after competing hotels like Caesars Palace and the Las Vegas Hilton opened up nearby.
The hotel changed direction under new leadership, with brand-spanking new renovations and a more modest approach to its demographic.
In addition to a huge $70 million revamp, the resort started catering to the middle class, which contributed success for a few decades.
In the mid-2000s, turmoil erupted once again as the resort’s deed was sold many times, floating between hands, and eventually ending up going to Bally’s Corporation in 2022.
Two years later, Bally’s announced that the hotel would be shut down after nearly 67 years of business.
The resort’s demolition is slated for October to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium.
The ballpark is expected to open in 2028.