xmichellex Posted May 2, 2011 Author Share Posted May 2, 2011 Booo... I will definitely miss it when I'm in Vegas... unless of course it's somehow saved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoflake15 Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RollerCoasterSmi Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 When I went about 5 years ago, I didn't go on it, why did my ten year old self think Manhattan Express look more appealing...WHY??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Of Spades Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 ^^&^ Aaahhhh, user picture cloning! The rumors were true! Â In other news, I too will miss Speed, the one Premier that valiantly stood out as the best coaster in a "park". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1badgmc Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Sad. I made my first ever trip to Vegas in February of 2009 and Speed was closed. My wife and I were very disappointed. Turns out it re-opened shortly after we were there. Now I guess I'll never get to go back and get that credit. Boo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Of Spades Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 As of an hour ago, the Sahara is now locked up, awaiting its fate, whatever that may be. Â Another classic piece of Vegas gone kaput, good job economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr. cockblock Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 RIP to my favorite rollercoaster in vegas, Speed! You will be missed next time im in Vegas. Speed now joins Wet N Wild as things I really loved doing while I was in Vegas as a younger kid that are now gone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six Flags Enthuseast Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 This is sad to hear. I've never been to Vegas, but I guess this is one coaster I'll never be able to ride even if I do go soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greatamerica1990sfan Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 I went on Speed twice in a row(since I had the all day ride wristband) back in 2003 although it was 100+degrees outside. & Oh I got to stay on without getting off. I didn't go on it anymore times since I didn't feel so good after 2 rides in a row. Got the ride picture of me on the ride. It was a pretty good ride. Hey CGA! Listen up! Speed is on sale & would make a perfect 2012 addition! It's fast & not that high & hardly makes any noise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Of Spades Posted June 5, 2011 Share Posted June 5, 2011 hardly makes any noise! Â Back when Wet and Wild was open, you could hear Speed across the entire park. Â Something tells me it wouldn't do well near those offices either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 LAS VEGAS - Now that the Sahara hotel-casino is closed in Las Vegas after 59 years, everything must go. The owners of the Rat Pack-era casino are planning a liquidation sale of all items inside the property exactly one month after closing the casino's doors.  Things for sale include the casino's poker room sign, bedroom furnishings and chandeliers in several shapes and sizes.  The sale set to begin June 16 is being organized by Ohio-based National Content Liquidators, a firm that ran previous liquidation sales for other casinos.  Company spokeswoman Meredith Lunsford said she expects the sale to attract nostalgic fans and commercial buyers interested in things like escalators and restaurant equipment.  "You've got people from all over wanting to take home a piece of history," Lunsford said.  Owner SBE Entertainment has not yet detailed its plans for the property on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip.  The Sahara is remembered for attracting big celebrities in its heyday, where nightly lounge acts set standards for other casinos that opened later. Don Rickles and Louis Prima were regulars, while Sonny and Cher and Judy Garland also took the stage.  More recently, the Sahara became known for its cheap blackjack and a NASCAR themed area that included a cafe and small roller coaster.  This month, the casino is selling its stage lights and ceiling decor.  National Content Liquidators set up a website for the sale with pictures, saying the Sahara would stay open until all its items are sold. The firm is charging $10 per person admission during the sale's first four days.  Link  Liquidation Sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 Any word on if Kat and Kiwi will be at the liquidation sale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 ^ I will be in town starting the morning of the 20th. I'll probably run by there and see if they have anything of interest to a coaster enthusiast. Maybe I can snoop around and find out what the true plan is for it as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_echo Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 One thing I would never buy is a used bed from a hotel. Especially a Las Vegas hotel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanGsatMCO Posted June 6, 2011 Share Posted June 6, 2011 OMG I land at like 8am on the 16th at LAS... I am going there right away. I love Vegas as much as theme park. I would love to have a nice history piece!!! SCORE! I may do a mini photo update if my phone can handle it! Â Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Went to the liquidation sale today which basically confirmed what we already knew, the place is/was a dump. The stoves in the kitchens that had not yet been purchased/picked up showed years of grime from neglect. The carpets and flooring in the F&B areas were equally disgusting. The Penthouse and Presidential Suites looked like they had the original furniture. The electronics contained in them were state of the art in the early 70's. Overall, after seeing the back of house areas, the theatre back of house, and offices, and rooms, it makes me wonder how the place stayed open this long. Â Sadly, the NASCAR cafe and Speed: The Ride were in areas blocked off to the public. The NASCAR driver suits had been removed as had the display cars on the floor. I could not see up to the area of Speed. I got a contact number, I may try to call tomorrow and ask for permission to photograph the ride in it's dormant state. Â If anyone wants to see pictures, let me know, I can go back this week and do a full workup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneyfan1313 Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Pictures of the sale would be fascinating! Were people actually buying this crap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmichellex Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 Saw some pics and read stories from the sale on a couple Vegas sites -people were buying everything from gaming tables, hotel decor, and even signs ("taxi", "valet", etc) from around the hotel... seems like there wasn't much you couldn't buy. Evidently, at one point the line was approx. 5 hours long just to get inside! Â Chadster - that's cool that you went... not cool to hear the hotel was in such bad shape. Did you end up buying anything, or were you just checking it out? I'd love to see any pics you have! I always made a point to stop at the Sahara when I was in Vegas... to me it was one of the last old great tacky casinos, and also one of the last places to get drink/gaming deals. Sad that they let it fall into such disrepair to make way for the next irritating high-end crap fest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 In short, by the truckloads. The Clarion up the road bought 100 box springs and mattresses, the camel lamps are selling fast. I heard they were already on ebay for like 600, they were selling them for 150. The prices were set, no negotiations. You could even buy the toilets if you wanted to. Once you buy the stuff, you have 24 hours to get it out. Several gaming tables are left, most of the kitchen equipment, and nearly all the stage lighting. The stage lighting was easily 15 years old and the system that ran it used a Windows 2000 machine for it's programming module. They wanted near retail price for most of the lights, maybe 30% less than new, then, you have to add sales tax and a 10% buyers premium, needless to say, that is just one example of many overpriced items. I think the mattress/boxsprings were 125 each, way overpriced for a worn mattress. Some of the furniture was decent, but honestly, 20+ years old. One company bought every ironing board they could find. Clearly for a hotel owner. If you want pots and pans, those are a plenty. Â Personally I snatched up a set of old school glass coca-cola glasses for $1 each, the sign said $2, wasn't going to argue. May go get more of them at that price. I have a training class during the day all this week, but I'll make it over there afterwards. They only let 300 in at a time, but since most of the good stuff is gone, that limit wasn't even close today. Not all of the items are for sale yet, many of the room floors are still closed, apparently they will open up new floors every few days. Â I may go ahead and try to make contact tomorrow with the sale organizer to see about pictures of Speed. If you guys really want to see what it all looks like, I'll make the effort to document it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmichellex Posted June 21, 2011 Author Share Posted June 21, 2011 ^ Aw, you don't have to go out of the way or anything... didn't know if you had pics from your trip today or whatever. If you do end up going back then definitely take some pics! If not, that's cool too It would be cool if they let you grab some last looks at Speed... seems like that was the only thing on the property that was still in pretty good condition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 ^ It's literally about 1/2 mile from my hotel (I'm not on the strip) and wouldn't be too much effort. I was mostly interested in combing thru stuff today. The ride lockers were in pretty rough shape last october and just seemed dirty. The ride itself I agree, seemed to be in pretty good condition. Hope it finds a good home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 (edited) The Penthouse and Presidential Suites looked like they had the original furniture. Â That was actually the selling point of those suites. One of them was the Beatles suite (where the Beatles stayed when they played a concert in Vegas) and the other was the Elvis suite (where he would go "hide" w/ Priscilla while shooting "Viva Las Vegas"). Â They actually did renovate some of the rooms a few years ago, including really nice 2BR penthouse suite. But I'm sure the fixtures in those rooms were sold right away. Â BTW, the reason the NASCAR cafe stuff remains relatively untouched is because the hotel does not own it. They are just a tenant of the hotel, so I would assume Sahara has to honor the lease and let the stuff stay there regardless of whether or not the hotel is actually open. Edited June 21, 2011 by Jew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 ^ If that was the selling point for those suites, that's sad, they were well used, I certainly would not have stayed in them, nostalgia or not. Â You are correct the flat screens in the "remodeled" rooms went instantly. Â I've been in contact with the group that owns the NASCAR part and Speed: The Ride thru the liquidation company. I am supposed to have an answer tomorrow about permission to take pictures of the ride. I'm headed over there in a few to photograph the hotel and back of house areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 ^Keep in mind that the towers those suites are in were the ones that were mothballed before the closure was announced. I am going to assume that they had not been maintained since December of 2009, which is when those towers were mothballed. Â When they were available, both suites were in high demand and purposely left with the retro feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterkid98 Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 I just heard from my sister in Las Vegas that Circus Circus bought speed: The Ride. however the water ride will be no more, but they want to build another coaster in its place. so speed isn't dead yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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