On This Day 16 Years Ago: Stardust Demolition Makes History
The Stardust Hotel-Casino’s demolition was another reminder of the “come and go” nature of Las Vegas.
Sixteen years ago, the 3000 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard glittered with dust, rubble and fireworks — which were set off before the building’s implosion occurred.
According to news reports from that time, the casino’s glory became nothing but a pile of concrete, dust and debris. The building came down at 2:30 a.m. on March 13, 2007, marking an end to the Stardust’s dance with the Las Vegas Strip.
The New York Times described the demolition as “spectacular” and “ended a yearlong farewell to a classic 48-year-old resort that was, in its heyday, considered the ultimate in luxury and style.”
At the time of the casino’s construction, it was the shiniest, most luxurious and biggest player of hotels on The Strip. According to KTNV Channel 13, the “Lido De Paris,” show was the first topless French-inspired revue in Las Vegas, which caused a good amount of attention to the casino. A few other shows — like Siegfried and Roy — took over the stage after Stardust nixed Lido De Paris in 1985.
