Inside fascinating history of iconic Las Vegas casino Tropicana as glitzy celebrity-loved venue with sinister mobster ties is set to be DEMOLISHED to make way for a baseball stadium

Las Vegas has earned the nickname Sin City thanks to the many adult acts that go on within its hotels, strip clubs, and casinos - and one resort in particular has certainly helped it live up to its name.

Riddled with murky connections to the mob and legal problems for its owners, the Tropicana hotel and casino is a prime example of why the Nevada city has garnered its wild reputation.

When it first opened in 1957, the Tropicana was the most expensive property in the city's history - and it quickly became the epitome of Hollywood glam.

For decades, it was associated with glitz and glamor; it frequently hosted A-list stars in its showroom - from Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds to Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. - and was the hotel that James Bond chose in the popular 1971 flick Diamonds Are Forever.

Take a look back at the wildly sordid history of Las Vegas's Tropicana casino and hotel as it prepares to shut its doors for the final time

The Tropicana (seen last month) was the most expensive property in Las Vegas history when it opened in 1957, and  became the epitome of Hollywood glam

It frequently hosted A-list stars in its showroom - from Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds to Frank Sinatra. Elizabeth and Debbie are seen with Eddie Fisher in 1957 at the hotel

It was also the hotel that James Bond chose in the popular 1971 flick Diamonds Are Forever. He's seen in the swanky Tropicana resort in the movie

But behind the scenes, the glamorous resort (seen in the '50s) was riddled with murky connections to the mob and legal problems for its owners

But the extravagant resort endured a slew of scandals that ultimately tarnished its opulent reputation.

Its leadership eventually got caught secretly sending money to the mafia and faced numerous run-ins with the law, ultimately leading to an array of management changes and revamps over the course of the 67 years it's been open. 

The wildly sordid history of the Tropicana casino and hotel has come back into the forefront of everyone's minds this week, as it is now preparing to shut its doors for the final time. 

After nearly seven decades of welcoming guests, the Tropicana is set to officially close on Tuesday to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium.

It will be demolished in October, and while very little remains of the original structure, the tale of how it went from an extravagant resort visited by Hollywood's most elite while dealing under the table to the mob, to a party spot where celebrities like Rob Kardashian went to have fun, to a run-down hotel passed from owner to owner is one that will likely be remembered.

The Tropicana was first conceived by business mogul Ben Jaffe, who already was a part owner of the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

While it was originally proposed as a $4.5 million project, Ben was determined to make it the biggest and best hotel in Vegas.

He certainly went all out, and the costs of the construction ultimately totaled a whopping $15 million, and he brought in 30 investors to help fund it - including a man named Phil Kastel.

Even before it opened, the Gaming Control Board raised suspicions over investor Phil Kastel's connections to organized crime. The hotel is seen one year after it opened

Their worries were confirmed when mobster Frank Costello (seen) was shot and police found a note containing confidential information about the Tropicana's finances

Even so, the Tropicana officially opened later that year, and immediately, the 300-room hotel was associated with luxury. It was home to the Les Folies Bergere show, which is seen here

The topless revue featured elaborate costumes and stage sets - and introduced what is now one of the most recognizable Las Vegas icons: the feathered showgirl

While applying for a gaming license for the property, however, the Tropicana faced its first scandal when the Gaming Control Board raised suspicions over Phil's connections to organized crime - and he was ultimately forced to sell his shares of the hotel before its opening. 

Their worries were confirmed in 1957, when famous mobster Frank Costello was shot in the head and police found a note containing confidential information about the Tropicana's finances, seemingly given to him by Phil.

Even so, the Tropicana officially opened later that year, on April 4, 1957, and immediately, the 300-room hotel was associated with luxury.

Its manicured lawns and elegant showroom earned it the nickname 'the Tiffany of the Strip,' with A-list stars usually spotted mingling in the lobby or casino, and the resort would often host lavish parties attended by thousands.

Its immensely popular Les Folies Bergere show opened in 1959, and went on to become the longest-running show in Las Vegas history before it eventually closed in 2009. 

The topless revue, imported from Paris, featured elaborate costumes and stage sets, original music that at one time was played by a live orchestra, line dancers, magic shows, acrobats, and comedy - and introduced what is now one of the most recognizable Las Vegas icons: the feathered showgirl.

The cabaret was featured in the 1964 Elvis Presley film Viva Las Vegas, while magicians Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn got their start in the show.

And in the 1971 film Diamonds are Forever, secret agent 007 stayed in a swanky suite at the Tropicana Las Vegas.

Mel Tormé and Eddie Fisher performed over the years, while Gladys Knight and Wayne Newton held residencies there.

But after more than a decade of flourishing, the Tropicana began to struggle in the early 1970s after hotels like Caesars Palace and the Las Vegas Hilton opened nearby, and began raking in business. 

In 1972, a businessman named Deil Gustafson took over running the property, and three years after that, Mitzi Stauffer Briggs, heir to a successful chemical company, bought the majority interest of it.

Its manicured lawns and elegant showroom earned it the nickname 'the Tiffany of the Strip.' Guests are seen at the hotel during the 1950s and 1960s

A-list stars were usually spotted mingling in the lobby or casino, and the resort would often host lavish parties attended by thousands. Actress Kitty Dolan is seen at the hotel in 1958

But after more than a decade of flourishing, the Tropicana (seen in 1967) began to struggle in the early 1970s after hotels like Caesars Palace and the Las Vegas Hilton opened nearby

In 1972, a businessman named Deil Gustafson (seen) but he was arrested for a check kiting scheme and sentenced to 40 months in prison

Mitzi, despite knowing very little about the hotel business, was determined to save it - investing $6 million of her own money and ordering renovations and expansions, leading to the construction of its first high-rise tower. 

It's been said that she leaned heavily on a tycoon named Joe Agosto, who oversaw the Folies Bergere show, for advice - but in 1979, the property became embroiled in more controversy when the FBI uncovered that Joe had been giving a percentage of the property's gambling revenue to a mafia family in Kansas City, Missouri.

To make matters worse, Deil was also arrested for a check kiting scheme and sentenced to 40 months in prison; in addition, he was later charged with bankruptcy fraud related to his time at the Tropicana.

Shrouded in legal troubles, the hotel chain Ramada Inns swooped in and bought the Tropicana in 1979, and the company quickly made a series of changes to it.

Instead of targeting the rich and wealthy, it began marketing to the middle-class - and the new method was a success.

It was soon popular again, as it underwent a massive, $70 million revamp, which included the construction of a second high-rise tower, as well as a massive five-acre pool and multiple lagoons, waterfalls, and islands to give it more of a tropical feel.

It became a hot spot for those looking to have some fun, but by the mid-2000s, it was dwindling once again, and Ramada Inns announced plans to demolish the Tropicana.

Ramada Inns swooped in and bought the Tropicana in 1979 and it underwent a massive, $70 million revamp. It's seen in 2021

This included the construction of a massive five-acre pool and multiple lagoons, waterfalls, and islands to give it more of a tropical feel. It's seen last month

It became a hot spot for those looking to have some fun, but by the mid-2000s, it was dwindling once again. Rob Kardashian is seen at the Tropicana in 2016

Over the next few years, however, it was sold multiple times, before ending up in the hands of Bally's Corporation in 2022. It's seen last month

After nearly seven decades, the Tropicana is set to officially shut down on Tuesday to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium. A rendering for the stadium is seen

But a bidding war erupted and a privately-owned hotel company called Columbia Sussex ultimately won and took control of the property in 2007.

Despite its best efforts to save it, that company went bankrupt a year later, and its creditors - a Canadian investment firm called Onex Corporation - became the Tropicana's new owners.

It seemed the fate of the Tropicana was grim. By this point, with old rooms and out-of-date amenities, it was no longer known as a luxurious hotel or booming party resort, but rather, a cheap spot to stay on the Strip.

But it wasn't done yet. Onex brought in former MGM CEO Alex Yemenidjian, who ordered a $180 million renovation, which was completed in 2010 and updated its rooms and casino.

Over the next few years, however, it was sold multiple times, before ending up in the hands of Bally's Corporation in 2022.

It was then announced earlier this year that the hotel would be shutting down this year after nearly seven decades in business.

Now, the Las Vegas Strip's third-oldest casino will officially close for good on Tuesday at noon, and will be destroyed in October.

The ballpark planned for the land beneath the Tropicana is expected to open in 2028. 

'It's time. It's ran its course,' Charlie Granado, a bartender at the Tropicana for 38 years, said of the casino's closure. 'It makes me sad but on the other hand, it's a happy ending.'