Seventy-five years ago on April 24, 1950, a new chapter in Las Vegas history began with the grand opening of the Desert Inn, a luxury resort that would soon become legendary.
The brainchild of Wilbur Clark, a seasoned gaming veteran who had honed his skills working on cruise ships off California, the Desert Inn was inspired by a resort in Palm Springs.
Before embarking on this ambitious project, Clark had previously owned the El Rancho Vegas on the Strip and the Monte Carlo downtown but yearned to provide something more extravagant to Las Vegas.
Construction began in 1947, but Clark faced a significant roadblock—financial difficulties that echoed those experienced by fellow Las Vegas mogul Billy Wilkerson during the Flamingo’s construction.
With limited funding and support from friends like Hank Greenspun, who was also new to Las Vegas at the time, Clark struggled to keep the project afloat.
Ultimately, he sought assistance from outside investors in Cleveland, led by the influential Morris Barney “Moe” Dalitz, along with Sam Tucker, Morris Kleinman, Thomas McGinty, and Allard Roen, who helped complete the construction.
On that memorable opening night, Wilbur Clark’s Desert Inn featured 300 hotel rooms, a lavish Sky Room for fine dining, and the Strip’s first entrance fountain, offering an upscale atmosphere in contrast to previous hotels.
Families were welcomed with a designated play area for children, an innovative addition for that era.
The casino was quite notable at 2,400 square feet—impressive for its time, but modest by today’s standards.
The showroom, originally the Painted Desert Room and later renamed the Crystal Room, showcased entertainment from the very beginning.
Opening night featured the famous radio duo of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his sidekick Charlie McCarthy, along with actress-singer Vivian Blaine, just months prior to her notable role in Guys and Dolls.
In the years following its debut, the Desert Inn continued to attract major talents, including jazz singer Billy Eckstine, who made his Las Vegas debut at the hotel.
The following year, none other than Frank Sinatra performed at the Desert Inn before swiftly moving to the Sands, joining a roster of luminaries that eventually included Jimmy Durante, Buster Keaton, Noël Coward, and Danny Kaye.
Moreover, the Desert Inn boasted a country club and became the host of the Professional Golf Association’s Tournament of Champions starting in 1953.
This event brought the biggest names in professional golf to Las Vegas, generating significant publicity and validating the Desert Inn as a premier destination.
While the Cleveland group oversaw the daily operations, Clark remained an important figure, serving as an investor and front man, illustrating his ability to manage relationships with his investors respectfully.
His widow, Toni Clark, left behind a treasure trove of memories, including stunning photographs that are now part of UNLV’s Special Collections, showcasing Wilbur’s ability to engage with almost every famous personality who visited Las Vegas.
Clark also made a mark beyond gaming, investing in real estate and contributing to charitable causes.
Wilbur Street, leading to UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center, is named in his honor, along with other nearby streets named for his family members.
While Wilbur Clark played a pivotal role in the Desert Inn’s success, the contributions of individuals like Dalitz, who preferred to work in the background, were similarly crucial.
A deeper exploration of Dalitz and his association with the Desert Inn is forthcoming.
image source from：https://knpr.org/show/nevada-yesterdays/2025-06-10/las-vegas-desert-inn-from-wilbur-clarks-vision-to-wynns-demolition
