Las Vegas History Series: Desert Inn, New Items for Sale

Today, we are focusing on the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino. The Las Vegas resort opened in 1950. Cleveland mobster Moe Dalitz and Wilbur Clark were the individuals who made the resort a reality.

The opening of the resort included an appearance by comedians Abbott and Castello. In 1959, the owner of New York's Plaza Hotel purchased the Desert Inn. After the acquisition, Wilbur Clark would remain part of the hotel.

Arguably the most famous story about the Desert Inn is how businessman Howard Hughes purchased the resort while staying there in March of 1967. Mr. Hughes spent numerous years living in his penthouse at the resort. Hotel staff was not allowed to clean his room.

Known for having a golf course, the Desert Inn was the home of the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions. Today, the Desert Inn golf course is still there. You can walk the greens at Wynn Las Vegas. That is where the former Desert Inn was located.

The Desert Inn was also the home of Frank Sinatra's 77th birthday in 1992. In 2001, the resort was used to film scenes for the film Rush Hour 2.

Some believe when the Desert Inn was demolished that it was the end of old Las Vegas. However, the town still has the Flamingo, Tropicana, El Cortez, Binion's, Golden Nugget and Four Queens. Those are casinos from the early years of Las Vegas.

We have some new cool items for sale from the Desert Inn. You can purchase them below and some of our best items from the resort by clicking the picture for each item:

Desert Inn Casino Duffle Bag