Sam Novak
May 201 min
When a Vegas resort shuts down, what remains inside is eerie, fascinating, and unforgettable. Here’s my experience at the Riviera Las Vegas.
On March 17th, 2020, the unthinkable happened. Precautions against COVID-19 caused every casino in Nevada to be shuttered. Since those doors were never meant to be locked, operators resorted to chains and sheets of plywood to get the job done. The sight was downright frightening.
Last month, Tropicana Resort permanently closed after six decades of operations. Photos of its interior dismantling occasionally pop up on the internet, especially those of the famed glass ceiling. This writer has been inside a few shuttered resorts like Riviera and the original Sahara. The gut-wrenching experience is worth sharing if only to appreciate Las Vegas history. Let’s take a look.
Riviera Hotel Casino shuttered permanently on May 4th, 2015. This writer checked in the evening before and spent one final night in the historic resort.