The Moroccan palace rising from the desert on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip is not a mirage, but the historic Sahara Hotel & Casino, offering a variety of restaurants, outstanding entertainment and a plethora of affordable rooms.
The Sahara, recognizable by its tall, colorful towers, which were featured prominently in the classic film "Ocean's 11," is evidence that some things do get better with age.
Once a gathering spot for legends like the Rat Pack and Jack Benny, the Sahara continues to attract celebrities, including NASCAR greats like Kyle and Richard Petty. Bar names such as "Abracadabra" and "The Thirsty Camel" emphasize the hotel's Moroccan theme, but old pictures of Liberace and the Beatles remind you that classic Vegas is alive and well at the Sahara.
The casino at the Sahara is packed with action. A '60s party pit with its Penny Lane slot machines and Burn Your Bra bra provides a blast from the past, while the non-smoking 16-table poker room provides a nod to the contemporary. Slot machines range from pennies to $5, table games include craps, blackjack, war and Texas-Hold-Em, and the Race & Sports Book features kiosks allowing gamblers to place bets 24 hours a day.
The restaurants at the Sahara provide something for every appetite. Indulge in the dining delights of the gourmet steak house House of Lords, Paco's Bar & Grill or the Sahara Buffet. The mammoth NASCAR Cafe offers not only great food but also a museum-like setting for car-racing fanatics. Several bars and lounges, including the venerable Casbar Lounge, provide an oasis for the tired gambler.
Those with a need for speed, beyond the rush of a winning jackpot, can put the pedal to the metal at the Las Vegas Cyber Speedway, which puts you behind the wheel of an Indy race car in a stunning virtual-reality sprint. The unique roller coaster, Speed - The Ride, hurtles you through a 72-foot loop at 70 mph, shoots you through the Sahara's marquee to the top of a 224-foot tower, then repeats the process -- backward. The ride comes Elvis-approved, as the fist-ever ride on Speed was taken by the 24-member parachute team "The Flying Elvi."
Over the years, the Sahara has historically hosted some of the hottest entertainment acts, and the tradition continues today with an array of performers taking to the stage of the Congo Room.
The property houses 1,720 rooms, providing maximum comfort at comfortable prices, and 5,000-square-foot pool that follows the same Afro-Mediterranean theme as the hotel -- complete with cabanas and palm trees. An entrance to the Las Vegas Monorail from inside the Sahara allows guests easy access to seven stations, running between the Sahara and the MGM Grand Hotel.
More than half a century after first opening its doors, the Sahara still provides refuge, relief and relaxation like a true Vegas oasis.
