El Rancho
The first casino on the Las Vegas Strip was the El Rancho, which opened in 1941. It originally contained 63 guest rooms that were designed to look like a rustic cabin. The entire resort covered 57 acres and included a gas station, outdoor pool, entertainment showroom and horseback riding area. Over the next several years, more cabins were added until the property had accommodations for 110 guests. Unfortunately, the El Rancho burned to the ground in 1960, and no efforts were made to rebuild it. In 1982, the Thunderbird Hotel became the new El Rancho, but this hotel had no connection to the original.
New Frontier
The New Frontier is considered the second Las Vegas Strip casino, even though it had already existed as a non-gaming nightclub prior to the legalization of gambling. It first opened in 1930 under the name Pair-O-Dice but did not include a hotel building. In 1942, new owner R.E. Griffith turned the nightclub into a Western-themed casino hotel. After changing hands again, the property was converted into a space-themed resort in 1954 and the name changed to the New Frontier. The New Frontier closed in 2007 and was imploded to make room for development of a new luxury mega-resort.
Sahara
The Sahara also opened under a different name, beginning as Club Bingo in 1947. Originally the property's best-known attraction was its 300-seat bingo parlor. In 1952, an African-themed 240-room hotel was added, and the resort's name was changed to the Sahara. In 1958, the Sahara made gambling history by becoming the first casino to secure a loan from a traditional bank. These funds were used to add an additional 14-story tower with 200 guest rooms, a convention hall and a 127-foot high sign designed to attract visitors driving past on the Strip. Over the next few decades, three more towers were added, along with a new 44,000-square foot convention hall, Sahara Speedway entertainment complex and an expanded casino floor.
Sahara Hotel and Casino
2535 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(888) 696-2121
saharalasvegas.com
About The Author
Denise Sullivan has been a professional writer for four years after a long career in business. Her areas of expertise are business, law, gaming, home renovations, gardening, sports, and exercise. She is also a tennis and golf enthusiast and enjoys traveling the Western states.
