LAS VEGAS -- Las Vegas residents and tourists gather in the early-morning hours to watch the New Frontier Casino be imploded. It was sent off with fireworks at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The casino is where Elvis Presley first performed in Las Vegas and the Supremes gave their last performance. Recently deceased Strip legend Robert Goulet also graced the casino's stage.

Owners closed the casino in June. It will be replaced by a multibillion-dollar project, The Plaza. Developers said the new hotel will be a lavish, state-of-the-art casino and entertainment center. It is slated to open in 2011 and create 15,000 new jobs.

Developers are now trying to clean the area, which could take months. They said the groundbreaking for The Plaza will take place in the fall of 2008.