Sahara Hotel and Casino
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| Sahara Hotel and Casino | |
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| Address | 2535 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89109 |
| Opening date | October 7, 1952 |
| Theme | Moroccan/Arabian |
| No. of rooms | 1,720 |
| Total gaming space | 85,000ft² (7,896 m²) |
| Permanent shows | The Platters, The Coasters & The Marvelettes Rosanne Barr The Amazing Johnathan The Musical History of the King |
| Signature attractions | Speed-The Ride |
| Casino type | Land-Resort |
| Owner | Stockbridge/SBE Holdings, LLC |
| Operating license holder | Navegante Management Group |
| Previous names | Club Bingo |
| Years renovated | 1960 1963 1996 2003 |
| Website | Sahara Website |
The Sahara Hotel and Casino is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. The hotel has 1,720 guestrooms and suites and a casino covering more than 85,000 square feet (7,896 m²), and sits on 55 acres (174,000 m²) including the empty adjoining land. The hotel is the northernmost stop for the Las Vegas Monorail. The Sahara ranks as the last remaining vintage "Rat Pack" casino-hotel, and today anchors the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip. The porte-cochere entrance, topped by an onion-dome minaret, is designed to set the resort's warm Moroccan flavor and hospitality for arriving guests.
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[edit] History
The hotel was opened in 1952 by Milton Prell just outside of the City of Las Vegas, and was the sixth resort to open on the Strip. The resort was built by Del Webb.[1]
In late 1954, the hotel hired jazz musician Louis Prima to be their late night lounge act, one of the earliest ones on the Las Vegas Strip. Along with his then wife Keely Smith and sax player Sam Butera, they created one of the hottest late night attractions on the Strip. In 1956 Abbott and Costello appeared together for the last time on the Sahara stage before their permanent breakup.[citation needed]
In 1961, the hotel was purchased by Del Webb. In 1962, a Don the Beachcomber restaurant opened in the hotel, becoming a top attraction to not only hotel guests but a variety of celebrities as well. A 24-story tower was added in 1963.
The resort was the site of the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for many years, mostly in the 1970s, and for a brief time in the 1990s.
Performers at the resort over the years have included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, Paul Anka, Liza Minnelli, Shirley Bassey, Imogene Coca, Connie Francis, Bill Cosby, Jeanette MacDonald, Ann-Margret, Joey Bishop, Bobby Darin, and many others.
Ownership changed in 1995 when Archon Corporation sold the property to Bill Bennett. Bill Bennett owned the hotel until his death on December 22, 2002. The property has since been owned by the Bill Bennett Family Trust.
The 27-story tower addition was added in 1987 and a new porte-cochere was added by the relocated pool in 1997.
In 1999 further renovations added a roller coaster and the NASCAR restaurant. The roller coaster, called Speed-The Ride, shoots riders from the hotel outside along the Las Vegas Strip, where it loops through the grandiose Sahara sign in front of the hotel, goes straight up, stops and then takes a return trip backwards. Bergman Walls Associates were the 1999 architects.
Rumors of the Sahara's closure surfaced in the media in February 2006.[2] In a news article on June 30, 2006, it was reported that the Sahara site, as well as a defunct adjacent Wet 'n Wild property, were for sale.[3]
On March 2, 2007, Sam Nazarian and Stockbridge Real Estate Group signed an agreement to purchase the Sahara from the Bennett family. The transaction is said to be valued between $300 and $400 million for just the hotel/casino and its 17.45-acre (70,600 m2) lot. The deal does not include the 26-acre (110,000 m2) lot across the Strip from the Sahara and 11-acre (45,000 m2) lot east of the Sahara on Paradise Road.[4] Nazarian's current plans are for Navegante Management Group, current operators of the downtown casinos The Plaza, The Western, The Vegas Club, and The Gold Spike, to run the Sahara's casino while Nazarian's SBE Hotel Group will manage the hotel and Nazarian's SBE Restaurant and Nightlife Group manages its food and beverage operations.[5]
[edit] Film history
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The 1960 version of Ocean's Eleven was filmed here.
[edit] References
- ^ "Sahara". http://www.onlinenevada.org/sahara. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
- ^ "Offers they can refuse: For now, no changes on tap at Sahara". Las Vegas Sun. 2006-02-13. http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2006/feb/13/566687484.html.
- ^ Archon Selling 27 Acres on ‘Strip’ for $450M June 30, 2006
- ^ Sahara buyer sees new life for old resort March 5, 2007 The Hotel President is Arash Azarbazin, President of the SBE Hotel Group.
- ^ CA Investors To Buy Sahara Property March 5, 2007
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Las Vegas Club |
Tallest Building in Las Vegas 1963—1965 254 feet (77 m) |
Succeeded by Flamingo Las Vegas |
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Coordinates: 36°8′32″N 115°9′23″W / 36.14222°N 115.15639°W
