No Water in the Sahara!

Of all the Las Vegas casino resorts to run out of water, it’s beyond ironic that it would be the one named after the world’s most famous desert. But the north Strip property has been as bone dry as the actual Sahara since Wednesday afternoon, according to videos posted to social media.

The Sahara currently has no water, just like its namesake. (Image: Sahara Las Vegas)

“The toilets aren’t working in the guest rooms, obviously,” noted X/Twitter account @LasVegasLocally at 11 a.m. Thursday, retweeting a video of a nonoperational toilet. “Some people are using buckets of water from the pool to flush the toilets.”

A water main breach that occurred during surveying work is to blame, according to a statement issued by the Sahara on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

“As a result, we have been experiencing intermittent issues with our water services while we work to repair the breach,” the statement read. “Guests have access to complimentary bottled water on every floor at the elevator lobby for any immediate needs, as well as complimentary refreshments and breakfast items in the lobby as restaurants remain temporarily closed.”

Twitter user @CommuterMoe, who posted that he “booked another room elsewhere” when confronted with the situation on Thursday morning,  posted a photo of staff handing out free bottled water and oranges.

“Sorry your toilet is full of poo and you can’t shower,” commented @golly_whata-day beneath the post. “Enjoy an orange.”

Added @mzchocolato: “So where are the staff using the bathrooms and where are they washing their hands?”

According to Clark County, a portion of southbound Paradise Road behind the Sahara was closed to clean up water and muck from the water main break.

“Sahara is working diligently to resolve the issue,” the resort’s statement concluded.

The issue was still unresolved at 3 p.m. Thursday, as evidenced by the continued closure of bathrooms on the casino floor.

Corey Levitan joined Casino.org in 2022 after a long career covering Las Vegas. He currently covers entertainment, dining and gaming news in Las Vegas.

Corey spent six years covering the Vegas Strip for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where he also wrote the most popular humor column in the city’s history. (For “Fear and Loafing,” he tried out 176 Vegas jobs, including poker player, blackjack dealer and Follie Bergere dancer.)

Corey has won more than 100 local, state and national awards for his journalism, which has also appeared in Rolling Stone, New York Magazine and the New York Post.

Corey is a New York native whose hobbies include playing guitar, trying to be a better husband, and arguing with strangers on Facebook.

Contact Corey at corey@casino.org.

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