Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

Yesterday I attended the media sneak peek of the upcoming Sahara liquidation sale. The fun starts for real Thursday, at 10 AM, when the general public will be admitted. For the first four days, you have to pay $10 to get in; after that, it's catch as catch can. Today (Tuesday), industry buyers have a chance to snap up the industrial-grade restaurant and hospitality equipment.

After the jump, I'll share a few pictures inside the incredibly tomb-like Sahara as it prepares for the sell-off.

Coming in through the former self-park garage, this is the first thing I saw:

Instead of desk clerks checking you in, you'll see cashiers ringing up your purchases back here.

Here are a few sample items:

Johnny Carson looking upbeat about the Sahara's expansion plans. There were many of these publicity-type shots for sale, including some of "stars" I haven't heard of.

This is what the casino looks like now:

Another casino shot:

More sample items. This was on the casino floor. First you decide whether you want to pay $25 for the artwork, then you schlep up into a hotel tower, find a painting, and bring it back down to pay for it. They'll be opening a few floors of each tower at a time, starting with the Tangiers.

These look like solid martini glasses. At $2 (plus 10% buyer premium), they are a steal.

One of the great things about this sale is that you'll be able to walk freely around the back of the house. Though I've got to warn you, the flies are rapidly multiplying in the heat back there.

A shot of the "boutique" area on the casino floor, where many of the smaller items can be found:

I like this shot of the bar without slots. The whole setup will set you back $1,500, a steal if you're opening a slot bar.

I briefly considered getting blackout drapes for gifts--I know a few people who'd love them. Then I remembered how annoyed I get when people foist their interior decorating on me.

Finally, here's a camel lamp. This sucker will set you back $150, but it's very, very popular.

You can find even more pictures of Sahara on the eve of its stripping in the second part of my sneak peak preview right here.