Sahara Hotel and Casino Closes on Las Vegas Strip

An era of Las Vegas history was ended Monday, as the Sahara Hotel and Casino closed its doors on the Las Vegas Strip. It is unclear what will become of the landmark casino, though the site may be developed in the future.

The Sahara was first opened in 1952, and was a trendy spot for much of its history. It was frequented by Frank Sinatra and the rest of the “Rat Pack,” and also hosted the Beatles and other major acts during the prime years of its existence.

Unfortunately for the aging resort, it had become left behind by the rest of the highly developed strip. As other, more modern mega-resorts opened on the Strip, the Sahara started to appear lackluster and dated by comparison, and no longer held a position as a hip place for young tourists.

While the hotel and casino remained popular among those looking for a budget-conscious way to stay on the Strip, that wasn’t enough to save the Sahara forever. According to Sam Nazarian, the chief executive of the SBE Entertainment Group which currently owns the Sahara, the model the hotel and casino operated under simply wasn’t economically viable in the Las Vegas of today.

After the hotel closed and all guests had left, Nazarian reportedly stuck his head out of the resort’s entrance and said, “Be back soon! Thanks for 59 years.”

While the Sahara had long since become an afterthought to most Las Vegas visitors, tourists who had stayed at the hotel in its heyday held fond memories of the resort.

"This is a grieving process," Susan Krwaczyk told Reuters. Krwaczyk had stayed at the Sahara when she first visited Las Vegas in 1976.

"The first time you come to Vegas, it stays with you forever,” Krwaczyk said. "It's like your first boyfriend or your first car."