Residents near Tropicana plan to watch the implosion from home

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Many people are living in apartments and condos near the Tropicana and are preparing for the big explosion early Wednesday morning. Some plan to watch the implosion from their own balconies.

Louis Gamboa says when you live within walking distance of the Tropicana, it becomes part of the neighborhood.

He has lived in the apartment complex at Reno Ave and Duke Ellington Way for almost a decade.

He has always been able to see the iconic resort from his balcony. It's a view he says has grown close to his heart, but now he's preparing for that to change.

“It’s a little sentimental because it’s like a part of our neighborhood. But at the same time, I love progress, I love seeing Las Vegas grow,” Gamboa says.

Gamboa and his wife want to watch the implosion outside on his balcony. He says they'll make it a special date and cook steak and eggs.

He says that despite his proximity, he doesn't fear any negative effects from the implosion.

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When FOX5 asked its complex Tuesday morning if they would be sending out a notice to residents, they said they had planned to send an email later in the day.

Over at another nearby apartment complex at Mandalay Bay and Danville Lane, Michael Rogers is also enjoying his front-row ticket to the implosion.

He's a photographer and says he took photos at the Tropicana years ago. He plans to take photos again on Wednesday morning as the hotel makes its final bow.

As for his position, Rogers says he's leaving those details up in the air.

“The best photography happens when you don’t plan it, you just get up and take a photo,” he says.

Rogers says he's not too worried about the impact of the implosion either.

When FOX5 called his complex Tuesday morning, a manager said on the phone that they had no plans to send out a notice to residents. However, that manager said they planned to have extra security in place throughout Tuesday night to ensure non-residents did not use their parking lot to watch the implosion.

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