Sahara Las Vegas

The $5 million Hotel Sahara opened on October 7, 1952, with an African Sahara theme.[18][19][20] Attendees to the grand opening included Ray Bolger and Gus Greenbaum.[19] It was the sixth resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip.[19][21] Max Maltzman was the architect, and Ragnar Qvale was the interior designer.[18][19] The Sahara utilized a modern and simple design.[18] The North African desert theme was conveyed only minimally in the Sahara's architecture. Outside, the only depiction of the theme consisted of fake camels and Arabian people. The interior included statues of Arab guards.[13]

The Sahara was located on 20 acres (8.1 ha),[18] employed 500 people,[19] and contained 240 hotel rooms.[18] The hotel consisted of two-story motel wings that formed a quadrangle around the pool. Each room included a patio or balcony.[13] Other amenities included a casino, an 85-foot bar, and two restaurants: The Congo Room, which was the primary dining choice; and The Caravan, a coffee shop featuring hand-painted murals.[18] These areas of the resort, as well as the Casbar Theatre, featured African images.[13] Like at Club Bingo, Schivo managed the casino at the Sahara.[7] Schivo's wife, Shirlee, would later help to decorate the hotel's interior during a refurbishment.[8] Irwin also retained his position as entertainment director, responsible for arranging celebrity performances at the Sahara.[11]

Upon realizing that the resort needed more rooms, Prell hired Del Webb in 1954 to build additional units.[22][23][24] The project took five months to construct, and was completed by 1955. Originally known as the Sahara Oasis Motel, the addition contained 192 rooms. It consisted of seven interconnected buildings, one of which connected to the main resort through an air-conditioned walkway.[24] The addition was designed by Martin Stern Jr. as a two-story motel wing, built out in an "E"-like shape just south of the quadrangle structures. The addition marked Stern's first project in Las Vegas.[13]

The Sahara included the first Olympic-size swimming pool in Las Vegas, and would become the first hotel to host hydroplane races on Lake Mead.[25] The Sahara Cup hydroplane races were first held in 1956,[26] and continued for several years.[27][28][29] In 1958, the hotel began sponsoring the Sahara Pro-Am golf tournament, played at an off-site golf course. It later became known as the Sahara Invitational.[30][31] The hotel ended its sponsorship of the hydroplane races in 1959, stating that they had become too big of an event for a single organization to sponsor.[32]

Hotel Sahara stationery, featuring the 14-story tower (c. 1960)

In 1959, a $3.5 million construction and remodeling project began at Hotel Sahara, including the start of construction on a 14-story hotel tower. The tower was designed by Stern, and construction was handled by Del E. Webb Construction Company.[33] It was built southeast of the hotel pool.[13] Construction on the tower had reached the eighth floor in November 1959,[34] and the project was topped out in early 1960. Aside from the tower, other new features included a coffee shop with seating for 300 people, and a 700-person convention hall.[35] The 14-story Sahara Tower (later the Tunis Tower) opened in June 1960, adding 204 additional rooms for a total of 604. It was the tallest building in Nevada at the time.[36][23][3] A flashing, electric clock was located atop the tower.[37] The clock included the time as well as the temperature, and was topped by a letter "S" sign.[13][38] Also added was a 127-foot vertical roadside sign, designed by YESCO and installed in front of the resort.[9][13]

By July 1961, there were plans for a $2.5 million renovation of the Hotel Sahara. Also planned was a 24-story hotel tower, designed by Stern, that would cost $4.5 million. The project would also include a parking garage along the Las Vegas Strip.[39] Del E. Webb Corporation completed a purchase of the Sahara later in 1961, by acquiring shares in its corporate owner, the Sahara-Nevada Corporation.[36][40] At the time, state law for gaming licenses meant that every shareholder in a company would have to undergo the mandated investigations of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Because large corporations have many shareholders, this essentially prevented such companies from operating casinos in Nevada. Del Webb devised a plan to work around this issue by operating as a landlord, meaning its shareholders would not need to undergo investigations.[13][41] A separate organization, Consolidated Casino Corporation, was set up by Del Webb to operate the casino. Jacobson, Prell and Winter owned Consolidated Casino Corporation, and Prell and Winter were also retained to serve, respectively, as chairman of the board and president of Sahara-Nevada Corporation.[17] An expansion of the restaurant and lounge facilities was underway in late 1961,[42] and an enlargement of the Casbar Theater was completed in early 1962.[43]

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 9, 1962, for the $6 million, 24-story Sahara Skyscraper hotel tower, located next to the Sahara Tower.[36][44] The new tower, built by Del Webb, was expected to measure 260 feet in height. It would add 400 rooms, for a total of 1,000.[43][44] Three swimming pools, including the original Olympic pool, opened in April 1962, after construction and remodeling.[45] A keno facility opened later that year, making the Sahara the second hotel on the Strip to offer the game.[46] By October 1962, construction on the new tower had reached its 17th floor.[47] A Don the Beachcomber restaurant opened the following month.[48] At the time, Prell and other Sahara executives sought to rename the adjacent San Francisco Avenue as Sahara Avenue. Beldon Katleman, owner of the former El Rancho Vegas across the street, objected to the proposal, stating that the road should be renamed after his hotel-casino property.[49] Despite the opposition, the street was renamed after the Sahara.[50]

In early 1963, several new facilities were opened in a new three-story building as part of a $12 million expansion. These facilities included the Caravan Room coffee shop, the House of Lords steakhouse, and a 1,000-seat convention hall. Don the Beachcomber was also part of the three-story addition.[36][41] Temporary walls had been put up to shield casino customers from construction of the new facilities.[51]

Plaque describing the Beatles' hotel stay in 1964.

The 24-story hotel addition, eventually known as the Alexandria Tower,[41][3] was opened in May 1963, with Nevada governor Grant Sawyer attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony.[22][52] The clock and "S" sign were relocated from the original tower to the new tower.[13][38] During 1963, to attract visitors, the casino introduced its Shower of Money, in which a selected participant would get into a plexiglass booth and be showered with $100,000 in money bills. The participant had one minute to push as much money as possible out through an opening in the booth, and that person would get to keep the ejected money.[30][53]

In August 1964, the Sahara paid $25,000 to have the Beatles perform in Las Vegas and stay at the resort, although their performance took place at the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center, as the Sahara's 600-seat showroom could not handle the crowd size of a Beatles concert.[41][54] The Sahara would later display photos of the Beatles' visit to the resort.[55] U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson stayed at the hotel in October 1964.[30][56]

In 1967, there were plans to add a $3 million, two-story convention facility to the Sahara.[57] In July 1968, the hotel was nearing completion on the facility, known as the Sahara Space Center.[58] The facility opened in September 1968,[59] and hosted U.S. vice presidential candidate Spiro Agnew for a speech.[60][61] The Sahara Space Center included seating for up to 5,000 people.[62]

A rooftop fire occurred at the Sahara in August 1964, causing nearly $1 million in damage. A work crew had been on the roof installing a sprinkler system, and the fire was believed to have been caused by a smoldering rag. Firefighters put it out with thousands of gallons of water, which soaked through the main casino area's ceiling and also flooded the main showroom.[63] Las Vegas sheriff Ralph Lamb believed the fire to be more financially destructive than the one which destroyed the El Rancho Vegas, stating that it was "probably the biggest hotel fire we've ever had in Las Vegas." Some gamblers had been hesitant to quit playing and evacuate the casino.[64]

Approximately 100 workmen began repairs immediately following the fire, and most of the affected facilities reopened the day after. For its reopening, the Sahara sign advertised, "Visit The Hottest Casino In Town." Casino operations were moved to a recently completed casino addition, adjacent to the main casino, that was unharmed by the fire. Full repair work was expected to take 30 days.[63]

In May 1967, three men were arrested after planting a homemade bomb in a Sahara hotel room on the 12th floor, part of a failed extortion attempt. A note was left demanding $75,000 for information to disarm the bomb. The note also warned that bombs had been placed in two other hotels owned by Del Webb. Seven hotels in three states were evacuated, but no other bombs were found.[65][66][67][68]

In July 1968, a fire started on the roof of the casino building, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of people. A crew had been working on a rooftop air conditioning unit, and the fire was believed to have started from a spark created by welding equipment. The fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage to the main casino area, the hotel's executive offices, the coffee shop, a lounge, and the showroom. The fire was stopped before it could damage a new casino addition, which had been in operation for several months and was located north of the main casino. The hotel portion was also unaffected by the fire, and its guests were not evacuated. Most of the affected facilities were expected to be quickly repaired and reopened the next day after the fire.[69]

In July 1981, a fire started in a third-floor hotel room and smoke poured through the upper floors, prompting the evacuation of more than 200 guests. The cause of the fire was considered suspicious.[70]

Revenue declined at the Sahara following the opening of several large resorts nearby, including Caesars Palace in 1966, the International Hotel in 1969, and the MGM Grand in 1973.[13] Many of the Sahara's high rollers started going to Caesars Palace instead.[41] Eugene Moehring, a history professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the Sahara "helped establish Las Vegas as a major resort city after World War II. But its contributions to Las Vegas shifted as the years went by. By the early 1970s it was getting to be old. One problem is that it just didn't have the money to keep up with the times."[41] Webb died in 1974, leaving the resort under new management through his eponymous company.[13]

In 1975, a new, larger keno facility was opened to replace the original.[46] The following year, Del Webb canceled its sponsorship of the Sahara Invitational golf tournament, due to rising costs over the past six years.[71] In the late 1970s, the Sahara was among several casinos involved in a scam pulled off by gamblers. As a result, the Sahara faced a $37,500 fine by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which alleged that the resort had violated casino procedures.[72][73]

A renovation was concluded by 1977.[74] At the end of 1978, Del Webb launched a $50 million expansion project, with Stern as the architect. The project would include the addition of a 27-story hotel tower with 625 rooms. At the time, the Sahara had 953 rooms. The expansion would also increase the casino by nearly double, adding 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m²). The expansion was scheduled for completion in 1981.[75] Increased parking space was also part of the project.[75] In 1978, Del Webb purchased 25 acres at the southeast corner of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue, directly east of the resort, and turned it into a parking lot for customers. A pedestrian bridge was also built over Paradise Road, allowing for direct access to the Sahara.[13] The parking lot was once the site of Las Vegas' first airport, Anderson Field, during the 1920s.[76]

In 1980, Del Webb had a new sign installed in front of the resort. The sign was created by YESCO and measured approximately 223 feet in height, making it the world's tallest free-standing sign.[13][77][78] A new entrance was also added to the resort's south side near Paradise Road, which had become the main exit road from McCarran International Airport. A foundation had been set for the new tower, but construction was halted in 1980, because of financial problems,[13] as Del Webb and the Sahara struggled during the early 1980s recession.[79]

In 1981, Del Webb announced that it would have to sell the Sahara to reduce its debt. Paul W. Lowden, who owned the Hacienda hotel-casino, purchased the 932-room Sahara for $50 million.[25][80] With the purchase, Lowden owned the southernmost and the northernmost casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.[25] At the time, the Sahara had a 26,000 sq ft (2,400 m²) casino,[79] as well as 2,500 employees, five of whom had been working there since its opening in 1952.[25] As part of the sale, Del Webb retained the "House of Lords" restaurant name.[81]

In July 1982, following a two-week investigation by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, a Sahara blackjack dealer and seven card players were indicted for taking part in a cheating scheme at the casino.[82] Earlier that month, 50 table game dealers and six supervisors were laid off because of a reduction in business.[83] Lowden finalized his purchase of the resort in August 1982.[84][85] Table dealers at the Sahara had previously voted to be represented by the Teamsters union, but Del Webb declined to discuss a contract. As Lowden assumed ownership, the dealers considered striking against him to protest the firing of longtime employees. They also wanted contract discussions to take place between Teamsters and Lowden.[86][87] The dealers failed to get two-thirds support to go on strike.[88]

Shortly after taking over, Lowden, a born-again Christian, arranged for the hotel to host a convention of born-again Christians that would include speakers, singers, and teachers.[89] Lowden also planned various improvements for the Sahara, including the hosting of boxing matches. A long-running production show, Bottoms Up, would be removed. Lowden considered the Sahara overstaffed and intended to make the resort more cost-efficient. He also disliked the way some of the employees behaved: "I don't like to see the dealers leaning on the tables when no one is playing. There doesn't have to be regimentation, but they will stand up straight. The pit bosses won't be drinking coffee on the job. It's a firm but fair approach."[81]

Lowden believed that the resort could no longer attract high rollers, and he instead focused on middle rollers. He also expanded the Sahara Space Center to attract mid-sized conventions and more business meetings. Lowden had the casino expanded to 34,000 sq ft (3,200 m²) and had columns removed for a spacious appearance. He also moved the hotel lobby to the south entrance, allowing hotel guests to skip walking through the casino. This design had previously been implemented at competitors such as Caesars Palace.[13] Because of interest costs, the Sahara failed to make a profit during the first four years of Lowden's ownership,[90] but room occupancy was up in 1986 as a result of the renovations.[13]

In January 1987, Lowden announced the formation of Sahara Casino Partners, a master limited partnership. A portion of the interest in Sahara Casino Partners would be sold through an initial public offering to pay off debt and resume construction of the third hotel tower.[13][91][92] Later that year, Sahara Casino Partners became the first casino-based limited partnership to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.[93][94] The partnership raised $51 million,[95] and the debt was paid off later in 1987.[90]

The proposed hotel addition would bring the Sahara to 1,500 rooms, helping it compete with other major resorts in Las Vegas.[90] A new sportsbook was opened in early 1988,[96] and the hotel addition, ultimately known as the Tangiers Tower, was completed that September.[13][97] In 1989, Lowden announced plans for 600 additional rooms, with completion expected the following year, at an expected cost of $30 million.[97] The new rooms were housed in an additional tower attached to the Tangiers Tower. This brought the Sahara up to 2,100 rooms.[13]

The Sahara continued to decline in popularity as newer, bigger resorts opened on the Las Vegas Strip, including The Mirage in 1989 and the new MGM Grand in 1993.[98][99] Lowden ultimately decided to sell the Sahara, saying later, "All you had to do was look at The Mirage and say 'How do you compete with that?' The only way is (room) price and you can only do that for so long. We would have had to do something very expensive and we chose not to."[100]

The Sahara's camel sign and domed entrance (2007)

In June 1995, Lowden's Sahara Gaming Corporation announced that gaming executive Bill Bennett had agreed to buy the Sahara as part of a $150 million deal. The agreement included the Wet 'n Wild water park located south of the resort.[99] Bennett completed his purchase later that year, at a cost of $193 million. A $65 million renovation began in March 1996, and was aimed at attracting midlevel gamblers. A Moroccan theme would be applied throughout the resort, including the hotel rooms. Casino space would be tripled to 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m²), and would include an additional 1,300 slot machines, as well as a new sportsbook. Two new restaurants would also be added, along with an 850-seat buffet. The renovation was funded entirely by Bennett and his company. The start of the renovation project was marked by the demolition of poolside bungalows that had housed various celebrities, including Ann-Margret, George Burns, and Tony Bennett. The renovation was scheduled for completion in January 1997, at which point a second phase of remodeling was scheduled to begin. The second phase was intended to add 1,300 rooms, for a total of more than 3,000.[101]

The resort's main entrance was relocated from the north side of the property to a new southwest entrance on the Las Vegas Strip. The casino was increased to 95,000 sq ft (8,800 m²), with expansion into the southeast area of the property, bringing the gaming closer to the hotel and the newly relocated pool area. The buffet was relocated to the second floor of the north side of the casino. Chandeliers were placed throughout the resort. A $4.6 million porte-cochère was added, consisting of an expansive overhead Moroccan-style dome, measuring 140 feet high and 200 feet in diameter. Fountains and palm trees surrounded the hotel's circular entryway. A seven-story parking garage with 2,000 spaces was added as well.[98] A new sign, featuring two neon camels, was added along the Las Vegas Strip in the 1990s.[102]

Speed – The Ride (2009)

In 2000, a roller coaster and a NASCAR restaurant were added,[103] along with a video game arcade.[73] The roller coaster, named "Speed – The Ride" and located in front of the Sahara, shot riders along the Las Vegas Strip, where it looped through the grandiose Sahara sign, went straight up a tower, stopped and then took a return trip backwards. Bergman Walls Associates were the 1999 architects. The Sahara began appealing to middle-class customers under Bennett's ownership,[73] offering dollar specials to stay competitive against newer resorts.[54] Moehring stated that Bennett's idea of combining "Arabs with NASCAR" was a desperate move that ultimately did not work, and that the Sahara mainly attracted low rollers from the 1990s onward.[41]

A modest celebration was held in October 2002, marking the resort's 50th anniversary.[73][104] By that time, the capacity for the Congo Room theater had been reduced from 1,000 people to 850, and dinner was no longer served with the show.[104] Bennett died in December 2002. Rumors of the Sahara's closure surfaced in the media in February 2006.[105] By June, the Sahara site was reportedly up for sale.[106]

In March 2007, Sam Nazarian's SBE Entertainment Group, along with Stockbridge Real Estate Group, agreed to purchase the Sahara from the Bennett family for an estimated $300 to $400 million.[107][108][109] The casino was operated by Navegante Management Group, while SBE managed the hotel and restaurants.[110] In December 2009, the Sahara closed its buffet and two of its hotel towers due to weak demand during the holiday season.[111] In 2010, Nazarian was in negotiations with lenders to restructure the Sahara's debt, ultimately reaching a forbearance agreement with Royal Bank of Scotland Group, the primary lender.[110][112]

Casino floor in April 2011

On March 11, 2011, it was announced that the Sahara would close in two months.[113][114][115][116] At the time, the Sahara had 1,720 hotel rooms and 85,000 sq ft (7,900 m²) of casino space. The resort featured two primary restaurants at the time: House of Lords steakhouse, and the NASCAR Café. The Sahara had 1,050 employees who would be affected by the closure. SBE intended to help find new jobs for Sahara employees at MGM Resorts' properties. Hotel customers with reservations following the planned closing date would also be transferred to MGM Resorts' properties.[110]

At the time of the closing announcement, Nazarian, the CEO of SBE, said, "We are working with our partners to assess a variety of options for the property, including a complete renovation and repositioning. While no final decisions have been made at this point, the continued operation of the aging Sahara was no longer economically viable."[110] Jerry Lewis, once a performer at the Sahara, said, "We are losing what was considered by most of us Las Vegans as one of the trademarks of the city."[55]

Speed – The Ride closed on May 1, 2011.[117] The ride was sold and removed. It was planned to be relocated across from the Mandalay Bay in the plaza that was to be called Akita Plaza.[118][119] As of 2019, the ride continues to sit in storage and has not been rebuilt.[120]

The sports book and Sahara Theater closed later in May 2011.[121] The resort's hotel and casino closed at 2:00 p.m. on May 16, 2011, marking the end of the Sahara's 58-year operation.[122][123][124][54][125] National Content Liquidators began a two-month liquidation sale at the Sahara in June 2011, with more than 600,000 items available for sale on the first day. Among the items for sale were the Sahara camel statues, priced at $12,000 each.[126][127] The contents of the NASCAR Café were excluded from the sale.[128] The sale concluded in September 2011, and attracted thousands of people over the course of its run. It was the largest liquidation sale in Las Vegas history. Items that did not sell were donated.[129] In September 2011, plans to redevelop the property were accelerated.[112]

SLS Las Vegas and Sam by Starck statue (2018)

On February 14, 2013, Nazarian announced the groundbreaking for the $415 million conversion of the hotel into the SLS Las Vegas.[1] The following month, the Sahara's camel sign on the Las Vegas Strip was dismantled.[102]

SLS casino floor

SLS Las Vegas opened on August 23, 2014.[1] It contained 1,600 rooms, a casino, four nightclubs, the clothing store Fred Segal and various restaurants.[130] Originally, the name "SLS", a chain of hotels, was chosen because the letters sounded good together.[131] Later, it was stated it could stand for whatever you want it to.[132] It has also been stated the name "SLS" was chosen by Nazarian to denote "style, luxury and service".[133] Nazarian has also said the letters came to him when he pulled up behind a Mercedes SL500, and thought the '5' looked like an 'S'.[134]

The guest rooms and restaurants were designed by Philippe Starck in collaboration with Gensler. Additionally, a handful of suites are designed by musician and actor Lenny Kravitz.[135] Nazarian, a developer of nightclubs, had the casino floor redesigned for a darker appearance resembling a nightclub, with a high ceiling and exposed ductwork. In one hotel tower, the rooms were updated to feature a basic design with gray walls and exposed concrete ceilings.[136]

A 32-foot-tall abstract statue, known as Sam by Starck, was designed by Starck and placed in front of the SLS, as a homage to Nazarian. The statue, resembling a silver starfish, was compared by some observers to the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and the Pillsbury Doughboy.[137][138] The statue, which used an internal steel frame,[139] was constructed on-site and in pieces. A 12-foot metal duck statue, also by Starck, was added to the hotel's pool area.[140] The duck statue is filled with Styrofoam and was glued in place.[139]

On September 6, 2014, Hilton Worldwide added the SLS to its specialty Curio brand.[141] The facility offered 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m²) of event space, 9 dining establishments, an open air rooftop pool/nightclub, and the Ciel Spa.

On October 6, 2015, Sam Nazarian sold his interest in the SLS Las Vegas and made an agreement to franchise the hotel to Stockbridge Real Estate Group.

On November 9, 2015, Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced that it would add SLS Las Vegas to its Tribute Portfolio, a chain of independent four-star hotels that would allow it to take advantage of Starwood's reservation platform and member benefits. It also announced that the 289-room LUX Tower, one of the three towers onsite, would undergo a renovation and rebranding as W Las Vegas in September 2016. The W would have its own dedicated entrance, lobby, meeting space, pool and facilities and will be managed by Starwood while the remainder of the SLS would remain under its existing management.[142] The conversion to the W was officially completed on December 1, 2016.[143]

In April 2018, the Meruelo Group purchased the SLS from Stockbridge.[144] Alex Meruelo announced plans for $100 million of renovations to the property, and was also expected to rebrand the SLS in 2019.[145] Observers speculated that the resort would revive the Sahara name, and renovation plans used a "working name" of "Grand Sahara Resort", mirroring the name of Meruelo's Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.[145] Meruelo planned to redesign the casino floor, which he considered too dark. The previously renovated hotel tower would be updated again to remove its basic design in favor of a more conventional appearance. Paul Hobson was hired as general manager and would oversee the renovations. Meruelo considered the Hispanic clientele in Las Vegas underserved, and stated that it would be among the target demographics for the resort under his ownership.[136]

In August 2018, the SLS ended its relationship with Starwood, and the W Las Vegas was renamed as the Grand Tower and brought back under in-house management.[146]

An enormous ceremony involving fireworks and a light show was held on June 27, 2019 to announce an upcoming name change to Sahara Las Vegas, as part of the ongoing renovation.[147] The resort would continue to operate under the SLS name for several months until the Sahara name was fully implemented throughout the resort. The process to replace the SLS branding, including exterior signage, was expected to conclude in September or October 2019, at which point the resort would be marketed under the Sahara name.[148]

On the night of August 27, 2019, the Sam by Starck statue was removed during a ceremony and subsequently disposed, as part of the Sahara rebranding. The ceremony began with flames that were set off at the base of the statue, followed by a fireworks show. A crane subsequently tore the statue down. Palm trees are expected to take the place of the former statue.[137][138][140] Because of the way that the statue was constructed, a company spokesman stated that it would be nearly impossible to disassemble the statue and restore it elsewhere for display.[140] The pool area's duck statue is expected to be relocated to the pool at the Grand Sierra Resort.[139]

The resort became Sahara Las Vegas on August 29, 2019,[149] and renovations are expected to continue into 2020.[137][150][151][152] A renovation of the pool area was scheduled to begin in September 2019.[139] The Sahara's new lounge was named Casbar Lounge, after the resort's original live-music venue.[137] The new Sahara is modern in its design and does not feature a Moroccan theme as before, although it features references to the original Sahara. Hobson said, "You might see some camels in artwork around the property, but nothing in terms of a theme. There will be reference to the original Sahara era that reflects what we want for the modern era. There's some nostalgia, but we are defining it for today."[139] A poker room opened in February 2020, as part of the renovation project. Poker had been absent from the casino for nearly a decade.[153]