Sands

Sands opened in 1952 and closed in 1996, after 44 years, on the Las Vegas Strip. On the site today: The Venetian.

The story

Mack Kufferman opened the Sands on 15 December 1952, on the site of the LaRue restaurant, with 200 rooms in four motel wings named after racetracks. Frank Sinatra first performed there in October 1953 and later bought a share in the hotel. Its Copa Room became the stage for Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Jerry Lewis, and the 1960 film Ocean's 11 was shot there. Howard Hughes bought it in 1967. A group led by Sheldon Adelson bought it in 1989 and added the Sands Expo convention centre. The last dice were rolled on 30 June 1996, the hotel was imploded on 26 November 1996, and The Venetian was built in its place.

• Opened1952
• Closed1996
• There nowThe Venetian

Nearby, also gone

• The Mirage 1989–2024 · up to 3,044 roomsNow: Hard Rock Las Vegas (under construction)
• Bourbon Street 1980–2005 · up to 166 roomsNow: A staff car park for The Cromwell
• Desert Inn 1950–2000 · up to 715 roomsNow: Wynn Las Vegas

Old Vegas: where to still see it

Facts from Sands Hotel and Casino on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).