The teardown of Royal Resort near Convention Center Drive sent dust and debris into the air this week, prompting OSHA investigations and questions about safety, even as Clark County confirmed the $1.3 million demolition was permitted.
Dust drifted across Convention Center Drive as crews tore down the 55-year-old Royal Resort this week, drawing emergency calls and a series of safety complaints from labor groups. The demolition, just east of Las Vegas Boulevard, left debris visible along the Strip corridor and raised concerns for workers and people passing through the area. According to KLAS 8 News Now, the Royal Resort was fully demolished by Wednesday. Crews expect to spend about another month clearing the site before it becomes a parking lot.
Clark County firefighters responded to a 911 call Tuesday morning after someone reported what looked like a partial building collapse. Fire crews found the activity was part of a permitted demolition and confirmed there were no injuries or trapped people. The incident added to the anxiety around the project and its effect on public safety. Clark County spokeswoman Stephanie Wheatley said there were no issues reported with the permitted demolition, and fire crews left after confirming no one was hurt or trapped, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Worker and Visitor Complaints Follow Demolition
Local 872 Laborers, the union representing construction workers in the area, filed two complaints with Nevada OSHA about the demolition. Union representatives said dust and debris repeatedly blew beyond the site’s fencing, affecting tourists and drivers on Convention Center Drive. Video from the union showed a thick cloud moving over the fence as cars passed, and a worker in a boom lift near the collapsing building around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. Nevada OSHA confirmed it had received two complaints and was reviewing them as of September 17. No final findings have been released.
Union officials raised concerns about air quality, water use, and how close the demolition was to a main road. They said people had complained about dust near nearby businesses, including Ross and Walgreens, and pointed out the risks for pedestrians and drivers. The Royal Resort, an eight-story property that opened in 1970 as the Royal Las Vegas, had been fenced off since 2022 after closing in the summer of 2020.
Contractor Responds to Safety Questions
American Wrecking, a California-based non-union contractor, handled the demolition. Local 872 members protested the choice of contractor and questioned the safety measures in place. Carlos Galaviz, an executive at American Wrecking, said the building’s collapse was planned and controlled. Jim Pazargad, manager of Gold Key Plaza where the Royal Resort stood, also defended the process, saying the site was blocked off and workers were insured. He described the demolition as routine, with crews working four to five hours a day to bring the building down.
OSHA and County Review Ongoing
Nevada OSHA is reviewing two complaints related to the demolition, with the latest filed on Tuesday. The Clark County Building Department issued a $1.3 million permit in June for the full teardown of the hotel at 99 Convention Center Drive. As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, crews had already started demolition before the building was reported fully gone by Wednesday. The removal of the property ends another long-running hotel near the Strip, with questions about dust and safety still under review.
Strip Corridor Continues to Change
The Royal Resort demolition is the latest in a series of changes along the Strip and nearby neighborhoods. As older buildings come down, new projects and safety concerns keep shaping the area for visitors and workers. The situation is similar to other recent projects, like the Arts District’s push for better safety and maintenance funding.
With dust still settling, Clark County and Nevada OSHA are now deciding whether the Royal Resort demolition met the standards expected for such a visible location. The use of a non-union contractor and the disruption along the Strip highlight the ongoing tension between fast redevelopment and the need for oversight. As Las Vegas keeps changing, the safety of workers and the experience of visitors remain central concerns for every project.
