1958 - 2006

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2-9-07:Well work starts bright and early, and they're not messing around. As I mentioned in my last entry, work has progressed rapidly to the middle of the casino floor and is pushing it's way south. The porte cochere stands with it's light strips falling down and the sliding doors are open to a dark abyss inside, which will soon give way to light, most likely tomorrow. Removal of the glass from the west tower is complete and workers are working on installing the black tarps to prevent debris from flying everywhere. It reminds me very much of a death shroud. It's hard not to draw comparisons to watching a person being readied for execution. Work on the east tower progressed very fast, and it's almost completely bare as well. It's not yet known, to me anyway, whether that tower will also be collapsed, or if it will be demolished via wrecking ball. The fact that it's being stripped down to nothing indicates it will suffer the same fate as the west tower, but then again, what do I know about demolition? I heard a rumor today that the marquee sign at the north end of the property has been purchased by a localcollector. As for the removal of the main sign, I'm awaiting confirmation of the date. So enough blah blah blah, here's the pictures:

2-8-07:So it's no secret now, although Boyd Gaming would like to pretend it is, that the north tower will come down on Monday morning, March 12, at or just after 2:00 a.m. It's confirmed and set. So will we see you there? I've staked out my spot, and hope that I'll see some of you there! As for the demolition, remember when I said it seemed as though they were slowing down? Well they've caught up. Any remnant of the original 1956 built casino is rubble, and it won't be long before the rest of it is gone. They've reached the porte cochere and main valet/casino entrance. I couldn't get any pictures because it was so dark, but I'll be stopping by tomorrow morning before work. It really made my stomach drop to see how fast it's going. The feeling of complete powerlessness is overwhelming when face to face with something you hold dear and wish you could save.

2-4-07:On a normal Superbowl Sunday, the Stardust would be swamped with people. But this year, the sports book doesn't even exist. Slowly but steadily, the casino is melting away. More asthetic pieces, like the gold sconces and the colored diamonds, are being taken down around the rest of the facade (I'm still desperately trying to figure out a way to get one of those damn things, heh). Stripping of the 9-story east tower has begun. The top two floors mirror the main tower. Many rumors still surround the date of the implosion, but we should know an exact date very soon. Thanks again for all the emails and comments guys! I'm sorry if I've taken an extra long time to respond, but I promise I'll get to each and every one!

1-30-07: Alright guys, this isn't really an update, but it's gonna make me feel really nice =D As alwyas, thank you so much for the wonderful and kind words you've emailed me since I've put this page up. Please take a second to sign my guestbook by clicking here, or by clicking the button on the bottom of this page or my homepage. Please also include where you're from. I look forward to all of your comments and input! Thanks so much!

1-29-07:Not much to report. As with any other demolition, rubble all starts to look the same, it just gets farther and farther away as they clear it and move forward. Work seems to be slowing just a bit, for no particular reason. Again, thanks to everyone for all the emails! I'm busy trying to field questions and get more information, and awaiting replys from the neon museum, LVI, and even Frank Rosenthal. As always, feel free to email me.

1-24-07: I stopped by today on my way home from work just to check up on things and was very sad to see that the casino's demolition has begun. They're starting at the north end. The north entrance and sports book are rubble. As I was taking pictures, workers at ground level were packing up to go home, but up in the tower drywall and other materials were being flung out and crashing to the ground. At the rate they're moving, the ground level buildings should be down within the next two weeks. As for the east tower, I can only assume that a wrecking ball will be utilized. It seems there's still large amounts of material inside of it. The balconies are strewn with mattresses and curtains. I can only assume they will remain and come down with the rest of the structure. The tower is almost done being cleared. LVI-Services of New York and Baltimore Demolition, the company responsible for the implosions of most of the classic strip casinos, are working together to leave a bare minimum of concrete and steal to bring down. I've emailed the neon museum also, to find out when the sign will be removed and readied for display. More updates coming!

1-21-07: Today was quite windy and dusty. Appropriate for what I found when I arrived. The property is desolate. All of the STARDUST signs are being removed; from the ones above the entrances, to the ones on Industrial, behind the property. The letters lay crumpled on the ground. What I wouldn't give to take one home with me! I'm at least going to try my hardest to get my hands on one of the diamonds, preferably a tourquoise one =P As well, demolition has arrived at the casino. The rear control and electronics rooms of the sports book have been exposed and the first of the guest areas of the hotel have been opened and torn apart. Work seems to be moving at a steady pace now. The tower is nearly half stripped. Curtains hang and blow around in the wind, waving through shattered windows. I'm going to have to check on her a bit more often now, as it won't be long before the casino is demolished. It was announced today on the news that the mid-March implosion of the tower will be in the early morning hours so as not to disrupt traffic on the strip or industrial. As soon as a date is set, it will be posted.

1-14-07: Just on a whim, I decided to go up to the Stratosphere to see what I could see, and here's a couple images I brought back. Work is progressing pretty fast. It won't be long before they're working on the actual casino. I'm anticipating it within the next two weeks. Still no word on a date for final demolition, but I'll keep you posted! And I also wanted to say a special thank you to everyone who's showed interest in this leading Vegas lady and for the kind emails! Keep em coming!

1-11-07: Final demolition of the ground structures has begun. They're starting with the rear and working their way forward. Convention structures have been demolished as have all of the rear office, maintenance, and receiving buildings. The top floors of the hotel tower have been gutted and they're rapidly working their way down the rest of the interior and facade. A very sad sight.

12-26-06: Gutting of the hotel tower has begun, starting at the top. The casino and front facade remain intact but bulldozers and cranes sit at the rear, ready to begin demolition. The gutting of the Royal Nevada section of the hotel is nearly completed. A few pieces that were not auctioned off are scattered around the grounds. Gutting of the 1964 built 9-story east tower is underway as well.

11-25-06: The auctions are over and the grounds are quiet. All perimeter fences have been covered with canvas, and the remaining trees are being uprooted and readied for moving. All buildings and the facade are still intact. Pavement and foliage is going fast though.

11-19-06: A bittersweet day for this author. Auctions are underway for the fixtures and fittings from the hotel/casino. This offered a last chance to walk around the interior of the casino. Slots and games are all gone. Gaming tables, stools, chairs, ashtrays, and signage are all lined up for inspection and pick up by collectors and those looking for a piece of history, or those who just want a unique piece to add to their home. Walking around the casino in silence, you can feel the sadness, but also soak in the history. Everything has an auction tag on it, the chairs, light fixtures, even the duratran signage. The cage is empty, the pit is empty, the entire casino is deserted, save for security guards to limit exploration only to those who are escorted by an auctioneer. I still managed to get some neat shots though.

11-1-06: A historic day. The Stardust closed her doors for good today at noon. I arrived too late to take one more stroll through, but I was standing at the main valet entrance when the first pad lock was placed on the middle doors by a man who worked for the property since she opened in 1958. I watched as security placed barriers and 2x4's through the handles of all doors, since they were meant to be open 24/7, and have no locks. A few people remained around the property. Lots of workers around the back, but as for patrons, it seemed that by 12:30 they were all gone, and all the tourists had moved on to the open casinos. I'll admit, I shed a few tears as I walked away, passing moving trucks that were already being loaded with furniture from the old Royal Nevada rooms. They sure don't waste time.

10-31-06: So all these months I've been meaning to stay the night at the Stardust and take lots of photographs and document this historic place. But as work life and social life would have it, I never found the time, a thing which I of course will regret for a very long time. But I did make it the last night that she was lit, to take a few pictures and wander around, taking in the history. Her blue and red lights have been a staple on the strip for years, and she glowed beautifully. It was a beautiful Halloween, but the quite awe was quickly squashed with the sighting of bulldozers and machinery waiting on the borders. Inside, tables were packed, bars were packed, and all nothing gave any hint that the next day would bring the end of an era. That is, until I made it to the sports book. The historic sports book, the first in the world (although this being the new and improved one, not the 1958 version of course) lay empty and quiet, all of the screens reading "Thank you for the memories!"

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