Then and now: From Sahara to Hard Rock
The Sahara Tahoe opened in 1965. Photo/BIll Kingman
Del Webb’s Sahara-Tahoe opened in 1965 in Stateline.
Elvis Presley appeared in more than 100 performances in the Sahara-Tahoe’s High Sierra Theater during the early 1970s. Elvis proclaimed it as his favorite showroom of all. Dozens of other major names in entertainment like Johnny Carson, Jack Benny and Liberace performed there, plus Karen and Richard Carpenter made their Nevada showroom debut at the Sahara.
The theater later offered first-run movies, and then it became the “Chuckwagon Buffet.” Major live entertainment waned.
From 1983 until 1990, the resort was remodeled as Del Webb’s High Sierra, featuring a western theme with Lily’s Dance Hall.
Columbia-Sussex bought the property in 1990 and renamed it the Horizon. Concluding a dramatic decline in business, Horizon closed its doors March 31, 2014.
With a $60 million renovation of the entire property, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened Jan. 28, 2015.
— Bill Kingman
Bill Kingman, The Sahara was a fun place in the early days. Some of my friends worked there. The Sahara buffet was inexpensive and the food was …well?, pretty good. My buddies and I would gorge ourselves. for just a few bucks.
When they started showing movies there in the showroom, I saw the first “Jaws” and the Frank Zappa movie “200 Motels” there.
From what I’ve heard, the grand opening of the Hard Rock was really good. I was told I have to go there to check it out myself. I hope they have a 3 dollar buffet and Elvis is playing, or maybe Alice Cooper as he played there to.
Thanks Bill, OLS
When Alice Cooper played there…..was a real riot in the showroom…..people throwing anything they got their hands on….and, some of his crew…or maybe just groupies…were riding mini-bikes on at least one floor….ripping up carpets….drugs all over the place….and, lots more.
Rumor around town was that that was to be the last of any entertainment bookings for the showroom.
I worked at Sahara in 1972 running change and in the change booth.
Management was very patient with me on the sleepy night shifts after skiing all day.
Eventually I got laid off and ended up moving to Truckee.
I have life long friends from my days in South Lake Tahoe. Many many good times :)
My father in law (Lew Weiser) saw Cassius Clay fight Bob Foster at the Sahara in the early 70’s.
Before the Clay fight you could pay $1 and go inside to watch him train.
Cassius Clay? Uh, he has been going by Muhammad Ali for 51 years now. Foster cut Ali for the first and only time in his career. Worried the referee would stop the fight Ali knocked Foster down eight times, and then the ref did stop the fight. It was on national TV.
200 motels, OLS your a savage