Tropicana preserves iconic stained glass | Casinos and gaming

Aaron Berger, the executive director of the Neon Museum, said the operators of the Rat Pack-era property have hired specialists to remove the stained glass installation that previously lay above the casino’s well. The pieces are being stored to “determine the next best use,” he said.

“The Neon Museum is very concerned about the preservation of that atrium,” Berger said Tuesday. “It is an iconic installation that is not only beautiful, but also incredibly functional and speaks to the history of how gaming was done when the Tropicana was built.”

Officials from Bally’s Corp., the real estate operator, declined to comment. General Manager Arik Knowles previously told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the company was working on the complicated preservation process.

The atrium was installed in the 1970s. Berger said the museum considers it part of an interesting piece of casino history because the design included mirror-like decorations that were two-way glass and were used for security surveillance of the table games.

“We’re going to do everything we can to help with that and have a very good working relationship with the GM at the Tropicana,” Berger said of its preservation.

Other post-closure and pre-demolition work continues at the hotel-casino, which closed April 2. Clark County last week approved a commercial demolition permit for Bally’s, which requires the estimated $15 million implosion to occur by Oct. 20.

Plans call for the Tropicana to be demolished to make way for future development on the site, including the planned $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat Oakland Athletics ballpark.

In addition, trustees continue to vacate the buildings through private sales to the catering industry. International Content Liquidations, a Dayton, Ohio-based company, is responsible for selling items from approximately 1,800 hotel rooms and suites, the theater, restaurants and more. Sales are by appointment only; According to ICL’s communications, a public sale is expected at a later date.

McKenna Ross is a member of the staff at Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. Contact her at [email protected]. To follow @mckenna_ross_ on X.