On August 26, 1980, Harvey’s Resort Hotel and Casino came crashing down after nearly 1,000 pounds of dynamite exploded inside. The bomb, crafted from two steel boxes stacked on top of one another, had been delivered earlier in the morning by men in white jumpsuits who posed as workers delivering an IBM copy machine.
The case has gone down as one of the most unusual in American history and even 45 years later, people are still talking about it. But what exactly went down on that day? Who delivered that bomb? And why would they do such a thing?
The bomb and the ransom note
According to FBI.gov, the bomb was delivered by a group of men, along with a ransom note with an ominous title: “STERN WARNING TO THE MANAGEMENT AND BOMB SQUAD,” it read. No doubt the first person to read that note was already stressed.
From there the note explains that the device delivered was actually a bomb and even the slightest movement could set the thing off. Any attempts to open or disarm it would also result in an explosive death. “This bomb can never be dismantled or disarmed without causing an explosion,” it warned.
The box was full of TNT and there were three timers set to different times. Only by handing over three million dollars could authorities have a chance to minimize the destruction but even then, the bomb would still go off. The note promised that, all demands being met, instructions would be given on how to move the bomb to a safe location without detonating it in transit, meaning authorities coil move it to an empty field and allow it to explode.
A plan was hatched to use shaped C4 to separate the boxes and hopefully disconnect the detonator but unfortunately it didn’t work. The bomb went off and brought the building down with it. Luckily the Harvey’s Resort Hotel and surrounding area had been evacuated meaning there were no deaths.
Who would target the Harvey’s Resort Hotel?
The men involved in the scheme never did get their money. They also didn’t get away with it as the mastermind behind the plan was later identified as John Birges. The 59-year-old was a heavy gambler and had lost roughly $750,000 at the Harvey’s Casino.
His two sons were also charged as accomplices in the scheme and were given suspended sentences after cooperating with the authorities. Birges died in prison in 1996.
To this day, the bomb is considered one of the most unique and complicated improvised explosive devices ever made. It was filled with all sorts of booby-traps and it even required eight triggering mechanisms on Birges’ part upon delivery to the hotel. Even now, replicas of his device are still used for training purposes.
Published: Oct 7, 2025 12:53 pm