Photo Courtesy (SBE Media)
The Sahara casino, oldest casino remaining on the Las Vegas Strip will be closing its doors on May 16. CEO Sam Nazarian of owner SBE Entertainment Group said, "The continued operation of the aging Sahara was no longer economically viable," but, "With Las Vegas showing early signs of recovery, we are confident that we ultimately will find a creative and comprehensive new solution for this historic property."
When Milton Prell's brainchild, the Sahara, was first built in 1952, it was like a half-dozen other properties with plenty of sprawl and room to grow along the Las Vegas Strip. Guests parked next to the property and enjoyed the single story resort that boasted 276 rooms and a $5.5 million price tag. The resort also had the largest swimming pool in town and the largest dinner theater.
Ray Bolger, the scarecrow in the 1939 film, "The Wizard of Oz," opened the Congo Showroom to a packed crowd and everything was rosy for years to come. However, a funny thing happened on the Las Vegas Strip: new casinos kept growing away from the Sahara.
Although Nazarian calls the northern end of the Strip the "future of Las Vegas," Bob Stupak said the same thing thirty years ago when he built Vegas world. His "World" became the Stratosphere, the tallest building in Vegas and probably the largest waste of space. And, it remains the only hotel casino between the Sahara and the downtown clubs.
If you've played at the Sahara in the past few years, you will no doubt miss the NASCAR theme property that William Bennett refurbished in 2000 for $50 million. You've still got a couple months if you want to see the NASCAR exhibit and café, racing cars and the interactive arcade games. The SPEED roller coaster that runs from inside the casino to the Strip and back is still in operation - until May.
Goodbye Sahara! We'll miss your $1 blackjack, your $1 hot dogs, your $1 beer, and your old Vegas spirit. In a few years when the building is simply shuttered and falling down, we'll miss you even more.
Comments
It has departed rig of history, sahara this cult casino
Stayed here back in the 80’s and early nineties in the beginning stages of its deterioration. The “simpler” Las Vegas that catered primarily to hourdes of low rolling tourists on 3 or 4 day getaways has vanished. The few vestiges that remain, The Sahara and The Tropicana have become eyesores.
Las Vegas is still a regular destination of ours but boy, do I miss the way it “used to be”.
Reno and Laughlin are still in the “old days” in many ways. There are cheap rooms, reasonable meals, and lower limit gambling in places that are still safe to enjoy. Twenty years ago you could still get a room in a Strip hotel for $39. and enjoy reasonably priced gaming. Guess you would have to stay at the Imperial Palace or Bally’s to get those rates now.
this is bad. the supposed last remaining vintage and one of the great casinos had closed its doors to people. for casino enthusiasts, this is not a good as many casinos, even online casinos, nowadays are closing one by one.