Bali Hai, Las Vegas, NV (motel) - Locating Tiki

A aquarj Tiki Socialite SF bay area, CA Joined: Apr 02, 2002 Posts: 1125	A aquarj Posted posted on Sat, Jul 30, 2011 2:57 PM Interesting stuff! About that donated stained glass in the cathedral, that's probably not from just a penitent high roller. Wilbur Clark was a big name in the early Vegas casino history. I read that he owned the El Rancho from 1944-46. His big project was the Desert Inn, which was originally going to be called Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn, until he ran out of money and had to get other backers to take a stake. I guess we'd have to assume it's the same Wilbur Clark - note the presence of the Desert Inn with the landmarks in the stained glass. The only thing that doesn't quite line up is the 1966 date. The cathedral was supposedly built in 1963, and also Wilbur Clark died in 1965. The Desert Inn opened in 1950. I kinda wonder if Clark was involved in the Bali Hai too, especially given its location behind the Desert Inn. Also Wilbur Clark lived in San Diego before moving to Las Vegas to buy the El Rancho in 1944. As we all know, there's a famous Bali Hai in San Diego... obviously it doesn't pre-date the Desert Inn, but it's conceivable that Clark kept some property and ties in San Diego. You could imagine him being aware of the Shelter Island Bali Hai, which may have inspired the Bali Hai on Desert Inn Road, in name only or even in other ways too. -Randy [ Edited by: aquarj 2011-07-30 16:25 ]

Interesting stuff!

About that donated stained glass in the cathedral, that's probably not from just a penitent high roller. Wilbur Clark was a big name in the early Vegas casino history. I read that he owned the El Rancho from 1944-46. His big project was the Desert Inn, which was originally going to be called Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn, until he ran out of money and had to get other backers to take a stake. I guess we'd have to assume it's the same Wilbur Clark - note the presence of the Desert Inn with the landmarks in the stained glass.

The only thing that doesn't quite line up is the 1966 date. The cathedral was supposedly built in 1963, and also Wilbur Clark died in 1965.

The Desert Inn opened in 1950. I kinda wonder if Clark was involved in the Bali Hai too, especially given its location behind the Desert Inn. Also Wilbur Clark lived in San Diego before moving to Las Vegas to buy the El Rancho in 1944. As we all know, there's a famous Bali Hai in San Diego... obviously it doesn't pre-date the Desert Inn, but it's conceivable that Clark kept some property and ties in San Diego. You could imagine him being aware of the Shelter Island Bali Hai, which may have inspired the Bali Hai on Desert Inn Road, in name only or even in other ways too.

-Randy

[ Edited by: aquarj 2011-07-30 16:25 ]

Post #599990 by aquarj on Sat, Jul 30, 2011 2:57 PM