LAS VEGAS (FOX5)- The Eastside Cannery Casino-Hotel on Boulder Highway will meet its end in a controlled implosion set for 2 a.m. Thursday, March 5, with the neighboring Longhorn Casino-Hotel seizing the opportunity to host a front-row viewing party.
The demolition, scheduled by Boyd Gaming Corp., will mark the final chapter for the property that closed its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic more than five years ago and never reopened.
Road Closures and Safety Measures
The Nevada Department of Transportation announced that Boulder Highway will be temporarily closed between Harmon Avenue and Sun Valley Drive from 11 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday to accommodate the implosion. Law enforcement and temporary traffic control will be on-site, with detour routes established.
Transportation officials are urging drivers to plan their trips in advance, follow posted detour instructions, and avoid the closure area during the operation.
Boyd Gaming has asked the public to stay away from the Eastside Cannery property itself, stating that no public viewing areas will be available on-site.
Longhorn Capitalizes on Demolition
Directly across the street, the Longhorn Casino-Hotel is opening its front parking lot to spectators willing to pay $25 per car for a prime viewing spot of the historic implosion.
“Our deals and customer service, we really pride ourselves on what we have,” said Heather Beam, Marketing Director at the Longhorn. “It’s a great way to build new clientele and show them the Longhorn.”
Early-morning attendees will receive $20 in slot play and small bags of popcorn “so it could feel like you are watching a movie,” Beam said. The casino will also be giving away commemorative t-shirts inside the property.
Beam says the unusual event presents a unique marketing opportunity for the Longhorn to showcase what the casino has to offer to potential new customers.
End of an Era
The Eastside Cannery opened in 2008 but shuttered at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. When restrictions were eventually lifted, the property remained closed.
“There is not sufficient market demand to reopen the facility,” a Boyd Gaming spokesperson said in October. “Given this, we are finalizing plans to demolish the building.”
Boyd Gaming officials have indicated they are working to sell the property for residential housing development, potentially transforming the site from a gaming destination to a new community for Las Vegas residents.
The 2 a.m. implosion will join a long list of notable Las Vegas casino demolitions, as the city continues to evolve and reinvent itself.
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