Stardust casino was imploded today

[bigfitz2004 19]

Stardust casino imploded to make way for Boyd's Echelon mega-resort.

All that's left of the Stardust now is dust. The once-glitzy casino on the Las Vegas Strip known for its bargain rooms, friendly service and mobbed-up past was imploded early Tuesday morning in a hail of fireworks.

The implosion is to pave the way for Boyd Gaming's $4.4 billion mega-resort complex, Echelon. Hundreds of guests partied beneath tents and on makeshift patios before Boyd chairman Bill Boyd's four grandsons pushed a plunger.

That set off a pyrotechnics display and detonation that generated a massive dust cloud, chasing revelers into cars, buses and nearby casinos.

The property opened in 1958, billing itself as the world's largest resort hotel with more than 1,000 rooms. It is credited with being Las Vegas' first mass-market casino, thanks to cheap rates and loss-leading food and drinks.

Bob Boughner, Echelon Resorts' chief executive, said while the Stardust was a favorite of the nostalgia crowd, it was missing out on younger patrons and those who come to Las Vegas for conventions. He says Echelon will offer Boyd customers a more upscale product.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[scopino 0]

Anyone know of any video sites of the implosion, It seems they dont show that stuff anymore. I'd be cool to watch. Hats off to those guys, I think its amazing these guys can drop a 20 story building into itself. Its an art.

[bigfitz2004 19]