Remembering the Stardust

The iconic Stardust hotel in Las Vegas closed five years ago today. The property was open from July 2, 1958 to November 1, 2006. It was shut down to make way for the Echelon Place development, which was later abandoned due to economic conditions.

The Stardust was always one of my favorite visually looking hotels in Las Vegas. I loved the purple and pink lighting on the side of the building, and the marquee sign was great also.

The Stardust sportsbook was known for being the best in Las Vegas. They had a reputation for setting the lines before any other book in town. I remember on September 30, 2006 I wanted to bet the over/under for the Toledo at Pittsburgh college football game. I walked from MGM Grand all the way to Stardust stopping in every sportsbook along the way. The Stardust was the only place to offer the wager. I won the bet, cashed my ticket, and 32 days later the Stardust was closed forever.