Last Updated on April 5, 2024
Las Vegas has always oozed glitz and glamour with its multitude of casinos, top entertainers, and high rollers. Never more so than in the days of the Rat Pack, Liberace, and Elvis when millions of visitors flocked to a booming Las Vegas – often referred to as “Glitter Gulch” back then.
Even today, as people close their eyes and think of Las Vegas, nothing comes to mind more often than those magnificent, pulsing, multi-colored neon signs in the middle of the desert beckoning travelers to fabulous Las Vegas.
I’ve heard so many stories from elderly family members and friends about their many memorable visits here over the years, but I’ll admit, one of my “issues” with Las Vegas has always been is its “tear it down and rebuild” corporate mentality.
As a history buff, I’m always shocked to see how many properties have been imploded so developers can replace them with bigger, “better,” glitzier, and more lavish establishments. Though I admit I love some of the new properties that have replaced the tired, smoke-infested, old-school establishments, much of the re-development ignored and almost erased Vegas’ storied old-school history.
That is until the Neon Museum stepped up to the plate.
Interest in rescuing the retired signs of the historic Glitter Gulch began in the 1970s with local historic preservation groups. In the 1980s, a committee of the Allied Arts Council began actively saving neon signs. Out of their efforts, the Neon “Boneyard Park” Museum was born and the company was founded as a non-profit in 1996.
Located in downtown Las Vegas, the museum is renowned for rescuing famous architectural landmarks from oblivion and displaying them so the public can once more relive the memories of Old Vegas. If you’ve never been there, you have to visit. This place is mesmerizing.
The Dunes Hotel & Casino was the first hotel to undergo implosion in 1993, replaced by the Bellagio Resort. The Sands Hotel, which opened in 1952 and hosted performers such as Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, was demolished in 1996 and replaced by the Venetian Resort Hotel.
Hacienda Hotel made way for the construction of the Mandalay Bay Resort. Aladdin Las Vegas Hotel, where Elvis married Priscilla Presley in 1967, was imploded in 1998, replaced by a new Aladdin Hotel, and then later purchased by Planet Hollywood.
Desert Inn Hotel, once owned by billionaire Howard Hughes, was later purchased by Steve Wynn who took it to the ground to build the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore.
Riviera Hotel and Casino, which imploded in 2016, was reported to be replaced with outdoor exhibitions and parking areas for the Las Vegas Convention Center, however, the space, belonging to a real estate developer has yet to be rebuilt.
Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort
How exciting to hear that The Neon Museum recently re-lit a Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort sign from 1978 that has been part of its Neon Boneyard collection since 2010. The famous hotel was officially closed on April 2, 2024.
“We are delighted to have provided the funding to restore the signage from the Tropicana which has been part of The Neon Museum collection,” Arik Knowles, general manager of Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort, said. “The restoration will ensure that Tropicana Las Vegas remains a cherished part of history, preserving its iconic presence for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”
During the special relighting presentation on April 3, 2024, Knowles joined the executive director of The Neon Museum, Aaron Berger, and visitors of the Museum to commemorate Tropicana’s history.
This piece of signage came from the property’s porte-cochere that was installed as part of a renovation in 1978. Designed by Jack Dubois and Raul Rodriguez, it was acquired by The Neon Museum in 2010 and now lives proudly above the patio in front of the Museum Store.
“With thanks to Bally’s, the legacy of the Tropicana lives on through this restoration and relighting,” Berger, said. “Not only can we now draw attention to the decades-long history of this iconic property and the surrounding area, but we can further emphasize the historic preservation efforts that take place in Las Vegas. The tubing in this sign is over 75% original, meaning these glass tubes have endured Las Vegas summers, winters, wind, and rain completely intact. This sign is a remarkable time capsule of a beloved place in Las Vegas history.”
The partnership between The Neon Museum and Tropicana entailed preserving the various aspects of the property through oral and visual efforts up until its closure. The Neon Museum installed RACHEL (Record and Collect Historical Experiences in Las Vegas) – an audio recording booth devoted to preserving stories of Las Vegas’ past – to gather tales of the property from employees, visitors and locals who were a part of Tropicana’s legacy.
The Tropicana opened its doors on April 4, 1957, with advertisements heralding it as “the Tiffany of the Strip” to reflect its opulence. The hotel was decked out in a tropical style emulating the finest hotels in Miami and Cuba, both popular tourist destinations at the time.
Well-known performers making appearances at the property included Siegfried & Roy, Wayne Newton, Eddie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, Lance Burton, and Rhonda Fleming.
In December 2021, a formal bid was submitted for the Tropicana to be the new site for the Oakland Athletics professional baseball stadium. Implosion is expected to follow at a later date.
For those into Las Vegas history, whether it be a blast from the past or just pure curiosity, The Neon Museum is open daily and includes an outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard filled with Las Vegas’ most iconic neon signs.
