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Part of our Las Vegas casino bouquet collection
Desert landscapes change with the winds. In Vegas, it’s casino owners who shape the scenery And few resorts have survived as many dramatic changes as the Sahara Las Vegas.
During its turbulent 70 years, it’s been built up, stripped down, added to, and scaled back. It’s thrived, dived, and been revived. Telling its story in a single arrangement is a challenge. But as one of the Strip’s oldest and best-loved resorts, Sahara Las Vegas can claim its rightful place in our casino collection.
The Sahara flower arrangement
Part of the Gaia Flowers Casino Bouquet Collection.
About the bouquet
Warm, neutral colors and drought-tolerant plants capture the desert spirit and enduringly modern style of the Sahara Las Vegas resort. They’re also a nod to its iconic name.
The bouquet includes:
- sleek and glossy Anthurium
- spiky Pin Cushion Protea
- soft, yellow roses
- vibrant, multi-colored Alstroemeria
- lush, green Sword Fern
- small Hypericum Berries
- earthy dried mushroom
- elegant ostrich feather
Presented in a beautiful vase, the Sahara bouquet is set for display the second it’s delivered.
The story of Sahara Casino
It’s tough to find an old-school Vegas casino without ties to the 1950 mob era. But for once, gory gangster antics aren’t the most interesting chapter in this casino’s story. (As long as you sidestep suggestions that at least one organized crime victim is hidden in the Sahara’s foundations.)
Compared to its competitors, the dramas this casino has faced over the years are much less grisly.
Fires—accidental and deliberate
From fluky, incidental rooftop fires in the 60s to deliberate fires started in hotel rooms in the 80s, the resort has suffered millions of dollars worth of fire damage. In one case, casino guests were so reluctant to leave that they had to be forced out by staff and fire crews.
In a quirky bit of marketing spin, aimed at making the most of the rooftop disasters, the management urged gamblers to come and play at the “hottest casino” on The Strip.
A bomb threat
In 1967, three men planted a homemade bomb in a twelfth-floor room along with a note demanding $75,000. In exchange, the hotel managers would get instructions for disarming the bomb along with the whereabouts of two other bombs in hotels run by then Sahara owner, Del Webb.
The extortion plot failed. All three men were arrested. And full sweeps of Webb’s seven other hotels found no more devices.
A sophisticated gambler scam
The house never loses, or so the saying goes. But in 1979, a Sahara casino regular and his associates scammed the casino out of $530,500. The Las Vegas Sun would later describe the credit fraud as ‘the perfect crime.’ It took years to set up, around a week to pull off, and several months for the casino to realize their money was gone.
To add insult to injury, the casino was fined $37,000 by the State Gaming Control for, supposedly, letting it happen.
Total closure
The arrival of newer, flashier casinos such as Caesars Palace, the MGM Grand, and later The Mirage, hit the Sahara hard. Located in the underdeveloped northern end of The Strip, the resort went into decline and high-rollers gambled elsewhere.
Several experienced casino owners tried to turn the Sahara around, including Lowden and William Bennet who were responsible for bringing fame and fortune back to Circus Circus. But strategies that had worked in the past—adding more rooms, appealing to a different clientele, sponsoring golf tournaments, and installing a rollercoaster—weren’t enough. The Global Financial Crisis was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
In 2011, owners SBE and Stockbridge announced that the Sahara would close as the business was “no longer economically viable.” A liquidation sale held a short time after, attracted huge crowds. Buyers vied for camel lamps, chips, slot machines, and framed prints from this iconic Vegas venue.
So, what made the Sahara so special compared to other casinos on The Strip?
What gave the Sahara its iconic status?
The Sahara shares Las Vegas-founding status with the Golden Gate Hotel, The Flamingo, and Caesars. Its ongoing bid to become the biggest, the best, and the most exotic casino, includes:
- having the street it’s on renamed in its honor
- boasting the first Olympic-sized swimming pool in Vegas
- holding the title of having the tallest building in 1960s Nevada: the 14-story Sahara Tower (later the Tunis Tower)
- offering 1,613 guest rooms across its three hotel towers, plus exclusive suites and penthouses
- installing a 244-foot NASCAR-themed rollercoaster outside to complement a restaurant of the same style
- having over 600 slot machines and 13 bars and restaurant
- being home to model camels, a Moroccan-style dome, and Sam by Starck.
Sahara Las Vegas’s main drawcard though is its ability to attract superstars—to perform and stay there
Sam by Starck, By Jeff Hitchcock – Wiki Commons
A star attraction
A jaw-dropping, mind-boggling roll call of performers, comedians, and bands have played or appeared at The Sahara.
Imagine being part of the 600-800-strong audience for Duke Ellington, Johnny Carson, Marlene Dietrich, Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood, The Rat Pack, Mae West, Liberace, Rosanne Barr, and Tina Turner. And this is just a handful of the A-list names that have entertained guests.
But wait. There’s one more we have to mention—The Beatles.
In 1964, at the height of their fame, the Sahara paid the Fab Four $25,000 to perform in Vegas. The Sahara’s own entertainment venue was nowhere near big enough for the world’s biggest band so they played to crowds of 8,000 at the nearby Convention Center. But the Beatles stayed in Sahara’s suite 2344.
The Sahara still attracts big names and big shows. In 2014, Iggy Azalea, Rita Ora, and Lenny Kravitz wowed crowds at the re-opening party celebrating the revived and renamed SLS Las Vegas. Since 2019, during the current owner’s reign, (businessman Alex Meruelo) the Sahara has hosted Magic Mike Live, MJ Live – A Michael Jackson Tribute, Big Mountain, Mayer Hawthorne, and comedian Rogelio Ramos.
Celebrating the Sahara’s story in flowers
Reinstating the resort’s iconic name was one of the Meruelo Group’s first moves, reminding people of its glory days and encouraging them to return. Seeing the name Sahara Las Vegas back on The Strip was my main inspiration for the arrangement.
I chose yellows, tans, and blush-colored blooms to reflect the heat of the desert. These colors are also stylish and on-trend, and a nod to the resort’s recent $150 million makeover and rebrand. Completing the arrangement with the crispness of Hypericum Berries and green Sword Fern and the bouquet expresses the Sahara’s modern Moroccan style.
Dried elements (mushroom) and fresh flowers symbolize the resort’s tradition of blending old and new. If you ever visit you’ll find little decor touches, along with a larger display of iconic memorabilia, that celebrate its 50’s era desert-inspired origins. While right next to these are new poker rooms, a rejuvenated Azilo pool bar, and modern, high-end restaurants. If the travel reviews are anything to go by, this blend of nostalgia and new is winning visitors over.
Today, the Sahara is possibly one of the most forward-thinking venues on The Strip. It is Gay Travel Approved and a certified minority-owned company. It also hosts monthly headline events featuring Latino entertainers and performers.
Order the Sahara if…
- You’re getting married there. It’s the perfect floral centerpiece for your ceremony and reception. We can also transform it into a bridal bouquet.
- You’re staying at the resort for a special occasion—birthday, anniversary, honeymoon—and want fresh flowers in your room upon arrival.
- You simply love fabulous Las Vegas and want some of that spirited Strip nostalgia in your home.
Why create arrangements inspired by Vegas casinos?
A skillful florist is always looking for fresh inspiration. We find it in books we read, icons we follow, art we admire, and places we visit. Creating a bouquet, arrangement, or installation pays homage to those muses.
I’ve lived in Vegas for 30 years, so paying tribute to our iconic resorts and casinos comes naturally to me.
Each of the 4 arrangements in The Gaia Flower Casino Bouquet Collection is inspired by a different resort. The flowers, foliage, and design reflect the story and spirit of their namesake venues and celebrate their spin on the Vegas Strip.
