The Desert Inn
The Desert Inn opened on April 24, 1950, and was one of the most elegant resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. Although it bore the name of Wilbur Clark, a small-time casino operator who had run out of construction funds, the real money behind the project came from Moe Dalitz and the Cleveland mob. Dalitz and his associates bankrolled the completion of the resort and controlled its operations behind the scenes, with Clark serving as the charming, photogenic front man.
The Desert Inn set itself apart from other Strip resorts with a country club atmosphere that attracted a wealthy, sophisticated clientele. Its championship 18-hole golf course — one of the only courses on the Strip — hosted the prestigious Tournament of Champions, drawing PGA professionals and celebrity golfers. The resort's elegant showroom featured top-tier entertainment, and its refined ambiance made it a favorite of high rollers who preferred understated luxury to the flashier joints down the boulevard.
Howard Hughes Takes Over
In November 1966, Howard Hughes arrived at the Desert Inn and moved into the top two floors of the hotel. The eccentric billionaire — once a dashing aviator and Hollywood mogul — had become a recluse who watched movies all night, lived on a diet of ice cream and chocolate bars, and communicated almost exclusively through handwritten memos to his Mormon aides. He occupied the entire penthouse level, with blackout curtains drawn at all times.
When Desert Inn management asked Hughes to leave after several weeks to free up the premium suites for high-rolling gamblers over New Year's Eve, Hughes had a simpler solution: he bought the entire hotel for $13.25 million. It was just the beginning. Over the next two years, Hughes went on an unprecedented buying spree, acquiring the Sands, the Frontier, the Castaways, the Silver Slipper, and the Landmark Hotel — spending over $300 million on Las Vegas properties. His corporate ownership model was revolutionary: for the first time, a legitimate businessman was buying casinos through publicly traded companies, helping to push organized crime out of the industry and paving the way for the corporate mega-resort era that defines Las Vegas today.
Key Facts
Wilbur Clark's Vision
The Desert Inn opened April 24, 1950, as "Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn." Clark was the public face, but Moe Dalitz and the Cleveland syndicate provided the financing and ran the operation behind the scenes.
Hughes's Buying Spree
After buying the Desert Inn for $13.25 million, Howard Hughes spent over $300 million acquiring Las Vegas properties. His corporate ownership model helped legitimize the casino industry and push out organized crime.
The Golf Course
The Desert Inn's 18-hole championship golf course hosted the PGA Tournament of Champions for decades. It was one of the most prestigious courses in Nevada and a key attraction for wealthy guests.
Wynn Las Vegas
Steve Wynn purchased the Desert Inn property and demolished it. Wynn Las Vegas, a $2.7 billion luxury resort, opened on the site in April 2005. The Desert Inn golf course layout influenced Wynn's landscape design.
What's There Now
Visiting the Desert Inn Site
Address: 3145 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV (now Wynn Las Vegas)
Status: Demolished in 2001. Wynn Las Vegas opened on the site in 2005, with the Encore tower added in 2008.
What to See: No original Desert Inn structures remain. Wynn Las Vegas occupies the site with its sweeping bronze-glass tower and lush landscaping. The Desert Inn's championship golf course layout influenced Wynn's design, and the Wynn Golf Club now occupies part of the former course footprint.
Nearby: The former Stardust site (now Resorts World) is just north, and the former Sands site (now The Venetian) is a short walk south.
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