The Stardust Resort & Casino was a famous casino located in Las Vegas, Nevada. It operated from 1958 to 2006 before being imploded and replaced by Echelon Place, currently under development as Resorts World Las Vegas.
Overview
Built by the Kerkorian family at a cost of $10 million, Stardust opened its doors on July 2, 1958, with approximately 1,500 rooms. The resort was designed in Art Deco style and initially featured various amenities such as the ‘Bijou’, an intimate showroom; a nightclub called ‘The Stardust Casino Gold Diggers’ Lounge’; and several dining options.
History
Over its nearly five-decade operational span, Stardust faced numerous challenges due to intense competition within Las Vegas. Its popularity began to decline during the 1980s. A significant fire in January 2003 damaged part of the property but it continued operations following extensive repairs.
In 1999, Boyd Gaming Corp took control after purchasing a portion of the resort from MGM Mirage (the other owner), followed by a complete buyout in 2006 and demolition of all existing structures.
The site is now being transformed into Resorts World Las Vegas. In recent years, interest has been expressed to preserve elements or restore parts of the original Stardust structure but so far there’s no definitive plan announced for historic preservation purposes within this upcoming project.
Architecture
Stardust’s 32-story tower was originally designed by architect Norman F. Marsden (who also designed other hotels in Las Vegas), along with architects David Friedlander, and Sven Willener Jr from the architectural firm of Blum and Pritzker Inc. The property featured large terracotta-tiled roof sections which gave it its unique aesthetic.
Inside, you could find 15 restaurants serving both fine dining cuisine as well as more casual fare like pizza & sandwiches at reasonable prices; however this range included some upscale options offering steaks served in a warm inviting atmosphere complete with wooden paneling on walls – one example being the Italian restaurant called ‘Il Fornaio’ (which still exists today elsewhere).