Rex's Las Vegas Lists
Fireworks and implosion only (5 minutes)
Crowd shots, anticipation, fireworks, and implosion. The next best thing to being there (10 minutes)
I hopped on my bicycle at 1:30am and headed over to Las Vegas Boulevard (LVB) and Cathedral.
It was really the only practical way to go. The roads were closed, there was no cab or bus service, and I didn’t feel like walking.
They closed off LVB between Spring Mountain and Sahara (roughly), so I rode and parked my bike next to a tree in the median, on the bridge over DI. I would later learn that being on this bridge was a bit scary when the building came down, because the bridge shook and bounced like crazy. I thought it might cave in.
After all, this was the tallest building to ever be imploded on the Las Vegas Strip.
There were people everywhere. Many of them drunk with beers in their hands. Some of them were acting like complete assholes (“knock that fucking piece of shit down!”). Some were media folks. But the majority were camera-toting locals just like me. All of the locals were really nice and almost all of them talked about how bummed they were to see the Stardust go.
A lady was walking around selling dust masks for $2/each. I bought one. It didn’t help my eyes though (they still sting).
Finally the fireworks went off, the building came down, and there was literally a stampede in the street. Apparently the drunk tourists (now with open beers full of dirt) were not aware that implosions generate dust clouds, and they ran away from the Stardust like they were running from the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.
I am glad I bought the dust mask, because at least I could breathe.
I decided to ride out of the crowd, and head south on the Strip since I basically had the whole thing to myself. There was no traffic at all.
I rode up to Bill’s to see the new sign, but I noted that it was not yet lit up at night. I took a photo anyway.
I also noticed that they were doing some kind of nighttime work on the marquee:
It was about here that my chain fell off my bike sprocket. Dammit!
I have to sit on the sidewalk, fix it, and get my hands covered in oil. Tourists look at me curiously while passing by.
I also have a verbal issue with a douchebag Flamingo cab-jockey, but that’s a different post.
So now it’s about 3am, and I decide to head home. My eyes are burning and the whole Strip literally wreaks of dust and something that smelled like gasoline or paint thinner.
I pedal a mile east of the Strip, look back, and see that the whole Strip is enshrouded in a cloud of Stardust … dust.
Nasty stuff.
So I ride on home and my neighbor asks me if there was an earthquake. No, the Stardust just got imploded.
She actually didn’t know, and apparently it shook our whole building.
I get in my home, and it wreaks of dust and there is crap on my TV screen. Wow, that stuff really traveled. I had to shut the windows and turn on the A/C to clean the air.
Anyway, that was my final night with the Stardust. One of the truly great and iconic properties in Las Vegas history.
Let’s hope that Echelon place is worth it.
Oh, the moon also looked pretty cool last night:
We are waiting ;-)
I lived in the Stardust for a couple of months, now this historic building will be gone.
Greets form The Netherlands.
Arminius
It is rendering. FLV takes forever to render. It is showing 2 hours remaining.
As soon as it it finished, the video will appear at the top.
Hopefully it came out well.
A shroud of dust is currently hanging over the strip. I had to shut my windows and turn on the A/C because the dust cloud is enveloping everything within 2 miles of the strip … the east side is getting the worst of it.
Keep in mind that this is the tallest building that has ever been imploded on the Las Vegas strip. It’s pretty nasty out there right now.
Great video!
It looks like they spent more on fireworks than on the charges to actually bring the shell down.
Good by old friend, we had some great times and I’ll miss you.
Now to see if there are any bodies buried on the property.
Dude, The coverage and video was great I have been reading your site everday, I really enjoy your info, keep up the good work..
Nice job shooting the video. To bad the ole’ girl had to come down.
VegasRex,
Keep up the good work, I check out you site everyday and really enjoy your reports. Thanks!!!
Soon there will be no reason to go to Vegas, it will just be one big shopping mall with expensive restaurants. I guess some would say its been a good ride. Thanks for the coverage and good luck.
Let’s hope that Echelon place is worth it.
Amen.
Amen to that, Don. Vegas used to be a great bargain holiday (hotels and food) with good gambling. Today it’s mostly shitty gambling with most prices (again hotels and food) in the range like other cities.
We were in town when the Stardust became just dust. My wife wanted to go see it but, I talked her out of it. I was aware of the huge amount of crap that would be thrown up in the air and with her allergies, it wasn’t going to be worth it. As it was both our sinuses gave us fits the entire week. Now that I’m home I’m breathing fine. Normally, it’s the other way around. When I’m in Vegas I don’t have any problems but when the allergians are coming out at home I have issues.
Don,
For the first time in ten years of going to Vegas we felt just like you posted. What’s the point? I never thought I’d see the day that the odds on the strip were as bad as the airport but, when I saw 6/5 paytables on some of the quarter Bonus Poker machines on the strip (Bellagio I recall clearly) I realized my days of gambling in Vegas were all but done. South Point and Red Rock are nice but, who wants to drive that far off the strip just to gamble.
The new stuff will be new only so long and, after we’ve seen it once, then what’s the big deal? How many Cirque shows can one go see before it becomes old hat?
This really was the first time that both of us were ready to leave Vegas for home. It was a sad day for both of us.
BTW,
Thanks Rex for all the great pics. I’ll show my wife what she missed and why she couldn’t breath this past week.
I was one of those drunk assholes chanting. Your publicated words recorded my essance. Thanks dude.