Trump Taj Mahal

Trump Taj Mahal was a major casino hotel located on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Opened in 1990 by businessman Donald Trump, it was marketed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and was one of the largest and most opulent casino complexes in the world at the time. The property was a central part of Trump's business ventures in the gambling industry and became emblematic of both the excesses of the era and the subsequent financial struggles within the Atlantic City casino market.

History

The project was conceived in the mid-1980s by Resorts International chairman James Crosby, who began construction on the site of the former Steel Pier. Following Crosby's death and financial troubles at Resorts International, Donald Trump acquired the unfinished property in 1988. The grand opening on April 2, 1990, was a highly publicized event, featuring celebrities like Michael Jackson and attended by numerous political figures. For much of the 1990s, it operated as a flagship property within Trump's casino empire, competing directly with other major Atlantic City resorts like Caesars Atlantic City and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Design and features

Designed by the architectural firm Wimberly, Whisenand, Allison, Tong & Goo, the complex was themed around the grandeur of the Mughal Empire and its most famous monument, the Taj Mahal. Its exterior featured numerous minarets and onion domes, while the lavish interior was adorned with extensive marble, bronze, brass, and crystal fixtures. Key amenities included over 1,250 hotel rooms and suites, a 120,000-square-foot casino floor, and the 5,500-seat Mark G. Etess Arena, which hosted major concerts by artists such as The Rolling Stones, Madonna, and Bob Dylan. The property also featured multiple high-end restaurants and retail spaces.

Financial difficulties and bankruptcy

Burdened by enormous construction costs exceeding $1 billion and high-interest debt from junk bonds issued by Trump Entertainment Resorts, the casino struggled financially almost from its opening. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the first time in 1991, just over a year after opening, in a restructuring that forced Donald Trump to cede significant equity. The property filed for bankruptcy again in 2004 and a third time in 2009, following the broader downturn in the Atlantic City casino industry and competition from new casinos in neighboring states like Pennsylvania and New York.

Sale and rebranding

After a prolonged labor dispute with Local 54 of the UNITE HERE union, which included a major strike in 2016, owner Carl Icahn decided to close the casino on October 10, 2016. The shuttered property was subsequently purchased in 2017 by Hard Rock International, a subsidiary of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and Jack Morris's Morris County-based development firm. Following a $500 million renovation that stripped away the Mughal-themed decor, the resort reopened on June 28, 2018, as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City, featuring a rock and roll-themed design and a vast collection of music memorabilia.

In popular culture

The casino's grandiose image and association with Donald Trump made it a frequent subject in media. It was prominently featured in the 1991 film The Marrying Man, starring Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. The property also appeared in the MTV reality series The Real World during its 2001 season set in Atlantic City. Furthermore, its financial woes were often cited in business analyses of Trump's finances and were referenced in episodes of *The Apprentice* and in coverage by financial news networks like CNBC.

Category:Casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey Category:Trump Entertainment Resorts Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1990 Category:Hard Rock International