LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A family is reflecting on memories seven decades in the making spent at the Tropicana before the Las Vegas hotel closes its doors April 2.
“It really is a beautiful casino, and even walking through there today, you hate to see an era gone by,” California Resident Joan Noffsinger says.
Noffisinger and her family are visiting the hotel for the last time this week. Her first visit was in the 1960s with her son and late husband, who she says liked the “one-armed bandit.”
“He would be playing sometimes till 1:30 and I had to drag him away, but then he would hug the machine before we left,” she says. “He’s now in heaven, I don’t think they have machines up there.”
The Tropicana soon became a treasured destination for their family. Noffisinger remembers great food, excellent customer service, and iconic shows.
She made friends along the way, too.
“We, as older people, we seem to remember people who have been here before,” she says. “We’ve gotten a lot of friendships even through that, and cheering each other on.”
The family heads back to California on Friday, and are anticipating an emotional final goodbye.
“It’s time gone by that was happy, great memories growing up,” Noffsinger’s niece, Roxane Fredericks, says. “Crying because you’re saying goodbye for the last time. Like she said, for an era that’s gone by, it was a great era.”
As for plans for the new A’s stadium and Bally’s property standing in its place:
“Let’s just say that we hope it brings a lot of happiness to this city,” Noffsinger says.
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