Stardust implosion paves way for $4.4 billion resort

2007-03-13 15:59:32

The famous Stardust casino on the Las Vegas Strip was imploded in a lavish ceremony this morning (March 13th) as preparations begin on its replacement.

The site will now host a $4.4 billion Boyd Gambling Group casino, the Echelon, a 5,000 room hotel casino which is expected to open in 2010.

Four grandsons of Boyd chairman Bill Boyd were selected to detonate the explosions which razed the Stardust to the ground, with a fireworks display going off as the building collapsed.

In addition hundreds of people gathered nearby to watch the event, which is expected to take months to fully clear up. The tower is the tallest building ever destroyed on the strip, the Associated Press has reported.

Fans of the famous casino found it difficult to contain their emotion as a piece of gaming history ceased to exist.

"It hurts. We cried…my heart is broken," said Sheila Navarro from California, speaking to the Associated Press.


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