Another Las Vegas legend is not long for this world, as Boyd Gaming announces plans for its answer to MGM Mirage’s Project City Center. The new complex will sit on the 63-acre site currently home to the Stardust, which will remain open through 2006.
Echelon Place will include the Echelon Resort, two towers managed by Boyd; the Shangri-La Hotel; the Delano Hotel; the Mondrian Hotel; the Las Vegas ExpoCenter at Echelon Place; and 350,000 square feet of retail space.
Didn’t have too many problems with the Stardust. Sure, it was old, but it looked to have been kept in pretty good condition for its age (as opposed to The Riviera). Saw Carlin there in September. Good show, pretty much what was seen on his most recent HBO special.
And I take it this isn’t the same Bob Boughner who is a defenseman with the Colorado Avalanche?
Use to stay out back in the 80’s for $20 a nite in the summer, hate to see it go . I will stop by this weekend a have a farewell drink.
A shame, they have the best race and sportsbook in Vegas.
Way before my time, back in the 50’s and 60’s the Stardust had a polynisian restaurant, Aku Aku. Its long gone, but one of the giant stone tikis has been moved to Sunset Park. Some Vegas history will live on.
Stop for a moment, think black & whites taken of Brat Packers back in the 50’s & 60’s. Got the image? Amazingly glamorous, cig in one hand, martini in the other. What times they must have been! April 1960, my parents married in Las Vegas. Second-time round for both. They dined that evening at the Aku Aku Room. The martinis? Replaced by a large Buddha shaped trough with two very long straws. Jack and Elaine could have been brat packers, instead they chose to raise brats. I believe one of which was shaken, not stired that very evening. I am the youngest of their three. In 1979 my father died. I was 13 years old then, I will be 40 in 15 days. Everyday as I head out to face humanity I pass the picture of that night. The night I began. I thank God (aka:Aku’s photographer) for stopping time in a place without clocks – if just for a moment. Sure Vegas is full of sorted tails, forturnes lost and found a million times over. For me, Las Vegas is Stardust, The Aku Aku Room and a black & white of two people just starting out.
In the latter part of my walk down memory lane “tail” (appropriate as it may seem) should read as “tale”
Thanks!
Oh My God……
To see the legendary Stardust close is so sad. I have so many memories of that place. To me the Stardust is Las Vegas. There is no other place I would rather be in Las Vegas. Why oh why do they have to build another mega resort in a place full of them. It actually brings tears to my eyes to think of the Stardust gone along with the landmark Sign. I am 30 years old, and visit the Stardust with my mother religiously. It is like our home away from home. Las Vegas will never ever be the same with the Stardust turned into a huge pile of *dust*. They have music that always plays out front of it…one of the songs they play over and over is *sister golden hair*. Anytime I hear that song I hope I have a tissue handy. Well, I will definitely go back one more time to have a somber good-bye to my favorite place in the whole world. =(