Las Vegas' iconic Sahara Hotel to close in May

Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) – A legendary Las Vegas hotel and casino will close its doors on May 16. Friday, more than 1,000 workers at the Sahara Hotel were told to look for new jobs.The people who bought the Sahara in 2007 at the height of the gaming boom before the recession now say keeping it open is no longer "economically viable." Those who worked at the nearly 60-year-old property now and during its heyday say it's tragic to see the Sahara go.

Alan Feldman of MGM Resorts International - no stranger to re-inventing properties - says long-term, the end of the Sahara, while sad, could be the beginning of a good thing.

"We have Wynn where the Desert Inn once was. We have the Mirage where the Castaways once was. We have Bellagio where the Dunes used to be and we have the MGM Grand where the Marina was. And we can go on and on."

The owners, SBE Entertainment, say they are working on several options, including redeveloping the property. The Sahara now sits next to the shuttered Fontainebleau and across from stalled Echelon.