Another one turns to dust … Tropicana

Its a sad thing. I always liked the property.

I've never been and from what I understand that's a good thing otherwise I might end up like you guys.

Queenie started her time in Casinos at Tropicana.

Then went to the Dunes. Saw it to demolition.

Then went to Boyd (Corporate office on Stardust property) demolished (now Resorts World)

Then went to Aladdin where she worked through demolition of old and building of new Aladdin (now Planet Hollywood)

Then to Wynn (Desert Inn property). Her first office was actually in a remaining portion of the Desert Inn building.

Then to Bellagio, which exists on the prior Dunes property.

All demolished or built on recent demolition sites.

Seen/experienced a lot of transition in the course of her work.

The first time my wife and I stayed in Vegas was at the Frontier. A friend was a pro gambler and was in a blackjack tournament at the Riviera and had comped rooms at several casinos. I told her to put us where I’d find the “loosest” slot machines. Next time we were there the Frontier was an empty lot and I believe the last time we were there the Riviera was also gone.

Incidentally, four months after we stayed at the Frontier someone there nailed my credit card for $6000 worth of TV sets and cash. It was a comped room but they needed a copy of my card in case I charged stuff to the room. It was quite a fight with the card company but I finally got it cleared up.

When I first saw the Tropicana (early 80s), I thought it was one of the coolest places on the Strip. In more recent years, not so much; but change seems to be the only constant in Las Vegas.

I first started going to LV as a college student in the late '70s. Stayed at the Castaways, if you can believe that. I still have an ashtray from there, it's now full of picks.

Later it was Circus Circus, when it was nice; it's a ghetto now. Then Treasure Island, then the Mirage. I turned 40 there, then 50. That was the hottest day in LV history at the time, 118 degrees.

Stayed at one of the old-timers, can't remember which, when in LV for a training seminar in the '90s. Stayed at the Luxor when Barrett-Jackson was right across the street.

And, finally, stayed at the Wynn when our son and DIL got married there. It was lovely, first-class all the way. And I tracked Larry down while there! He is indeed a cool cat!

I loved LV back in the old days, it was a party. Not so much now, it's all about separating you from your $$$.

Might be some of the same ones that were on our property.

We had a “cat lady” that came on property to make sure the cats were cared for. She was not an employee, just a lady we allowed access to certain areas of the property to do her thing.

I had not thought of this (or seen her or the cats) for a while, but you are reminding me of that time.



Also reminds me when Queenie worked at the Aladdin and they were preparing to demolish the “old” Aladdin tower, there were falcons nesting on the building that had to be dealt with before the implosion.

For our last visit to LV my wife and I stayed on Fremont Street at the Four Queens and really enjoyed it much more than wandering the strip (think that’s what it’s called) where all the big Casios are. We occasionally took a bus to see stuff like Shania Twain or David Copperfield but really enjoyed the Fremont Street stages and the goofy people that frequent that area.