SLS Las Vegas used to be the Sahara, which opened in 1952 as a $5.5 million, Moroccan-themed resort 1959: Comedian Don Rickles makes the first of many appearances in the Casbar lounge. George Burns also appears in the Casbar lounge. 1961: Del Webb acquires the Sahara through a stock transaction involving 1.5 million shares in the Del Webb Corp. valued at about $12 million. The Sahara adds a $5 million, 24-story skyscraper with 400 rooms, bringing its total to more than 800. 1964: Stan Irwin, the Sahara entertainment director, brings The Beatles to Las Vegas. They perform at the Las Vegas Convention Center and stay at the hotel. 1982: Paul Lowden buys the Sahara for $50 million. 1988: A 26-story tower is added, bringing the room total to 1,500. Lowden expands the casino area and opens a new race and sports book. 1995: Bill Bennett buys the Sahara for $193 million, including 39 acres west of the Strip. 2007: SBE Entertainment and Stockbridge Real Estate buy the Sahara for between $300 million and $400 million. 2011: The Sahara closes 2017: The Meruelo Group announces it had agreed to buy the struggling SLS Las Vegas from Stockbridge Capital Group