Preliminary plans are being laid for the Tropicana Hotel and Casino to be knocked down and replaced with a modern resort. Aztar Corp., owner of the Trop, is currently working with Marnell Corrao Associates to design and define cost for a modern resort to occupy the premium location on the corner of the Las Vegas Strip and Tropicana Ave, across from the Excalibur. Marnell Corrao Associates built the recently opened super resort, Wynn Las Vegas and they built and owned the Rio Resort before selling it to Harrah's Entertainment. The Tropicana is no longer accepting reservations beyond April 14th, 2006.

An SEC filing by Aztar Corp. last week was an amendment to severance agreements with executive management of the Tropicana, another likely step towards demolition of the aging Tropicana facility. Although the company is sending strong signals of an impending change there is still a chance that Aztar will re-evaluate and go back to business as normal, something they are known to do. I expect an announcement about future plans from Aztar in the near future.

The Klondike Casino and Hotel on the very south Las Vegas Strip will close its doors after forty-five years. Another piece of Las Vegas set to disappear; but, on a more happy note, the closing should have happened sooner. The place looks and smells like what you'd expect from a hotel motel that has long outlasted its prime. People that pay to stay probably arrived to a full town, no reservations and the only option is here or the car...many prefer the car. If you're still wondering about the location, it's adjacent to the famous 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign on the south end of the strip.

What a period of closing casinos. Las Vegas history is falling like a domino trick, the locals favorite form of entertainment is implosion of old joints. The Castaways, formerly the Showboat, has been reduced to a pile of rubble, the Boardwalk Casino on the Las Vegas Strip turned off the lights for good, 45 years of the Klondike Casino comes to an end and the Tropicana will probably disappear in a controlled series of explosions. Stopping by your favorite casino then staying too long and you, too, may be caught in a quicky closure while Las Vegas renews itself. The Nines list will help recognize the signs your favorite casino is closing. This week's Nines...

9. Rats streaming out of casino carrying their belongings.
8. Las Vegas locals streaming out of casino carrying everything.
7. Coffee shop special is stew made from three decades of leftovers.
6. Hookers suddenly move to the joint up the street.
5. Valet guy takes your car and drives away...forever.
4. Cheshire grinning executives.
3. Food comps expire after fifteen minutes.
2. Bingo session cancelled mid-number.
1. Dynamite stacked around support columns.