[4] The site was considered ideal for the new resort because it was located just outside of city limits, allowing Prell and business partner Al Winter to avoid paying taxes on slot machines and property.

[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.

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.

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.

[77] 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.

[82] 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 rear parking lot for customers.

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] 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.

[110] The start of the renovation project was marked by the demolition of the original poolside motel structures, which had housed various celebrities such as Ann-Margret, George Burns, and Tony Bennett.

However, these plans were put on hold later that year as there was also a preliminary idea for a parking garage to be built on the land, for the upcoming Las Vegas Monorail.

[124] The Sahara began appealing to middle-class customers under Bennett's ownership,[80] offering dollar specials to stay competitive against newer resorts.

[13] He 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.

[135] Bennett's wife, Lynn, oversaw daily operations from that point forward along with her brother, Al Hummel, who served as the resort's chief executive officer.

Nazarian considered the Sahara ideal because of its proximity to the Las Vegas Convention Center, the planned Echelon Place resort, and several new high-rise condominiums.

The plans were scheduled for completion in 2011,[147][157] but construction never began due to the Great Recession,[147] which negatively impacted the Sahara and the northern Las Vegas Strip.

[155] 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.

[197] Nazarian hoped to have SLS Las Vegas opened in the second quarter of 2014, and he needed to raise $415 million from investors and lenders to convert the Sahara into the new resort.

The Nevada Gaming Commission requested that Nazarian and SBE not have any involvement in the casino operation until his license investigation was concluded, a process that was expected to take up to five months.

Thousands of local residents arrived for the midnight opening,[220][221] which was celebrated with performances by Iggy Azalea, Rita Ora, and Lenny Kravitz.

[197][219] Along the Las Vegas Strip, an indoor-outdoor patio area was added to serve as a beer garden, taking the place where Speed – The Ride once operated.

Fred Segal was a well known retailer in the Los Angeles area and was added to SLS Las Vegas to provide southern California tourists with familiarity.

A reduction in staffing was common for Las Vegas Strip casinos shortly after opening, as business is difficult to predict prior to that point.

The sale was initially expected to be finalized later that year,[306][307] although continued price negotiations between Meruelo and Stockbridge pushed back the completion of the purchase.

[312] In February 2018, the Culinary Workers Union was in a labor dispute with Meruelo regarding his employees at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.

The union subsequently called for a state investigation into Meruelo's impending purchase of the SLS Las Vegas, citing concerns about his suitability to own and operate the resort.

[312] In August 2018, the W Las Vegas was renamed as the Grand Tower and brought back under in-house management, as part of Meruelo's plans for the resort.

[230][318] Meruelo held an enormous ceremony involving fireworks and a light show on June 27, 2019, to announce an upcoming name change to Sahara Las Vegas, as part of the ongoing renovation.

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.

[340][341] Numerous performers have entertained at the resort over the years, including Buddy Hackett, Liberace, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, George Burns, and Sammy Davis Jr.[11][55][131] Other performers included Bobby Darin, Red Skelton,[106] Ann Blyth, Martha Raye, Liza Minnelli, Donald O'Connor, Louis Prima, Kathryn Grayson, Mae West,[342] Jack Benny,[343] Frank Sinatra,[1] Dean Martin,[216] Ann-Margret,[211] George Carlin,[344] Tina Turner,[108] and drag queen Kenny Kerr.

In 1953, after Jorgensen gave a performance in Pittsburgh that was positively reviewed, Prell signed her back up for a two-week gig at the Sahara, which proved to be a success.