Sahara hotel-casino in Las Vegas to close in May

Los Angeles Times ^ | March 11, 2011 | Ashley Powers and Jessica Gelt

[ConservativeStatement]

Reporting from Las Vegas and Los Angeles — The Sahara hotel-casino, a Rat Pack-era jewel of the Las Vegas Strip that age and a prolonged recession had tarnished, will close in May, owner SBE Entertainment announced Friday morning.

Chief Executive Sam Nazarian, the Los Angeles nightclub impresario who purchased the Moroccan-themed casino in 2007 and vowed to restore its hipness, said in a statement that running the property was "no longer economically viable."

[abigailsmybaby]

Dingy’s next great idea for Vegas will be to make gambling illegal.

[psjones]

I was there last August and won about $200 playing quarter wheel of fortune. Have stayed there a couple times, I like that you don’t have to walk what seems like miles to get to the casino and your room.

[Duchess47]

Noooooooooo......

[SamAdams76]

This is a shame. I was at the Sahara last May and won over $400 playing blackjack and the slot machines. Then again, I probably plugged $600 into the slots so maybe I was actually down by $200.

Anyway, I remember them bringing around the free drink. Damn, those were good drinks. Who knows, maybe I put more than $600 into those slot machines. But I definitely came out ahead at the blackjack tables. That I know for sure.

Had fun at the Sahara and sad to now know that was my last night.

[ConservativeStatement]

Bally’s comes to mind.

[Rational Thought]

Vegas has huge problems. Between the economy and casinos now legal in a number of other states, the future doesn’t look good.

[STONEWALLS]

“Vegas has huge problems. Between the economy and casinos now legal in a number of other states, the future doesn’t look good.”

.....I think that you’re right...in my area alone we’ve got several groups scrambling to claim indian blood and get themselves declared a “tribe”....if they’re successful, some ‘advisors’ from Atlantic City, NJ will come in and establish a casino for them.

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

My wife and I were at the Sahara back in 1972! First time there and we had fun! We didn’t win much but then we didn’t lose much either!

In the years since I usually take a trip over there and play a bit. My brother-in-law and I had a blast there one nite!

It is sad to see it closed!

[B Knotts]

Sad to see it go. It was from a better time in Las Vegas.

[Dick Vomer]

I flew over it 6-7 times. Never went in and I guess I'm going to have to say that Las Vegas and Nevada should do what Detroit, Michigan and California have done. Get a really neat 50 second video commercial about how great it is to do business and all the really cool things to do there.... and raise taxes and vote democrat. Cause doncha know that will really turn it around. bwahahahahaha.

In fact this should really help union membership in Vegas. Cause belonging to the unions will really stick it to the "rich" guys and help the middle class.

Let's see what the problem may be. I have to pay more taxes, my fuel costs to travel in my life/business/pleasure costs more (due to the libs), my user fees and property taxes have gone up as well as my health insurance and food costs... so I have less to spend on going to Vegas and having a great time.

Maybe I can get a "Katrina" card like the New Orleans po-po, fire and rescue and city employees to "relax".

[Stormdog]

I’ll be in Vegas in May. I hope I get to shoot craps there one last time. I really like the Sahara. It just has this whole feeling of faded cool.

[Salgak]

Hate to say it. . , but the Vegas hotel unions were strongly for Dingy Harry and the One.

Elections have consequences. They made their beds, time to lie down in them. . .

[eyedigress]

I used to play craps and 21 at the old Sands. I hated it when they tore it down.

[Sans-Culotte]

I stayed there about 10 years ago. I liked the authentic casino atmosphere. It was a casino and not theme park. Sad to see it go.

[lewislynn]

I lived in Vegas for awile. I turned 16 there in 1963. We used to go strip hotel pool hopping. We would stay until we got kicked out. The Sahara pool was my favorite.

In Dec. 1966 I was 19 yrs old, home on leave from the Army . I would dress in my uniform and go to The Shara every night to see Don Rickles in the lounge (he still cracks me up). I was never carded while in uniform

Late one night I went into the Sahara coffee shop, in uniform, and sat down at the counter...in a booth behind me sat Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Buddy Hackett and Peter Lawford.

The waitress came to me, told me that someone who wishes to remain anonymous would like to buy me anything I wanted. I had a milk shake.

I'll never forget The Sahara

[LouAvul]

someone who wishes to remain anonymous would like to buy me anything I wanted. I had a milk shake.

I would have asked for an airplane.

[ConservativeStatement]

Cool post.

[sjneuf]

NV is ground -0- for all of America. Highest unemplymt, highest 4clousure, highest Bnkrptcy rate. I’m in Reno (for 20+ yrs.) and it sucks! Used to be the GREAT state of NV — not so much anymore. Leave US alone Harry; we can make (repair) this work! Pray 4 America.

[dennisw]

I would have ordered the lobster omelet...courtesy of Frank