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Subscribe to RSSIt's pretty amazing to consider how much of recent American popular culture involved the Sahara Hotel. Full story.
Isaac Brekken / AP
Margarita Pinos embraces a friend as the Sahara hotel and casino is closed Monday, May 16 in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas News Bureau via AP
In this March 7, 1956 photo released by the Las Vegas News Bureau, Elizabeth Taylor, right, and Micahel Wilding relax at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev.
Ethan Miller / Getty Images
The marquee of the Sahara Hotel & Casino scrolls the message "Thanks for the memories" shortly before the property was closed on May 16 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sahara's current owner SBE Entertainment Group closed the 1,720-room resort, which first opened in 1952, and plans to redevelop the site in the future. The stalled construction site of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas is in the background.
Ethan Miller / Getty Images
Visitors stand outside the Sahara Hotel & Casino behind locked door handles shortly before the property was closed on May 16 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Sahara's current owner SBE Entertainment Group closed the 1,720-room resort, which first opened in 1952, and plans to redevelop the site in the future.
The legendary Sahara hotel and casino has shut its doors on the Las Vegas strip. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
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Stayed there once about thirty years ago, thought it was the greatest place I had ever seen. times change, times change.
What a sad day! Things that really mean something are discarded and sht like face book, survivor dances with stars and idol take over...sad...sad...sad!!
I'm not sure the Sahara really means anything, it's just a casino, but they did have a fun little roller coaster.
I stayed there on my first trip to Vegas about 30 years ago. It was a classy place then, but my husband and I went to see a show there about a year ago and it was really run down and a sad thing to see. The history of the old Vegas and the Sahara will be an interesting read for generations to come.
Me too Kathy. Stayed there on my first time out there and had an awesome time. I know it's a bit run down now, but a piece of history nonetheless.
I lived in Vegas in the late 90's and saw many shows in the old Rat Pack era hotels, and then just saw them fall. I guess the only thing left is the Rivera and the Tropicana and that is just in namesake (I wouldn't count the Circus-Circus). I hope they at least keep downtown like it was in the 50s-60s!
Full disclosure--ever since I saw Stephen King's "It" I have a heart-stopping fear of that freakin' Circus-Circus clown sign adjacent to the Strip. Even as an adult, whenever I'm in Vegas I have made a concerted effort to stay as far away from that place as possible. I know, silly, but oh well.
Who the heck cares...i don't! Maybe now people will start saving there money so they wount loose ther homes.
Blow the building up and put a school there .
Yea I would have to agree. One less place to lose money.
If somebody earns their money, they should have every right to decide if they want to risk it or not. The only problem I have is when somebody loses their money, and then expects taxpayers to pay for it.
If you don't want to risk your money in a Casino, then that's your choice. I've never been to a Casino, but I don't criticize those who do.
Maybe you should have paid more attention in English class or perhaps you could take grammar and spelling lessons at the new school.
start saving THERE ? it's THEIR. THEY WOUNT ? it's WON'T. They apparently should have put a school there long time ago. I'm sorry, just caught me off guard, no pun intended. Just that my spelling and grammar are horrible. But i have an allibi, ''came up in civil unrest, education was a scare at times.
IT'S ALL BUSH FAULT ; The world has been flipped, and financial stability,''peeled'', like a banana. It's been reeling ''incoherently'' since the time the REPUBLICANS got tricked, '' THINKING HE WAS REAGAN,'' RE-ENCARNATED ''. All we need now is for them to put JOE SMITH AND HIS FALLEN ANGELS in his place. Then it will serve them well, for STUNTING as the righteous party.'' THESE PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE ''to want to shift the financial burden on the old, destatute , and poor. And give to the RICH, so they can buy more yachts and vacation mansions. '' SHAME ON THEM ''
A school which you obviously need to attend.
I preferred Vegas in the days before the mega-resorts. Now it's overbuilt and unsustainable. Most of all, I miss the Stardust. That was as old school as it gets. Now it's been torn down and replaced with another stalled project. Tragic.
My parents always told me that Las Vegas was a state of mind, and I think thats the case with any of these hotels. They also preferred "old Vegas," whereas I fully prefer the new Vegas. That said, Stardust and Sahara were still pretty much shells of their former selves when they closed. Glamour and history replaced by poorly thought out -- not to mention mismatched, remodels and tourist traps. You could walk through the Stardust's casino floor and count 4 different carpet patterns, haha.
Being born here in Las Vegas, I grew up spending a lot of time at Sahara and still don't find myself particularly upset that it is now closed. The spirit of Las Vegas has never been about holding onto relics of the past, but rather reinvention and the continued development of whatever is going to excite people. Sahara lost it's foothold in that market long ago. I would have rather seen SBE remodel Sahara into something more along the lines of what the Hollywood Roosevelt is, a classic and stylish boutique property that tastefully celebrates it's history. Rather, Sahara was just filled with the worst of the worst tourist traps and overall crap. They didn't even have a decent restaurant in the place.
The newly opened Cosmopolitan is the closest thing the new Las Vegas has to what Sahara originally was to the old Las Vegas.
Las Vegas has to be one of the most interesting cities on the planet. I'll often go 10 yrs or more between visits and it can be like visiting a place for the first time over and over. For all those who want to morn the loss of a casino/hotel property I'd only say, "Get over it. Learn to embrace something new."
hey the chinese will probably develop it.
You are not kidding, the Chinese are quietly buying every real estate in the major population centers in the world. First, there were the Brits, then the Arabs, then the Japanese, and now the Chinese.
How much longer until USA is entirely foreign owned?
Two party system, that are completely owned by corporate america. eh?
it was a nice hotel at one time. time to bring it down. put something that's more 2011 in it's place.
Almighty GOD NEVER intended us to live forever in this world....that goes for BUSINESSES that we create, yes....even BUILDINGS...like the SAHARA. All have their time to shine....WITHIN A SMALL ERA IN TIME. And NO MORE.
We all have a story to tell....."Once upon a time". It may involve us, someone else.....or the Hotel Sahara. You have probably heard the saying......."Time is so short" "All these years went by past me...and I hadn't noticed." I went to sleep last night...and when I woke up.....I was an OLD MAN.
This is part of ALL our lives. We just have to accept it. Men in HIGH places, or lofty positions, ARE BROUGHT DOWN by their mistakes, SO QUICKLY. "Time is so fleeting".
Remember when?
The Saharah will be like saying goodbye legends' but LV did that already. Take a ride in the dessert.
Just me - or does everyone want those bedazzled "S" door handles?
My first visit to Las Vegas was in 1955. I was 18 years old. I saw Sophie Tucker at the El Rancho hotel and stayed at the Desert Inn. All the great stars were performing at the Riviera, the Sahara and a few others. Ladies were dressed in mink coats and diamonds and men wore suits. It was a wonderful time to remember and one I will never forget.
Now THAT'S a trip to Vegas! How cool that must've been for you! I was there in February and visited the Neon Boneyard -I saw both the El Rancho and the Desert Inn signs there. I'm glad to know that at least if Vegas continues its tradition of knocking down the old to make way for the new, now they're moving all this history to that site so it's not totally GONE. That was the most fascinating tour ever, so if you return, you can see those signs and relive those great memories. :)
America lets go of it's past so quickly. In the UK the Sahara would likely be a classified a Grade II listed building and preserved for the nation as an important part of it's history. This is why here in the UK we have castles and mansions and a cultural heritage that Americans pay fortunes to come and visit. How will you ever hope to build a cultural heritage if you just chuck it away, knock it down and redevelop it? And those handles would look fantastic on my front door. Bagsie those handles..... and a blackjack table.... and a chandelier.
You're comparing a run-down casino to centuries-old castles and mansions? The US would be full of junk properties if we thought like that. Besides, we do preserve old buildings and institutions. Just down the road from me is a working ranch from the 1800s. It's not economically viable anymore, but is operated through volunteer labor. The same town has two working lodges from the early 1900s where you can stay.
I've stayed at the Sahara several times between the mid 1990's and mid 2000's. Even though it's glory was fading, one could see and feel the old school glamour of that fascinating by-gone era. The clientele was different - and the employees really made one feel properly tended to. When you've worked in this business, come of age in this business and have built your life around it, the attachment goes beyond sentiment. It really is a grieving process and a genuine loss for those who experience it.
My only memory from the Sahara was seeing Sonny and Cher and their (then) daughter Chastity relaxing by the pool.
I drove through Vegas in 1983. I didn't see anything that impressed me. I know people have been staying away from Vegas due to the lack of discretionary income. It's sad when people lose their job, but I am happy that one of the many casinos have closed. There are people that need that money more than the owners of the business.