Dawn Demolition Without the Crowd (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Las Vegas – Boyd Gaming Corp. announced plans to implode the shuttered Eastside Cannery hotel tower next month, continuing the city’s legacy of explosive demolitions.[1][2]
Dawn Demolition Without the Crowd
The 16-story hotel tower will come down at 2 a.m. on March 5. Company spokesman David Strow confirmed the early-morning timing, noting that no public viewing areas would be available.[1] This decision sets the event apart from past Las Vegas implosions, which often drew large crowds for fireworks and cheers.
Work crews already reduced much of the 29.5-acre site to rubble after Clark County issued a $7.5 million demolition permit last October. The tower stood gutted, its windows removed, allowing glimpses through the structure as demolition progressed.[2] Officials plan to release details on road closures closer to the date.
From Local Favorite to Pandemic Casualty
Eastside Cannery opened in 2008 on Boulder Highway at Harmon Avenue in the eastern Las Vegas Valley, replacing the older Nevada Palace. Boyd Gaming acquired it along with the North Las Vegas Cannery for about $230 million in 2016.
The property boasted more than 300 hotel rooms, a 64,000-square-foot casino floor, multiple bars and restaurants, a 250-seat entertainment lounge, and 20,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space. Then-Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered its closure in March 2020 amid the coronavirus outbreak. Casinos reopened in June that year, but Eastside Cannery stayed dark due to weak market demand.[3]
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Boyd purchased the underlying land for $45 million last February, ending a lease arrangement.
Repurposed for Community Needs
Even shuttered, the site proved useful to local groups. Three Square Food Bank ran weekly distributions there during the pandemic. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department held training drills, including room-clearing and active-shooter scenarios.
- Clark County Fire Department practiced stairwell maneuvers and elevator rescues.
- The property served as a training ground without disrupting neighbors.
- Such uses extended its role beyond gaming.
These activities highlighted the site’s value in eastern Las Vegas long after gaming operations ceased.[1]
Paving Way for Residential Revival
Boyd Gaming aims to sell the cleared land for residential development. This shift aligns with changing demands in the eastern valley, where housing needs grow amid the Strip’s dominance.
The implosion clears a path for new homes on the prime site. Strow emphasized the company’s focus on market realities that kept the casino closed for over five years.
Key Takeaways
- Implosion at 2 a.m. March 5; no public access.
- Site closed since 2020; now destined for homes.
- Property aided food bank and first responders post-closure.
Las Vegas continually reinvents itself, turning yesterday’s casinos into tomorrow’s neighborhoods. What changes would you like to see on Boulder Highway? Tell us in the comments.
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