Out on a barren stretch of old Highway 91. or the Old LA highway Wilbur Clerk envisioned the Desert Inn as a place where his friends from Chicago and California could come and gamble, play golf, and be entertained by the ladies.

The year was 1946, the location was ideal, 16 acres across the road from The Last Frontier and he thought that his $1,500,000 would enable him to make it the finest resort in Las Vegas.

Finally opening in August 1950, Las Vegas was treated to a two day grand opening presided over by the greatest ventriloquist of the day, Edgar Bergen, who received the unheard of amount of $50,000 for his duties.

In 1951 Frank Sinatra quipped:"for 6 bucks you could get a full filet mignon dinner". Sinatra, Bergen, Sammy Davis, Ava Gardner, and Jack Benny were regulars at the DI.

Almost every major star of the last fifty years played at the Desert Inn. Its famous "crystal showroom" hosted Liberace, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Dionne Warwick, Wayne Newton, Barry Manilow, Cher, Tina Turner, and more. Comics and variety acts like Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, The Smothers Brothers, Roseanne Barr, Garry Shandling, Buddy Hackett, and Rich Little all worked the Desert Inn along with thousands of others.
Part of the fame of the Desert inn was that Howard Hughes stayed there in 1966. Hughes and his entourage took up residence on the 8th and 9th floor of the resort and when asked by management to vacate so they could accommodate the high rollers who were expected for the holidays, Hughes gave instructions to his team to "buy the joint" so they did not have to move. This was the beginning of Hughes' involvement in Las Vegas where he went on to become the largest private land holder in the state.

The Desert Inn Crystal room had been host to a long running revue called "Hello Americ" featuring Danny Kay, Jimmy Durante and Andy Williams. Jerry Lewis was a favorite performer.
Debbie Reynolds had her two children appear on stage with her at the Desert Inn. This was the first public performance by Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, the children of Debbie and Eddie Fisher.
TV fans remember the Desert Inn as home to Dan Tanna in the hit series Vega$.

In 1992, with Kirk Kerkorian as the new owner general Manager Burton Cohen reinstituted the Star policy. Over the next few years Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Juliet Prowse, Paul Anka, Steve and Edyie, and Ann-Margret would comprise a rotating roster of stars, providing the DI with the best known and most popular entertainers.

David Cassidy and Don Reo brought their version of "The Rat Pack is Back" to the Desert Inn. It was a wildly popular show until the families of Sinatra and Davis objected. The show closed and about that time the property was sold to Steve Wynn.

On April 24, 2000, the Desert Inn turned 50 years old, a time capsule was buried in a custom-designed granite burial chamber on April 25, 2000, to be opened on April 25, 2050. Three days later, on April 27, 2000, the resort was purchased by Steve Wynn for $270 million, who closed it several months later.
The Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Hotels now occupy that hallowed site.

If you have any information about the history of entertainment at this property please do contact us, we aim to update this section of the site as frequently as possible so that we can ensure as accurate as possible correct historic information.