The Sahara Las Vegas unveiled two new pieces of Rat Pack-era Strip resort’s $150 million redevelopment plan as the property – along with all Strip resorts – seeks to bring back business following pandemic-related closures and operating restrictions.
A new restaurant from James Beard award-winning Chef Shawn McClain will open later this year while the Sahara’s pool area – the background for numerous photos featuring Las Vegas celebrities during the 1960s – will be transformed into Azilo Ultra Pool.
Owned by the Los Angeles-based Meruelo Group, the 1,620-room property began its transformation in 2019 when Alex Meruelo returned the Sahara name to the resort, which operated since 2014 as the SLS Las Vegas.
Ballo at Sahara Las Vegas
General Manager Paul Hobson said the new amenities, along with previous and planned updates, “elevate” the property’s offerings as it moves past the challenges from 2020.
“As Las Vegas continues to evolve, we plan to be on the forefront of that evolution as we continually refine and enhance the guest experience at Sahara,” Hobson said.
Ballo is a new Italian concept from McClain, who has opened multiple restaurants in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Detroit. His Sage restaurant at Aria closed last summer.
Signature dishes at Ballo will include a selection of aperitivos, handmade pastas, Roman pizzas, fresh seasonal vegetable dishes and salads, and fire-roasted meats and fish. The restaurant will have a Euro-centric wine list, unique cocktails, and desserts featuring espresso liqueurs.
“We’re entering this next phase in Las Vegas with renewed gratitude, energy, and purpose,” McClain said. “We are inspired by Alex Meruelo’s vision for Sahara and are so excited to join the culinary line-up and work hand in hand with this amazing property team to bring our vision to life.”
Ballo is expected to open later this year and join two additional restaurants at the property, Philadelphia crab house and sports bar, Chickie’s and Pete’s, and Noodle Den, which is headed by Chef Guoming “Sam” Xin.
Meanwhile, construction on the 35,000 square foot Azilo Ultra Pool is expected to be complete by summer. The pool area includes event space in which the main attraction will be giant LED walls that wrap the pool perimeter and span the length of the pool’s south side. The walls total 10,000 square feet, one of the largest to be featured in a private setting on the Strip.
The LED walls have multiple screens that can be synchronized, while the main screen can be partitioned into several smaller screens, giving guests the ability to watch multiple games or events simultaneously. The screens will also have the ability to live stream events at the pool for guests to watch in real-time.
Azilo will include VIP cabanas, each outfitted with high-definition televisions. The space will include private pools, spas, and restrooms; daybeds; lily pads; three bars; and lounge seating. The pool will be open to both resort and outside guests operating daily.
In 2019, the Meruelo Group renovated the 60,000-square-foot casino with a bright and more modern atmosphere that included a finished ceiling and new lighting. The slot machine areas and table game pits were given a new layout, and a high-end gaming area has opened.
The Meruelo Group named the property’s new casino lounge the Casbar Lounge, after the Sahara’s iconic live-music venue where Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and other entertainers would hang out late at night and into the early morning hours in the 1960s
“The return of Sahara Las Vegas to the Strip is significant for the city,” Meruelo said in a statement in 2019. “We know guests come to Las Vegas to create memories, and we plan to help them do just that in a beautifully curated, intimate resort experience with personalized services that make everyone feel special.”
Before Meruelo, the Sahara had five different owners. It was built in 1952 by Milton Prell, who sold the casino to real estate developer Del Webb nine years later. Paul Lowden bought the property in 1982 and sold the resort in 1995 to casino pioneer William Bennett, who died in 2002. SBE Entertainment and San Francisco-based Stockbridge Capital Partners acquired the hotel-casino in 2007 and changed to name to SLS, which was owned by SBE.
The name change back to Sahara was rumored soon after Meruelo bought the hotel casino.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
