Sahara Las Vegas Closes Doors Forever

**lots0** · 14th March 2011, 05:24 PM

The Icon of the Vegas Strip announced today it is closing it's doors.

The Saraha has been losing money for some time and after several attempts to refurbish the aging Hotel Casino it was still losing money.

Over 1000 Employees will lose their jobs.

**BingoT** · 14th March 2011, 05:28 PM

Las Vegas' Sahara Closing May 16th

The winds of change are blowing again in Las Vegas, this time directly at the Sahara resort located on the Northern end of the Strip. The resort's owner has announced that the property is "no longer economically viable," and will close its doors forever May 16th.

First opened back in 1952, the Sahara is the current home to Speed: The Ride, part of the Nascar Cafe located on property. The coaster, which opened in 2000, launches out of the building, through a vertical loop, into a second (and faster) launch and straight up a vertical tower - then repeats this course backwards.

With the closing of the resort, the end of Speed: The Ride seems almost certain, at least in its current home. I was able to take a spin on the ride a couple years ago, so if you want more information and photos check it out.

It would be an interesting ride for a park to pick up, but its custom design (loop below ground level, etc) might work against that.
http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/20...-may-16th.html

**pokeraddict** · 14th March 2011, 10:38 PM

http://www.casinomeister.com/forums/...-may-16th.html

I posted this several days ago in the NA casino forum. I went there on Saturday night and it was as busy as I have ever seen it. There is some buzz that this could be a gimmick. There are several issues facing that end of the strip though. Fountainbleau's project mothballed, the old El Rancho LV property has been vacant for decades and the NE corner of Sahara/LV Blvd has been empty for as long as I can remember.

**lots0** · 14th March 2011, 11:19 PM

Sorry I missed that post.

I just got the announcment this morning in my morning email.

Hope it is a gimmick... But you never know.

**jstrike** · 14th March 2011, 11:46 PM

Awwww man... it's sad but inevitable. I still remember Sunday mornings when I'd go down there with my mom and my grandparents for breakfast in the coffeeshop. The cinnamon toast was kick ass, and I usually got in three or four rounds of Keno... I was eight years old, green crayon in hand, it was always the highlight of my week if we weren't having brunch at the Trop. (And my gramps let me keep the money if I won

Well, Grandad's gone eighteen years now, and Vegas changes like it always does. Sahara's going the way of the Landmark. Too bad the axe couldn't have come down on the Imperial Palace instead this time. How that sh*thole stays in business I'll never understand.

**pokeraddict** · 15th March 2011, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by jstrike

Too bad the axe couldn't have come down on the Imperial Palace instead this time. How that sh*thole stays in business I'll never understand.

Location. If Sahara is where IP is and IP is where Sahara is then IP is long gone. Harrah's wants to knock down IP, O'sheas, Flamingo, Bill's (formerly Barbary Coast) and Bally's for a massive Flamingo hotel that Flamingo Rd would go under. That was their grand dream when they traded land next to Stardust with Boyd for Barbary Coast years ago. The economy tanked in Las Vegas and that idea is shelved, probably forever.

**jstrike** · 15th March 2011, 05:14 AM

I know; it's a great location. But the one time I actually walked in the door of the IP, the smell of puke was so overwhelming I thought about leaving. Right after that a mega-huge woman tripped over a man in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, fell down three tiny stairs, landed on her belly and started flapping her arms for help. She couldn't get up. I'm not exaggerating here. Me and my buddy gave her a hand, turned around and went back to Caesar's.

Originally Posted by pokeraddict

Location. If Sahara is where IP is and IP is where Sahara is then IP is long gone. Harrah's wants to knock down IP, O'sheas, Flamingo, Bill's (formerly Barbary Coast) and Bally's for a massive Flamingo hotel that Flamingo Rd would go under. That was their grand dream when they traded land next to Stardust with Boyd for Barbary Coast years ago. The economy tanked in Las Vegas and that idea is shelved, probably forever.

**pokeraddict** · 17th May 2011, 01:46 AM

Sahara closed around 1:30pm PT today. I was there until they started asking people to leave about 1:15pm. All of the table games were closed and people were going behind the tables in the pit, spinning the roulette wheels themselves and other harmless fun. The casino closed table games and stopped selling chips at 10am.

RIP Sahara 1952-2011

**me_and_ed** · 18th May 2011, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by pokeraddict

Location. If Sahara is where IP is and IP is where Sahara is then IP is long gone. Harrah's wants to knock down IP, O'sheas, Flamingo, Bill's (formerly Barbary Coast) and Bally's for a massive Flamingo hotel that Flamingo Rd would go under. That was their grand dream when they traded land next to Stardust with Boyd for Barbary Coast years ago. The economy tanked in Las Vegas and that idea is shelved, probably forever.

Just got back from 5 days in Vegas, stayed at Wynn but gambled at Flamingo, O'Sheas and Harrahs, really sad, the mega joints are nice and all but no character and strangely enough no wins, paid for my trip at the classics.