Tropicana Timeline

Release date: March 21, 2007  /  Print This     RSS    

Year - Event

1955 - Groundbreaking is held for Tropicana

April 4, 1957 - Tropicana Hotel opens with 300 rooms on 17 acres of manicured lawns and gardens

1959 - 150-room wing added. Folies Bergere opens as the main showroom production

1961 - 18-hole Golf Course & Country Club opens

1962 - 116-room wing added

1965 - Blue Room Lounge opens

1973 - 1,150-seat Superstar Theatre opens

1975 - Tropicana drops headliner policy & reopens Superstar Theatre with new name: Tiffany Theatre

September 1978 - First-phase opening of the $25 million 600-room Tiffany (now Paradise) Tower

December 1979 - Ramada Inns, Inc. acquires Tropicana

November 1985 - Groundbreaking for the conversion to “The Island of Las Vegas," a $70 million expansion project to include construction of a new 22-story Island Tower and a five-acre garden and pool area.

January 1986 - "The Island of Las Vegas" makes its debut, complete with four Chilean Flamingos, one pair each of Black and Mute Swans, and six parrots.

1987 - The wildlife on the Island increases to eight Chilean Flamingos, one pair of Black necked Swans (in addition to the Black and Mute Swans) and 22 parrots and cockatoos.

December 1989 - Control of the Tropicana is transferred from Ramada Inns, Inc. to Aztar Corporation as part of a corporate restructuring.

1991 - The Tropicana creates an outer island (front area of the hotel), complete with two 35-ft. tall Aku Aku gods, a Polynesian long house and tropical landscaping.

1993 - Nine habitats are created on the walkway linking the Paradise and Island Towers. Marmosets, Tamarins, and a variety of parrots, cockatoos, finches and lovebirds inhabit these exhibits. African-crowned Cranes and Mandarin Ducks are introduced to the garden and pool area. The Wildlife Department maintained a collection of approximately 105 animals. This walkway linking the two towers officially became the “Wildlife Walk.”

The Tropicana offers nightly laser light shows on the outer island (front area of the hotel)

Caribbean-style facade is constructed around the front entrance

Pedestrian skywalk system is completed, linking all four corners of Tropicana Avenue and the Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas Blvd. South).

1996 - $1.4 million dollar Baccarat room added

“Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas” debuts with white Bengal tigers, masterful illusions and trained birds.

1997 - Pietro Musetto, famed maitre d’ of Dunes’ gourmet dining room, “Sultans Table,” opens “Pietro’s” gourmet room. Additional new dining choices such as Golden Dynasty Chinese Restaurant and Savanna Steakhouse also opened.

1998 - $3.5 Million renovation complete on Paradise Tower rooms.

1999 - $2.5 Million renovation of Island Tower rooms, convention and public areas. Casino Legends Hall of Fame, Legends Deli Celebration Lounge and Harbor Bar open. Folies Bergere celebrates its 40th Birthday. The Crystal Room opens to accommodate high rollers. Wildlife Walk is turned into the Tropicana Market. Java Java, a coffee shop, debuts at the Tropicana.

2000 - Tropics Lounge remodeled. The “Birdman of Las Vegas,” Joe Krathwohl, and musician, T. Fox & The Fox City Show, takes the stage in the Tropics Lounge.

2001 - Showgirl Spin & Win Promotion premieres.

Free Pull slot machines offer visitors to the Tropicana the chance to win a brand new Mustang with one free pull.

2002 - Aztar Corporation acquires full ownership and control of the 34 acres of land that the Tropicana sits on.

“Ginger” the chicken debuts in the $10,000 Chicken Challenge, a game that allows visitors to play tic tac toe against a live chicken for the chance to win $10,000.

Air Play, a dynamic display of music, dancing, acrobats and more, premieres on a stage above slot machines and underneath the Tiffany glass dome ceiling on the main casino floor.

Tuscany Italian Café opens featuring authentic Italian family recipes in a casual, friendly atmosphere with Italian village décor.

2003 - The Tropicana Bird Show Starring Tiana Carroll opens.

May 2004 – Cigar lounge, Havana Hideaway opens

March 2005 - Xtreme Magic Starring Dirk Arthur opens - afternoons in the Tiffany Theatre

March 2005 - March 2006 - Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition opens in the Tropicana Exhibition Center

April 2005 – Complete Poker Room opens with six poker tables

June 2006 - Bodies.. The Exhibition & Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition open in the Tropicana Exhibition Center

January 2007- Wimar Tahoe, Inc., d/b/a Columbia Entertainment acquired the Tropicana when it merged with and into former property owner Aztar Corporation for approximately $2.1 billion.

July 2009- Tropicana Las Vegas Inc. becomes an independantly owned and operated hotel and casino led by seasoned gaming executive Alex Yemenidjian.