Farewell to The Stardust, Castaways

Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 01.12.06 | 1:58 AM ET

Las Vegas said goodbye to another of its old-time hotels today. Castaways, formerly known as The Showboat, endured for almost 50 years before succumbing to crippling debts after 9/11. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has the story—and the video of the implosion. Next up on the list of old Vegas hotels set for closure: The Stardust.

It’s scheduled to close at the end of 2006, and a $4 billion hotel, retail and casino development has been proposed to replace it by early 2010. I’ll miss The Stardust. It’s one of the first hotels I stayed at in Las Vegas, and one of the first places where I ever gambled. If I remember correctly, I think I played nickel slots. I didn’t get comped.