Las Vegas bids farewell to the iconic casino and hotel where Bond stayed in Diamonds Are Forever.
On 9th October 2024, the legendary Tropicana casino and hotel, where James Bond stayed in Diamonds Are Forever, was demolished in a controlled explosion to make way for a new baseball stadium. In the 1971 film, Sean Connery’s Bond stayed in a luxurious suite at the Tropicana while navigating Vegas’s underworld.
Opened in 1957, the Tropicana’s glamorous past was tied to both Hollywood and organised crime, with connections to mobster Frank Costello. Despite its history, the casino’s controlled implosion represents Las Vegas’s ongoing transformation, from its mob-controlled past to its new identity as a sports and entertainment hub.
For Bond fans, the demolition closes a significant chapter of 007’s Vegas adventures. The Tropicana, once a backdrop to Bond’s high-stakes investigations, was an emblem of Old Vegas charm and intrigue. Its fall, complete with a fireworks display, symbolises the city’s penchant for reinvention, leaving behind memories of the mob era and the golden days of Bond in Sin City.
The site will now make room for a state-of-the-art baseball stadium, continuing the city’s shift towards modern entertainment and sports. While Bond fans may mourn the loss of this cinematic landmark, the legacy of Diamonds Are Forever and its connection to the Tropicana remains a timeless part of Bond history.
Leave a Reply.