Timeline: A Complete History of Tropicana Las Vegas

^{The Tropicana Las Vegas casino resort, seen here in 2011, will soon give way to a Major League Baseball park, with views of the Strip, and other Strip casinos having a view of Las Vegas's newest stadium. (Image: Richard Cummins / Alamy)}

It’s not often one has to write an obituary for buildings. But this is Las Vegas and it is time to erase a couple long standing structures from our skyline. 

I first became enamored with the Tropicana while visiting my grandparents in Las Vegas in the late 1980s. I wasn’t yet of legal gambling age, but I learned that the Trop had floating blackjack tables, which to me seemed like the most amazing thing that might be available to everyone upon turning 21. 

I didn’t know my history well enough to realize that the Trop had pioneered the concept nearly three decades earlier – introducing swim-up blackjack tables in 1957, which would be reintroduced at the iconic resort in 2022. 

While more research is necessary for us to tell you why these tables ever disappeared in the first place, there will be time for such reflection after this week, when the Tropicana is finally laid to rest.  

Here’s a historical rundown of what was at one point the most expensive resort on the Strip, provided by Bally’s, who will reinvent the space in partnership with the soon-to-be Las Vegas A’s Major League Baseball team.

• 1947: The Vision Takes Shape: Businessmen Ben Jaffe and Phil Kastel unveil plans for a new casino-hotel, the Tropicana Resort & Casino, aiming to create a tropical paradise in the Nevada desert.
   
• 1957: A Grand Debut: On April 4, the Tropicana opens with a $15 million investment, featuring 300 rooms and the largest casino on the Strip. With its South Beach-inspired architecture and lush tropical theme, it earns the nickname "The Tiffany of the Strip." Its opening acts, including singer Eddie Fisher, draw celebrities and high-rollers, immediately establishing The Trop as the place to see and be seen.
   
• 1959: The Iconic Folies Bergère Debuts: The world-famous Folies Bergère revue opens, bringing the glitz of Paris to Las Vegas. With its dazzling showgirls, elaborate costumes, and high-energy performances, Folies Bergère would run for nearly 50 years, becoming one of the most beloved and glamorous productions in Strip history.

The Tropicana, seen here in 1964, started out as one of the most luxurious casino resort motels. (Image: courtesy of Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority)

• 1960s: The Rat Pack Era: The Tropicana thrives during the era of the Rat Pack, when Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. ruled the Strip. Though the group was most associated with the Sands Hotel, their influence spread across Las Vegas, including the Tropicana, drawing elite crowds and adding to the hotel's allure.
   
• 1967: Siegfried & Roy's Magic Debut: The magic duo Siegfried & Roy make one of their first Las Vegas appearances at the Tropicana, where they dazzled audiences with their signature white tigers and groundbreaking illusions, kickstarting their legendary careers.
   
• 1971: James Bond Checks In: The wider world gets a glimpse of The Tropicana’s allure when Sean Connery, as James Bond, checks into a Tropicana suite in Diamonds Are Forever, forever linking the resort to cinematic history.
   

Rat Pack days: Eddie Fisher, Eddie Cantor and Sammy Davis, Jr. (Image: courtesy of Bally's Corporation)

• 1979: The Tiffany Tower: The Tropicana expands with the addition of the Tiffany Tower, adding 600 rooms and a striking $1 million glass ceiling over the casino floor. It was another step in solidifying The Trop's place as a luxurious destination for Vegas visitors.
   
• 1986: Island of Las Vegas: A $70 million renovation transforms the property into an island paradise, complete with a five-acre pool area featuring lagoons, waterfalls, and floating blackjack tables, marketing itself as the "Island of Las Vegas."
   
• 1988-1995: Ownership Shifts, Renovations Continue: Under new ownership by Aztar Corporation, the Tropicana undergoes extensive renovations totaling $200 million, ensuring it remained a top destination for both high-stakes gamblers and entertainment seekers.
   
• 1997: Magic Reigns with Rick Thomas: Illusionist Rick Thomas brings his spellbinding magic show to the Tropicana, captivating audiences with grand illusions and mesmerizing performances.
   
• 2009-2011: A New Era of Entertainment: After being acquired by Onex Corporation and Goldman Sachs, the Tropicana undergoes a massive $180 million renovation. Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas" himself, debuts his show, Once Before I Go, while Gladys Knight takes the stage with her residency.

For decades, the towers at the Tropicana were a beacon of Vegas nightlife. (Image: courtesy of Bally's Corporation)

• 2015-2017: A New Chapter with Penn National Gaming: Penn National Gaming acquires the Tropicana for $360 million, ushering in a new era. Purple Reign, a tribute to Prince, debuts, thrilling audiences with electrifying performances of the late icon’s greatest hits.
   
• 2019-2022: Tribute Shows Take Center Stage: The Tropicana continues to celebrate the legends of music with Legends in Concert, featuring impersonators of icons like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, and MJ Live, a tribute to Michael Jackson.
   
• September 2022: A New Chapter with Bally’s Corporation: Bally's Corporation completes its $148 million acquisition of the Tropicana Las Vegas with Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc. and PENN Entertainment, Inc.
   
• May 2023: Bally’s Announces Partnership with The A’s: Bally's Corporation announced that, in conjunction with Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc., they have reached a binding agreement with the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball to site their new ballpark on a portion of the current Tropicana Las Vegas property. The ballpark is expected to welcome more than 2.5 million fans and visitors annually, and will be a one-of-a-kind asset for the Las Vegas Strip. 
   
• April 2024: The Final Bow After 67 years of glitz, glamour, and unforgettable entertainment, the Tropicana closes its doors, marking the end of an era. As the Las Vegas Strip continues to evolve, Tropicana’s legacy as a pioneer in entertainment and luxury will forever be etched into the history of the city that never sleeps.

The above timeline was all provided by Bally’s, owners of the space that soon will no longer serve as the Trop’s foundation. But one more entry will be necessary, which we are writing here:

• October 2024: Implosion and Rebirth. It will take just 22 seconds for all the concrete and steel to fall, and then many minutes more for dust to settle. A drone and fireworks show will have preceded the final countdown – kicking off a new era that will celebrate many more iconic memories in the future.