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The Desert Inn Progression
The Desert Inn opened
in 1950 as a typical low-rise strip resort. The first major expansion was in
1963 with the St. Andrew Tower (shown
left). This nine-story tower was one of the tallest in Vegas. The resort
also includes an 18 hole golf course.
Howard Hughes lived on the top floor from 1966 until
1970. |
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The next major expansion came in 1978 with the opening of
the Augusta Tower. A large spa, expanded casino, additional
restaurants, and a new night club came along with the tower. |
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In keeping with the times, the original St. Andrew Tower
received a new mirrored glass exterior makeover to match the new Augusta
Tower.
In 1997, a $200-million expansion and a Grand Re-Opening,
added the new Palms Tower. The St. Andrew tower was given its second
exterior makeover and converted into an all suites tower with major interior
remodeling. The Augusta Tower was also given a new skin and remodeled
rooms. |
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A shot of the Desert Inn's new tower and grand
lobby main
entrance (left). A complete makeover was also given to all the interior public
spaces including a very beautiful casino (below). |
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The Porte Cochere (left). |
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This $200-million expansion also included a new pool area and refurbished
grounds all around the resort (above). The Mobile rating for the Desert Inn was raised from
three to four stars. On April 28, 2000,
Steve Wynn bought the Desert Inn for $270 million.
At 2:00 a.m. on August 28, 2000, Desert Inn
closed her doors forever. |
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October 31, 2001, Steve Wynn implodes the 1978 Augusta
Tower to make room for his new 2,716-room mega resort. The new resort will be
built mostly in the Desert Inn's parking lot, but due to the size of the
project, the Augusta had to go.
The Augusta only received a minor interior refreshing during the 1997 re-opening and due to the small size of the rooms, it was
more cost effective to let her go. |
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The St Andrews and Palm towers and their grounds were
saved and used as offices and a venue to house Wynn's growing art
collection. Future plans for these lovely buildings were uncertain.
During the construction of the now named "Wynn Las
Vegas", Steve Wynn decided to expand his new resort with a 2,000-room all
suites tower called "Encore". So.... |
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...fair thee well lovely buildings. On November 16,
2004, the remaining two towers were brutally destroyed. There have been nine hotel implosions in Las Vegas
and this one hurt. These were very nice buildings. The Palms Tower was only
seven years old. Oh well, all for progress, nothing is sacred in Las Vegas. |
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On April 28, 2005, the impressive new $2.7-billion Wynn
Las Vegas opens. The resort has a short history of rave reviews and a five
star rating.
Right next door, the rubble from the destroyed St
Andrew and Palms towers has been cleared and work has begun on
Encore at
Wynn Las Vegas.
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More Implosions
Wynn
Las Vegas & Encore News |
