1959 Desert Inn Estates

“The idea was to build,” Irwin Molasky.

In 1959, he partnered with architect Hugh Taylor to develop the Desert Inn Estates, creating spacious 3,000-square-foot homes that quickly became a residential enclave for many of Las Vegas’s founding families. Priced between $30,000 and $60,000, the original 60 homes sold out rapidly, followed by an additional 20 built on a central parcel. Notable residents included actress Elizabeth Taylor, entertainer Eddie Fisher, and Sands Hotel conductor Antonio Morelli.

Decades later, in 2005, developer Steve Wynn approached Molasky after acquiring much of the surrounding land for a new resort and sought his help securing the Desert Inn Estates property. Molasky agreed to purchase the aging homes, bringing his career full circle. Before demolition began, however, he worked with the Las Vegas Junior League to relocate and restore Morelli’s residence. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011, preserving a lasting piece of mid-century Las Vegas history.