Desert Inn

Desert Inn opened in 1950 and closed in 2000, after 50 years, on the Las Vegas Strip, with up to 715 rooms. On the site today: Wynn Las Vegas.

The story

Wilbur Clark began building the Desert Inn in 1947 but ran out of money, and it finally opened on 24 April 1950 as the fifth resort on the Strip. Frank Sinatra made his Las Vegas debut in its showroom on 13 September 1951, and its golf course hosted the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions from 1953 to 1966. Howard Hughes moved into the top two floors in 1966, bought the hotel in 1967 and stayed in his penthouse bedroom until 1970. Steve Wynn bought it in 2000 and closed it on 28 August that year. Its towers were imploded on 23 October 2001 and 16 November 2004, and Wynn Las Vegas and Encore now stand there.

• Opened1950
• Closed2000
• RoomsUp to 715
• There nowWynn Las Vegas

Nearby, also gone

• New Frontier 1942–2007 · up to 984 roomsNow: Empty lot opposite Treasure Island
• Silver Slipper 1950–1988Now: Vacant land, once parking for the Frontier
• Stardust 1958–2006 · up to 1,552 roomsNow: Resorts World Las Vegas

Old Vegas: where to still see it

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