Sahara Hotel and Casino closing

[Mr. Hallack]

Soon there will be nothing left of old Las Vegas

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9LT86780.htm

 

[Adcurium]

Not good...

 

[Mr. Hallack]

I used to live a 5 hour drive from Vegas, and old enough to remember a lot of the old school casinos, even if I was not old enough to gamble at the time. I thought LA was bad at destroying it's past. I'm glad I live on the east coast now.

 

[Lincsong]

It was bound to happen. That corner in Vegas is dead. There's only the Sahara and Stratosphere. The Riviera and Circus Circus are a little further down. When I first went to Vegas is 1986 that area was bustling but bigger and more interesting casino's came along.

 

[rue]

Some of the older hotels remain. The Plaza is still there and has one of the last dinner theaters. It's getting a multi-million dollar makeover.

 

[Lincsong]

The Plaza needs it. I remember a couple years ago, Senator Jack and I were there and we just missed a stabbing at one of the bars.

 

[rue]

Sounds interesting.

 

[John in Covina]

As much as i miss the old casinos such as the Sands, the problem is these buildings are 50 plus years old and were built with much different building codes. To renovate and update plumbing, electrical and the A/C is monumental jobs.

The areas that are not as new have a tendency to slip lower in class and begin to draw a seedy crowd especially during economic downturns. The vast money from gambling draws sex and violence and sometimes the bad side gets the upper hand for a while in some areas. Downtown was noted for muggings and robberies if you walked a block from the casinos. When the pickings aren't good the wolves get bolder.

 

[Lincsong]

Sounds interesting.

Jack liked the rythm and blues singers.

 

[Adcurium]

The first time we went to Vegas, we stayed at one of the newer hotels (I had a conference and stayed at that property) but gambled at the Stardust. And we saw Wayne Newton's show there. And he kissed my wife. Yes, I'm serious. It was awesome. And I felt like Dean Freakin' Martin. We aren't gamblers so $2 blackjack was right up our alley. Soon, you won't be able to find a table under $25.

I'll miss old-school Vegas.

 

[Adcurium]

Well Wayne kissing my wife wasn't soo awesome but seeing him perform live was awesome.

 

[Harp]

Soon, you won't be able to find a table under $25.

The Venetian offers a good selection, though check the table dealing.
Too many kid dealers with amateurish deck technique.

 

[John in Covina]

One of the things that you can read about and watch on some of the now old documentaries about Las Vegas is that Las Vegas of the 1950's and 1960's was an extraordinary time. Many of those interviewed that were old hands at Las Vegas said that the difference was night and day.

The Hotel Casinos were run by either an entrepeneur or the mob and their concepts of service was much more personal even to the ordinary visitor. The Howard Hughes time began the switch to corporate hospitality and changed Las Vegas a lot.

the old hotel casinos like the Sands were a lot smaller than you might think possible, but they offered an almost cozy intimate experience. Today so many of the hotel Casinos are mega resorts unto themselves and the feeling is a bit overwhelming. Some of them are so big you can get lost.

One of the Vegas historians said it best about the implosion of the Sands: "This was the place where the Rat Pack did their thing and when you went there a little bit of that rubbed of on you."

When it is gone the connection is lost. It is unfortunate to lose all of the history.

 

[Bustercat]

Great bareknuckle reviews of Vegas joints here, for people who just want a good loud time with their friends:
http://www.cheapovegas.com/index.php

I'm still bummed they got rid of the copper mine (penny slots!) at the gold spike. The rooms look alot better now, and they kept the old-school feel of the hotel.
El cortez is still pretty cool, and still has 10x odds on craps.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Soon there will be nothing left of old Las Vegas

Such a shame, that gradually all the old haunts are being taken over by mega-sized "uber resorts". It would be nice to see some of these classics retained, much the way the Fremont area has, but then they wouldn't bring in the same income.

My favourite "classic", was always The Sands, but then I do like The Venetian, also.

Danny O

 

[MysteriousRed]

I must say it's a shame to see the Sahara closing. Although, after reviewing a few 'trip review' sites, it does seem to have seen it's better days.

 

[Harry Gooch]

I got back from my first trip to Vegas in January. Made a point of going to the Sahara to play the $1 tables. Diamond Jim.

It was a real blast from the past.

Harry.

 

[Bernie Zack]

...It is unfortunate to lose all of the history.

True, but the thing about Vegas is that it is a city that remakes itself -over and over again. The "history" of Vegas is that it is short, and it is always changing. There is history being made right now, and it is happening at the better parts of The Strip.

Frankly, that corner has been a dump for a very long time now, atleast 20 years. I've been here for 15, and I visited frequently before moving here. Even the Sands was a dump as recently as the late 80's. All of the action is on the south side of the strip.

That whole area near the Sahara could have been remade and revitalized this year. There was a proposition before the county commission (The Sahara is technically not in the "city" of Las Vegas, none of The Strip is) to build a multi-use stadium right next to it. A pro basketball team was going to come here if they did it. They voted it down. Now that area is doomed. It will probably never come back. Oh well, such is the way in Sin City.

 

[topango]

[video=youtube;nSmvdh5gpbg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSmvdh5gpbg&feature=related[/video]

Jack liked the rythm and blues singers.

Having spent my Middle 30 years in Vegas, I had the oppotunity to visit the Sahara on many occasions and The Checkmates were often playing in the lounge at the Sahara, some of the members did not out live the hotel, may all RIP

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Mr. Hallack, who is that in your User Pic?