The name switch, announced by SLS Las Vegas owner Alex Meruelo in late June, marks a return to the property's roots. First opened at the north end of the Strip as the Sahara in 1952, the 240-room hotel made its name with some legendary live entertainment, featuring headliners such as Louis Prima, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Jack Benny, Tony Bennett, George Carlin, Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand, who graced the Sahara's stage in the property's heyday.

Reasons for such rebranding efforts through the years vary widely. Among other motivations, they have occurred because of disappointing numbers on the casino floor or in room booking, new owners seeking to put their own stamp on a property and marketing initiatives to reflect and better compete in the contemporary landscape.

Mel Wolzinger died recently at age ninety-eight. That suggests he led a good, long life, and he did. He was active to the end. And it’s a loss to our history. Indeed, he made history.

July marks a golden anniversary for Las Vegas: the opening of the International Hotel. If you haven’t heard of it, you may be more familiar with it as the Westgate, and before that as the Hilton. It’s had quite a history.

When you enter the southernmost part of the Las Vegas Strip and are greeted by the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, you can tell everyone you’ve reached Paradise — literally.

In 2016, it was caucus, old school. In 2020, the Nevada Democratic Party will hold caucus, new school.

When most people think of Nevada, it’s gambling or seeing shows in Las Vegas or hiking in the Ruby Mountains or Lake Tahoe that likely first come to mind.

In a blast from the past, the Sahara is making a comeback on the Las Vegas Strip.