SAHARA Las Vegas’ anniversary celebration also marked the official debut of “70 Years of Extraordinary Images: SAHARA’s History in Photographs,” an exhibition spanning the resort’s history and noteworthy milestones from 1952 to the present day. At that event, Alexis Meruelo, chief vision and purpose officer for Meruelo Gaming, SAHARA’s parent company, made a surprise $15,000 donation to the ECF, which provides scholarships for students to attend the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ hospitality school. The celebration concluded with a 70th anniversary cake presentation and champagne toast inside SAHARA’s AZILO Ultra Lounge before guests attended the Epicurean Charitable Foundation’s (ECF) MENUS fundraiser at SAHARA’s AZILO Ultra Pool. 7, 1952, and vibrant, seven-decade-long history, as well as remarks by SAHARA Las Vegas General Manager Paul Hobson. Michael Green of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, about SAHARA’s origins on Oct. tour and serving as the setting for the 1960 Rat Pack film, Ocean’s 11.

Founded in 1952, the resort has seen a storied history, including hosting the Beatles during their first U.S. The iconic SAHARA Las Vegas recently celebrated its 70th anniversary.

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