Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA former Trump-branded hotel and casino on Atlantic City's Boardwalk that operated from 1984 until 2014.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino was a hotel, casino, entertainment, and dining complex on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It was developed by Donald Trump's organization in partnership with Harrah's, the gaming division of Holiday Inn, and opened on May 14, 1984, as Harrah's at Trump Plaza. The property occupied a compact site next to Caesars Atlantic City and initially contained 614 hotel rooms, a casino, restaurants, a health club, and a 750-seat showroom. Its casino covered roughly 60,000 square feet at opening and later expanded substantially. The partnership between Trump and Harrah's quickly became strained. The property performed poorly in its first years, in part because its high-roller positioning did not align well with Harrah's established mass-market customer base. The name was shortened to Trump Plaza in 1984, and Trump bought Harrah's interest for approximately $70 million in 1986. The business subsequently expanded through the acquisition or redevelopment of nearby properties. In 1989, Trump acquired the unfinished Penthouse Boardwalk Hotel and Casino and a neighboring former Holiday Inn tower, which became the Plaza's East Tower. He also acquired the bankrupt Atlantis Casino Hotel, later operating it as the Trump Regency, a hotel annex connected with the broader Plaza complex. Trump Plaza became one of Atlantic City's most visible venues for sports and entertainment. It hosted or sponsored major World Wrestling Federation events associated with WrestleMania IV and WrestleMania V, although those events were held at Boardwalk Hall rather than inside the casino. The property also staged numerous professional boxing programs and later hosted UFC 50. A 1990 baccarat session involving Japanese high roller Akio Kashiwagi, who reportedly lost $10 million, became part of the casino's popular mythology and was later fictionalized in the film Casino. The property faced serious financial pressure during the 1990s. Competition from the nearby Trump Taj Mahal contributed to a sharp fall in revenues. Trump Plaza narrowly avoided default in 1991 and entered a prepackaged bankruptcy restructuring in 1992. An expansion plan, including additional gaming space and the conversion of the former Holiday Inn tower into hotel rooms, became entangled in an eminent-domain dispute involving Atlantic City homeowner Vera Coking. Her successful legal challenge prevented the planned acquisition of her house for a proposed limousine-parking project. The East Tower opened in stages in 1995 and 1996, and the connected Trump World's Fair casino and hotel project opened in 1996 after renovation of the former Trump Regency. In 1995, ownership of Trump Plaza was transferred to Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, a publicly traded company later renamed Trump Entertainment Resorts. Despite periodic expansion and attempts to reposition the property, the casino struggled in an increasingly competitive Atlantic City market. In 2011, Trump Entertainment said it was considering either selling or renovating the property. A proposed 2013 sale to the Meruelo Group failed when Carl Icahn, the senior lender on the Plaza mortgage, did not approve the transaction at the proposed price. Trump Plaza closed permanently on September 16, 2014, after no buyer was found. The closure eliminated approximately 1,300 jobs and made the property one of several Atlantic City casinos to shut that year. Donald Trump also sought to have his name removed from the deteriorating facility. After prolonged disputes concerning the building, land interests, leases, and demolition funding, most of the remaining hotel towers were imploded on February 17, 2021. The former casino brand is therefore defunct, although its name remains associated with the history of Atlantic City's casino industry.
History
Construction began in June 1982 under Donald Trump's organization, with Harrah's joining as a partner soon afterward. The resort opened on May 14, 1984, as Harrah's at Trump Plaza. Its initial offering combined a 614-room hotel, casino, restaurants, health facilities, and a showroom on a narrow Boardwalk site. The name was shortened to Trump Plaza later that year, partly to distinguish the property from Harrah's Marina and to emphasize Trump's brand. Early financial performance was weak. The resort reported only modest pretax profit during the first half of 1985, and strategic disagreements between Trump and Harrah's culminated in Trump's purchase of Harrah's interest in May 1986. Trump then pursued an expansion strategy based on acquiring nearby assets. The unfinished Penthouse Boardwalk Hotel and Casino was purchased in 1989 and incorporated into the Plaza as the East Tower. The bankrupt Atlantis Casino Hotel was also acquired and operated as the Trump Regency, creating an annex to the Plaza complex. The property developed a strong entertainment profile. It was associated with WrestleMania IV and V, hosted many boxing programs between 1985 and 1998, and later staged UFC 50. Its casino also gained notoriety from a 1990 baccarat session in which high roller Akio Kashiwagi reportedly lost $10 million. The episode became part of the cultural image of Atlantic City casinos and was later dramatized in Casino. The 1990s brought both expansion and financial distress. The opening of the nearby Trump Taj Mahal intensified internal competition and contributed to declining Plaza revenues. The property used a mortgage on its parking garage to avoid a 1991 bond payment default, then negotiated a restructuring in which existing debt was exchanged for lower-interest bonds and preferred stock. The restructuring was submitted as a prepackaged bankruptcy in March 1992. A planned $42 million expansion included additional gaming space and the conversion of a former Holiday Inn tower into the East Tower. The project became connected to a landmark eminent-domain dispute when the casino sought the property of Vera Coking, an elderly homeowner next to the development site. Coking prevailed in court, blocking the proposed acquisition for limousine parking. The East Tower opened in two stages in 1995 and 1996. In May 1996, the renovated Trump Regency became Trump World's Fair, with a casino linked to Trump Plaza by a walkway over the area near Atlantic City Convention Hall. In 1995, Trump transferred the property to Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, later Trump Entertainment Resorts. The company continued operating the casino while the Atlantic City market became more competitive. In 2011, it announced that it might sell or renovate the property. A prospective sale to the Meruelo Group in 2013 failed when mortgage lender Carl Icahn withheld approval. By 2014, the deteriorating property had not attracted a buyer, and Trump Plaza closed on September 16. Approximately 1,300 employees were affected. After closure, the complex remained subject to ownership, lease, financing, and demolition disputes. Donald Trump sought removal of his name from the facility because of its condition. Icahn-associated entities eventually acquired important land and property interests and ended a lease structure that had complicated potential transactions. The remaining towers were ultimately judged a public-safety concern because of falling debris and were imploded on February 17, 2021. Trump Plaza consequently survives as a historical name rather than an operating hotel or casino brand.
- 2021
Demolition by implosion
[1]Most of the former hotel-casino towers were imploded on February 17.
- 2014
Permanent closure
[1]Trump Plaza ceased operations on September 16.
- 1996
Trump World's Fair opens
[1]The renovated Trump Regency reopened as Trump World's Fair with an expanded casino operation connected to the Plaza.
- 1995
Transfer to Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts
[1]Ownership moved to Trump's publicly traded casino company, later renamed Trump Entertainment Resorts.
- 1992
Prepackaged bankruptcy restructuring
[1]The casino reorganized its debt after declining revenues and a near-default.
- 1989
Nearby properties acquired
[1]Trump acquired the unfinished Penthouse Boardwalk project and the bankrupt Atlantis property for expansion and annex operations.
- 1986
Trump assumes full ownership
[1]Trump bought Harrah's interest in the property for approximately $70 million.
- 1984
Opening as Harrah's at Trump Plaza
[1]The resort opened on May 14 with hotel rooms, casino gaming, restaurants, a health club, and a showroom.
- 1982
Construction begins
[1]The Trump Organization began construction of the Atlantic City hotel and casino in June.
Products and positioning
A Boardwalk resort combining casino gaming, hotel accommodation, dining, nightlife, and sports entertainment, with a high-visibility Trump identity and an intended appeal to both premium and general casino customers.
Hospitality · 1984
Hotel rooms and suites
The hotel offered standard rooms and multiple suite categories, including ocean-view, executive, contemporary, and penthouse accommodations. Amenities included an indoor pool, spa, salon, and fitness center. The completed complex was described as having approximately 906 rooms.
Gaming · 1984
Casino gaming
The casino offered slot machines, video poker, blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat, and other regulated casino games. Gaming space expanded from roughly 60,000 square feet at opening to approximately 91,181 square feet in later descriptions.
Food and beverage · 1984
Dining and nightlife
Food and beverage venues included fine-dining restaurants such as Max's Steakhouse and Roberto's Ristorante, casual outlets, cafés, quick-service franchises, bars, and the Liquid Bar and Jezebel's nightlife venues.
Entertainment · 1984
Live entertainment and sports events
The property operated a 750-seat showroom and served as a venue or sponsor associated with professional boxing, mixed martial arts, and major wrestling-related events. Notable programs included boxing cards and UFC 50.
Brand decisions
2021
Implosion of the remaining towersOtherBackground
The vacant towers were considered a public-safety risk because of falling debris, while ownership and lease disputes had delayed redevelopment.
Action taken
Most of the former hotel-casino complex was demolished by controlled implosion.
Aftermath
The demolition ended the physical presence of the principal Trump Plaza towers on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
2014
Permanent shutdownStrategyBackground
The deteriorating property had not found a buyer in a weakening and highly competitive Atlantic City casino market.
Action taken
Trump Entertainment Resorts closed the hotel and casino on September 16.
Aftermath
Approximately 1,300 employees lost their jobs, and the site entered a prolonged period of uncertainty before demolition.
2013
Proposed sale to Meruelo GroupM&ABackground
Trump Entertainment sought a buyer and proposed transferring the struggling property to the Meruelo Group.
Action taken
A proposed sale for $20 million was negotiated, with plans for investment and renaming.
Aftermath
Senior lender Carl Icahn did not approve the transaction, and the deal failed.
1992
Debt restructuringStrategyBackground
Declining revenues and a near-default created pressure from bondholders and other creditors.
Action taken
The company exchanged approximately $250 million of debt for lower-interest bonds and preferred stock through a prepackaged bankruptcy restructuring.
Aftermath
The casino continued operating, but its financial challenges remained a recurring issue.
1986
Buyout of Harrah's partnership stakeStrategyBackground
The opening partnership experienced disagreements over operating performance and customer positioning.
Action taken
Trump acquired Harrah's interest and took control of the property.
Aftermath
The property operated under the Trump Plaza name and pursued expansion through nearby acquisitions.
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