I wasn't sure (what with April fools over the weekend) if this was a hoax or a real thing. Google updated Google Earth yesterday to include wicked high resolution pics of Las Vegas. What I found interesting is that the images don't seem to be satalite images. They are clearly taken from a(n) airplane(s) based on the angle and resolution of the images. They are high resolution, but you can clearly see the sides of large buildings that you wouldn't be able to see from a satalite. It's cool, you can see the dolphins in the Mirage swimming pools. You can even see individual people and cars. But after seeing the somewhat low altitude (compared to satalite) images, I was curious to see how Google could mend the images of the Stratosphere tower. The thing is so freakin' tall, it would have stuck out far across the images on Google Earth. But aparently Google Earth had no problem just erasing that problem out of existance.

I thought maybe I was just seeing it incorrectly. Clearly the shadow of the Stratosphere tower is on the ground. Maybe I'm just not seeing the top down image correctly. So I measured where it should be based on other shadows.

Turns out, it is in fact gone! Someone call David Coperfield!!! Where's Lance Burton!?! Round up the usual suspects!!!

Not just a little bit gone. It's Bo-Shank Freakin' Vapor! I'm not sure if Google has had a look at the Stratosphere investment portfolio, but suffice it to say, if you're planning a trip to Vegas, go see the volcano or the pirates instead. There's nothing to see up here.

There is all but one leg left where the majestic Stratosphere once stood. We'll miss you Stratosphere. It's almost like we never even knew ya.