Vegas' Riviera Casino to be Demolished - See It from Sky

The Riviera, one of the oldest casinos on the Vegas Strip, will soon be demolished to clear the property for future developments. The demolition will actually occur in two segments, with the first explosion taking place tomorrow (June 14) and the second happening in August.

The Riviera opened in 1955 and experienced great success in its first few decades. But the dated property drew fewer and fewer customers and less foot traffic in the area. By 2010, Riviera Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the casino was out of business.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority bought the Riviera for $182.5 million to make way for the imploding that will take place tomorrow and August.

In a side story, Sundance Helicopters, which is one of Vegas’ leading aerial tour companies, will be offering a chance to see the demolition take place from above.

According to Forbes, Sundance is auctioning helicopter ride seats off on Ebay and will donate proceeds to the Make a Wish Foundation.

But anybody who just wants to see the demolition from anywhere can line up outside the casino on the strip.

The 24-story Monaco Tower, which is the tallest of Riviera’s buildings, will be demolished tomorrow. The Monte Carlo Tower, which is shorter, will be imploded in August at a TBD date. Once the buildings are torn down and debris is cleaned up, the Las Vegas Convention Center plans to extend their business onto the site.

This is the second big move on the Vegas Strip since MGM announced that they’ll be replacing the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino with two new hotel towers in the Park MGM and NoMad resort.

The Park MGM will feature 2,700 rooms while NoMad will offer 292 more-luxurious rooms. The project will cost $450 million, but MGM hopes that it’ll revive the property, which has remained stagnant over the last several years.

Opened in 1996, Monte Carlo has done alright at attracting visitors with its European-style decorating. But MGM wants to draw a younger crowd and offer a more-memorable experience with Italian-themed cafes and shops.

MGM has made other prominent moves lately, including developing the CityCenter in 2009, 5-star Mandarin Oriental, Crystals shopping mall and various public artworks.

As for the Riviera, its removal is just one step towards changing Vegas into a more-modern entertainment destination that has less to do with gambling.