The Stardust Resort & Casino is seen shortly before it was imploded. Boyd Gaming Corp. plans to replace the historic property with a $4 billion hotel, casino, convention and retail development called Echelon Place on the 63 acres of land on the Las Vegas Strip. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
A flash of fireworks and pyrotechnics light up the Stardust before implosion. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Fireworks go off seconds before the implosion. (Jae C. Hong / AP)
The Stardust begins its descent. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
The Stardust goes up in smoke. (Jae C. Hong / AP)
The blast generated a massive dust cloud that chased the revelers into cars, buses and nearby casinos. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
The casino opened July 2, 1958, billing itself as the world’s largest resort hotel with 1,032 rooms. (Jae C. Hong / AP)
Bob Boughner, Echelon Resorts’ chief executive, said while the Stardust was a favorite of the nostalgia crowd, it was missing out on younger patrons and those who come to Las Vegas for conventions. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Dust covers The Strip after the implosion. (Jae C. Hong / AP)
