Riviera Casino is Finally, Sadly, Completely Gone

By Scott Roeben, on August 17 2016
2 min read 7 comments
Las Vegas

In the end, the Riviera hotel-casino went out with a bang and a whimper.

After months of demolition on the Riviera site, the two remaining structures of this classic Las Vegas hotel were imploded.

Riviera implosion
Unlike the implosion of the Riviera’s Monaco tower on June 14, this one eschewed fanfare. Related: Eschewed Fanfare would be a great band name.

The implosion downed both the hotel’s Monte Carlo tower and its iconic, mirrored facade. The implosion took place at 2:30 in the wee hours of August 16, 2016, and lasted for upwards of eight seconds. Or approximately three seconds longer than sex with this blog.

Rivera implosion
As if part of a Las Vegas magician’s act, the Riviera disappeared in a puff of smoke.

A day later, after the dust settled, we took what is likely to be our final pass over the Riviera site for posterity.


See more of our exhaustive, borderline obsessive, coverage of the Riviera demolition.

The Riviera closed on May 4, 2015, after a 60-year run on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Riv was purchased by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority, and it’s expected the site will be used for an expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Before that happens, there’s quite a bit of sweeping up to do.

Riviera implosion
After months of demolition, Las Vegas a shiny new empty lot sort of thing.

The Riviera holds a special place in the hearts of Las Vegas lovers, despite the fact its popularity waned over the last few years.

Riviera implosion
The Riviera’s facade was better with neon. Then again, everything is.

For some, the end of the Riv marks the end of an era in Las Vegas. But the fact is there are no “eras” in Las Vegas. Las Vegas a continuum of building and demolishing and building again and evolving into whatever’s next and new and in demand.

Las Vegas is like a shark. Wait, no, a chameleon. Ooh, or maybe a lemur. They’re adorable.

Riviera implosion
This is all that remains of the Riviera’s Monte Carlo tower. We chose the word “remains” for a reason.

Lemurs, you see, don’t waste time pining for the past. Lemurs are all about living in the now. It’s not about the fruit and insects they had yesterday but don’t have now. It’s about the next fruit and insect. It’s about tail rings. It’s about copulatory plugs, whatever those might actually be.

Riviera implosion
Just so much nothing.

It should be noted that lemur society is distinguished by female social dominance. Which, in Las Vegas, happens to be a thing, too. Typically, for a small surcharge.

So, be a lemur. If one tree falls, find another tree. Hopefully, one with low table minimums and a topless revue.

Riviera Demolition Update: August 16, 2016