Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn opened on the Las Vegas Strip on April 24, 1950, and nearly every notable entertainer from 1950 to 2000 performed in the Painted Ballroom or "crystal showroom" of the hotel. You could also play a round of golf at the famous Desert Inn Country Club located on the grounds of the hotel. In the 1970s and 1990s, the Desert Inn went through major renovations, and in 1997, the Palms Tower was built. The Desert Inn celebrated its 50th anniversary with celebrity glitz and glamour, but on April 27, 2000, three days later, the resort was sold to Steve Wynn. The Desert Inn ceased operation on August 28, 2000, and shortly thereafter, Wynn started planning to demolish the hotel to make room for the Wynn Resort, which now occupies the property. The Las Vegas Monorail passes by the Wynn Resort, and upon approaching the Wynn from the north (coming from the Hilton), you will go over a section of the Desert Inn's once-grand golf course.
Here, Bob Crane promotes the Desert Inn in this 1962 commercial.
Desert Inn Radio Spot / 1962
Bob Crane Show / KNX-CBS Radio
February 15, 1962
