Some Las Vegas Strip icons die in spectacular fashion.
In many ways an implosion, complete with crowds, cameras, and fanfare feels a bit like a Viking funeral. It's a sad occasion that also lets a casino end its existence in a fashion befitting any major piece of Las Vegas Strip history.
You can expect the final days of Tropicana, for example, to be a celebration of that property's long history. It may not get an implosion, but everyone knows the end is coming as the second-oldest Strip casino will make way for the Oakland Athletics' new stadium.
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In other cases, pieces of Las Vegas Strip history sort of fade away without any fanfare. That's what happened at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat which had a 30-year run at Mirage.
Since the new owners had no interest in the publicity that came every time a dolphin died, they instead quietly shut the animal habitat down. There was no long goodbye or really any goodbye at all. One day a temporary closure became permanent and the last vestige of the legendary magic duo was removed from the property that will eventually become Hard Rock Las Vegas.
A similar fate has befallen another iconic piece of the Las Vegas Strip, this time at Caesars Entertainment's (CZR) -) flagship Caesars Palace property.
Image Source: Shutterstock.
A Caesars Palace Icon quietly meets its end
Anyone who visits Caesars Palace likely notices the Cleopatra's Barge space, even if they don't know what it is. Created in the 70s, the bar/club actually was a pretty unique, albeit silly concept.
"A popular lounge in the Caesars Palace hotel, the main attraction is the floating dance floor. A barge that sits in water, where it's lightly rocked by hydraulics. An elaborate re-creation of the Egyptian times," is how TripAdvisor described the
The Barge opened in 1970, and while it was lightly updated over the years, it remained an icon of old Las Vegas. It was eye-catching, even in the modern era, but few Las Vegas Strip bars get a 10-year-run, let alone one that lasted until the covid pandemic when Cleopatra's Barge closed.
"Cleopatra’s Barge was significant because it lasted. It was considered the last iconic piece of Old Vegas architecture still in active use on the Strip," Casino.org shared.
Alas, nothing on the Strip is forever (except perhaps Donny Osmond and Wayne Newton) and the temporary closure has now become permanent and very different tenant will take over the space.
Caesars Cleopatra's Barge goes upscale
Clique Hospitality, which runs a number of upscale bars and nightclubs both on and off the Las Vegas Strip will take over the property. The company celebrated that with a series of posts on Instagram that revealed that the property will become Caspian's Caviar and Cocktails
The social media post including an image of a pantsless woman arched over a guitar and another woman licking caviar off her arm. Another image shares what appears to be the slogan for the new bar.
"Inhibitions are out. Defiance is in."
Hard to see how an upscale bar selling caviar can be particularly defiant, but the new owners have a clear vibe they're going for that's decidedly different from the kitschy Cleopatra's Barge.
"On the outside, Caspian’s exudes European elegance. An exceptional collection of caviar will be enjoyed from an intricately designed bar and intimate tables in a luxurious setting that dramatically pairs onyx and pearl hues with detailed brass," Clique hospitality shared in a press release.
The new operator called the space an "homage to Art Deco’s Parisian roots."
In addition to caviar, and a curated selection of vodka designed to accentuate the flavors of the pricey dish, the venue will have a full bar as well as nightly music performances.
