Bally’s Corp recently released a press release announcing the soon to be shuttering of the historic Strip hotel and resort, the Tropicana, nicknamed ‘Tiffany of the Strip.’ Find out more below.
The Tropicana opened among a string of failed hotels in 1957. “Dandy” Phil Kastel, a well-known orgaized crime fighter, is the one who really pioneered the opening of the hotel and he’d always had a long partnership with Frank Costello, the nation’s most infamous gangster.
Together, they opened the Tropicana after a $15 million dollar investment and it became Vegas’ most expensive hotel at the time. It was only surpassed by Caesars Palace that opened 9 years later and cost $19 million.
The Tropicana will cease operations after April 2nd and will be demolished to make way for the $1.5 million Oakland Athletics Baseball Field and integrated resort.
The Tropicana has been in business for 67 years, seeing historic moments and celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor who was often seen leaving the Tropicana Nightclub. It was also the set for famous films like Sean Connery as James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever and The Godfather Corleones. It also hosted the illusionists Siegfried and Roy who debuted their show at the hotel