Historic Casino Imploded on Las Vegas Strip

For almost half a century, the Stardust Casino has been a landmark on the Las Vegas Strip. The aging resort was imploded at 2:30am Tuesday morning to make way for the $4.4 Billion Echelon megaresort to be built by Stardust owners, Boyd Gaming.

Las Vegas is a city that is in a constant state of reinvention. The process of demolishing casinos and replacing them with larger, grander casinos has become second nature to residents of the world's gambling capitol. That process has now been repeated once more, as the famous Stardust Casino was imploded to make room for the new Echelon resort, expected to open in 2010.

Saying goodbye to these casinos is always an emotional event that pulls and tugs those involved in a number of directions. It is certainly sad to see a casino go, which some compare to saying goodbye to an old friend. At the same time you can't help but to be happy about the progress, and even look forward to what wonderful sights and experiences will arise from the rubble.

It is particularly difficult to see a casino as historic as the Stardust disappear from the city's skyline. The casino first opened it's doors to the public on July 2, 1958. For 48 years the casino was an icon on the Las Vegas Strip, which was mostly undeveloped property at the time that the Stardust first opened.

The Stardust Casino has seen it's share of excitement over the years. Not only was it a frequent hang out for Frank Sinatra and the rest of the "Rat Pack", but was also the basis for the book (and later the DeNiro movie) "Casino". The casino was also the original host for the Seigfried and Roy show. At that time, the illusionists were part of the showgirl extravaganza, "Lido de Paris".