Las Vegas: Tropicana prepares for demolition as Bally’s submits implosion permit

The demolition of Las Vegas' Tropicana hotel-casino is progressing, as property operators submitted Thursday a commercial implosion permit application to Clark County officials.

The permit shows Bally’s Corp., which operates the Tropicana, is planning to implode both a 22-story concrete tower and a 22-story steel tower in a “single explosive event.” A spokesperson for Bally’s indicated that the company anticipates the implosion to occur in October, although further details have not been disclosed, reports Las Vegas Review-Journal.

According to the application, the demolition will be carried out by Controlled Demolition Inc., a Maryland-based firm with experience in demolishing structures along the Las Vegas Strip. Clark County had previously granted a demolition permit for the site on April 20, allowing the company until October 20 to complete the estimated $15 million project.

The Tropicana closed its doors on April 2, just before reaching its 67th anniversary. Plans for the site include a complete teardown by the end of this year. 

In a related development, the MLB's Oakland Athletics are planning to construct a $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat ballpark on part of the 36-acre Tropicana site, which will offer views of the Las Vegas Strip. Bally’s and landowner Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. have confirmed that the Athletics will receive nine acres for the stadium, while the remaining area is slated for future development as a casino resort.

Having operated for over six decades since its opening in 1957, the closure marks the end of an era for the Rat Pack-era resort.

In April, Bally's Chairman Soo Kim revealed that the decision to cease the operations was made to coincide with the conclusion of the peak tourist season, allowing ample time for preparations ahead of the redevelopment. Kim emphasized that the plan had been in motion for some time, ensuring a smooth transition for the property's transformation.