Tropicana Implosion Sees Las Vegas Room Rates Skyrocket

Las Vegas implosions have become quite popular over the years. And now our fair city and is residents, and visitors, anxiously await the next one.

The Tropicana Las Vegas is coming down in a big way. But room rates for some of the properties surrounding the Tropicana demolition site are going up!

The Tropicana is essentially a shell at this point, that looks like a good wind could take it down. But how would that help make any money?

The remainder of The Tropicana Las Vegas is set for implosion at around 2:30 a.m. on October 9, pending approval from Clark County. There will be fireworks, and a drone show before the big takedown.

The last big celebrated (and very sad) implosion in Las Vegas, was in 2016, when The Riviera was taken down. It was an invitation only, fireworks, open bar event. Quite the party. But that is how Las Vegas says goodbye to properties that made history. With explosions!

The Tropicana Las Vegas implosion announcement almost immediately raised room prices for rooms near The Tropicana, for the night of October 8th.

Rooms at the Oyo casino-hotel, with a Strip view, at the time of this writing, are going for around $550 for the night of October 8th. MGM Grand rates - about $1500 for the cheapest room at the time of this writing. Rooms at NYNY and Excalibur are sold out, according to their online reservation system. Implosions are big business in Las Vegas!

The Riviera implosion was August 16, 2016. Implosions prior to that:

The Tropicana is being imploded to make way for the *proposed* $1.5 billion baseball stadium, for the Oakland Athletics. So far, sources for funding the projects have not been determined or approved.

So - find a place to watch yet another piece of Las Vegas history topple down, when the Tropicana crumbles on October 9th.

Where are the best happy hours in Las Vegas?

It's always five o'clock somewhere, right? Especially in Las Vegas. But when it comes to happy hour, let's face - you want a bargain. You want to save a little money on that drink, and those nachos.

The Las Vegas Strip isn’t exactly known for its bargains these days. Gone are the days of cheap drinks, and 99 cent shrimp cocktails. So let's leave the Las Vegas Strip, and be a true local.

There are some great happy hours in Las Vegas, and you don't have to go anywhere near the strip. Some of your favorite restaurants offer a great happy hour, that you may not have even known about.

In Las Vegas, restaurants with some of the best happy hour menus are no where near the Las Vegas Strip. They are in neighborhoods, strip malls, or your favorite brewery. Yes, of course, many resort restaurants have happy hours. But as a local, we're not going to the strip, or even necessarily a casino -unless we have to. Or, those cousins are visiting from Milwaukee, and they have to get a yard of margarita, and see the KISS street performers, in ass-less chaps.

You can thank the US Navy for Happy Hour. In the 1920s, after World War I, happy hours were periods of time on naval ships where sailors could participate in relaxing activities, so they could remove themselves from the toll of life at sea. Those activities were supposed to be morale boosting - mostly boxing, and other athletics.

Of course the US was in the midst of prohibition. But Americans got around that (shhhhh) by going to speakeasies to get a drink before dinner. Happy hour as we know it today!

These are just 5 of the better happy hours in Las Vegas - at least some of my favorites. Remember though, happy hour deals change often, so be sure to check the restaurant’s website or social media for updates before popping in for a drink.

Great 'hoppy' hour specials include $5 LVBC drafts, $13 LVBC flights, $5 house wine, $6 well drinks. Sloppy Joe Sliders, fried pickles - that are AWESOME - and a really great "pubcuterie." I'm not the biggest beer drinker, but this place has some of the best beers in Las Vegas. Do a flight, and try a few!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/D3fbda77Y85kPssBA

The Spot has some GREAT food! And one of their favorites, and mine, is offered on their happy hour menu - their pork belly burnt ends. YUM!!!! Six chicken wings for $8. Happy hour is in the bar only, of course, and they do it from 3pm-6pm, AND again at 9pm-close.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/g4wUdypZ61HvMh9aA

Yes, the Cheesecake Factory. They have always had a great happy hour menu! Sliders, pot stickers, hot pretzel bites, spinach and cheese dip, fried zucchini, a happy hour burger, and tons more. Several delightful cocktails for $8.50, draft beers $4.95, bottled beer $3.95. Seriously - you can't go wrong! Try the fried zucchini - just like my grandma's!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zZCVFTo4LpRVKoGr7

Lazy Dog is just a fun place overall - and you can bring your dog! Happy hour lettuce wraps, crispy brussels sprouts, buffalo cauliflower. $4 wine, $1 off their draft beers. Woof!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2dYo9a83JBBtmvaF6

Echo & Rig is one of the best off strip steakhouses in Las Vegas, and in my opinion - still fairly reasonable. Their happy hour food menu is small, but mighty! A $3 Hotdog - the best hot dog ever! $4 Steak and egg, and Butcher fries with prime steak, homemade teriyaki, and scallions. Half off all draft & bottled beers, half off premium well liquor, $5 house wine, and always a $3 cocktail! It's great, but get there early, it gets busy!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/sjAGMT4w7XbXqzfm9