Las Vegas' Unique Architecture

Years ago, I heard of a Midcentury Modern neighborhood in Las Vegas and Steve agreed to take me there on our way out of town.

Some background history before we begin our tour. Prior to the 1950s, Las Vegas was a burgeoning city that hailed gambling as its main attraction. By the mid-1950s, the city had grown so popular that it was no longer just a place to go gamble—it was a place for Hollywood’s elite to see and be seen.
With its proximity to Los Angeles, the mob-run casinos found a new way to attract customers and stand out from the pack: hiring talent. The bosses hired only the best and paid them accordingly. Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr. were a few of the notable Vegas performers at the time.

As the 1950s came to a close, the city was evolving. The mob’s organized hold on the city was eventually edged out by Howard Hughes and other savvy businessmen, who shifted Las Vegas’ gambling background into a booming destination for gaming and entertainment of all kinds.

With tourism at an all-time high, there was an obvious need for housing. And while ad hoc and organic development was already in progress, real estate developer Irwin Molasky (and his company Paradise Homes) saw an opportunity to bring Las Vegas its very first master planned community. This was in 1960.

As a developer, Molasky sought out successful SoCal architectural firm Palmer and Krisel Architects to bring its distinctive modern design to this newly planned neighborhood: Paradise Palms. The vast majority of this historic mid-century modern community was designed by this dynamic duo of Modernism. It was safe to say that Las Vegas’s elite found a new hot spot—not just to travel, but to live. (Side note: I am a huge fan of Krisel in Palm Springs. See more blogs about him here.)
So here we are, in Paradise Palms, a historic community in the heart of Las Vegas proper. It includes roughly 1000 homes that are situated on the Las Vegas National Golf Course (originally the Stardust Country Club). Some of the neighborhood’s notable residents throughout its 60+ year history have included Dean Martin, Dinah Shore, Debbie Reynolds, Howard Hughes, and Bobby Darin. The golf course country club was also a popular hangout for the Rat Pack and other famous celebrities of the golden era of Las Vegas.

Homes were visioned by Molasky to be “designed for the better life, placing a newer and higher standard of living within the reach of the vast majority.” Master planning was done by TME Engineering Services Corporation of Los Angeles, CA who had gained fame planning the communities of Lakewood and Palos Verdes Estates. Curved streets were laid out ending in cul-de-sacs with the intent to “add to the privacy and quiet of every home.” Paradise Palms would go on to win the American Builder magazine award for one of the best planned communities in the U.S.

Each home was touted to be of "contemporary design for modern desert living.” Starting at $25,000, 3 and 4 bedroom plans used similar concepts employed in other Palmer & Krisel communities. Each home was offered in three unique elevations with flat, gable, folded plate or butterfly roofs. Homes were post and beam construction with facades using combinations of decorative block, shadow block, stone or board and batten siding. Sides and rears of homes were finished in a medium sand stucco finish. Facades were also accented with modern-styled window planter boxes, sunflaps, and wooden window screens. Interiors offered shoji sliding doors, kitchens with floating islands, and unique suspended upper cabinetry over breakfast bars. Countertops were offered in 4” x 8” ceramic tiles in grey, yellow, brown, cinnamon, and blue, a hallmark of Krisel’s designs, and custom rectangular brass pulls accented cabinetry offered in light or dark stained natural wood finishes. Other unique features include marble countertops in each bathroom, sunken bathtubs, unique fireplaces with either block or floating concrete hearths. Oh man, it's calling my name!





These were affordable homes with $25,000 in 1960 being the equivalent to about $283,043 in purchasing power today.

Steve is standing in front of Johnny Carson’s former estate, located at 3333 Seminole Circle. Built in 1965, the mid-century modern property spans roughly 3,400 to 3,500 square feet on a quarter-acre lot and features a vintage pool where Carson’s name is still preserved in the cement.

"The freedom of choice for people to spend their money the way they want... And best advice I could give Las Vegas is don't fool with that magic." -Johnny Carson
The last time we were cruising past Vegas, I spotted this amazing building from the freeway. Wow. I knew I needed to see it firsthand. Turns out it is the Cleveland Clinic Nevada and the Keep Memory Alive Event Center designed by another of my favorite architects: Frank Gehry.
In 2006, Keep Memory Alive® chairman and founder Larry Ruvo engaged acclaimed architect Frank Gehry to design a medical facility to treat brain disorders. From that beginning, an architectural icon took shape in the desert, its unique appearance and welcoming, light-filled atmosphere ensuring that Mr. Gehry had achieved his goal of creating something memorable.
"The mantra is ‘Keep Memory Alive,’’’ noted the 1989 recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture. “I’m trying to make a building that people will want to visit, remember, talk about and enjoy and, ultimately, will want to partner with us at the center to help cure brain diseases."
The structure is a leader among other unconventional and world-renowned Gehry designs, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and LUMA in Arles, France, both of which we have toured and loved.

The numbers that document its uniqueness are mind-blowing. Here are just a few: 30,000 steel bolts and 18,000 stainless steel shingles used, 875.5 total tons of steel used, 199 windows, and no two are alike in size or shape, and 68,000 total square feet of interior space: 52,000 in the medical facility, 16,800 non- medical. In addition, the acoustic engineer for the Center, Yasuhisa Toyota, also engineered the sound for the Los Angeles Walt Disney Concert Hall. I would love to attend an event here.
"What does the building mean? It symbolizes hope.” -Frank Gehry

So that's how we said "See you later" to Las Vegas, a town we visit every decade or so. Each time we're impressed with what new things we discover. What a getaway!

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Our Last Las Vegas Day: 16,383 Steps

Today, in 109° temps, we attempted to see all there was left to see, at least for this trip. We began at Bellagio's 14,000-square-foot Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.

This area is transformed throughout the year into breathtaking seasonal displays that celebrate the beauty of nature. Inspired by Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Lunar New Year, each installation immerses guests in a vibrant world of color, sounds, scents, and artistry. With every seasonal transition, the expert Horticulture and Engineering teams unveil a new design while thoughtfully repurposing living plant materials, reflecting their commitment to sustainability and exceptional guest experiences.




Our must visit for lunch choice was the largest In-N-Out Burger in the world. This 10,520-square-foot flagship spans the third floor of a very funky shopping area and features an exclusive company store, a massive dining area, and a 2,500-square-foot outdoor patio. We were not disappointed,


Did you know In-N-Out sells coffee? Iced, it was the perfect beverage for continuing the Vegas explore.

I love this work of art. I suspect our sons have no idea what it is. We barely do. Artists Claes Oldenburg (1929-2022) and Coosje van Bruggen were known for making giant scale interpretations of otherwise mundane, everyday objects -- a rubber stamp, a spoon and cherry, a flashlight. This work, titled Scale X is a 19 ft. 4-in. tall version of a vintage circular typewriter eraser.
To cool off we popped into the Coca-Cola store and the M & Ms store. Both delightful to explore.

I was surprised to find someone who understood me there!
I was also surprised to run into Bruce Willis outside of Madame Tussaud's.
What an interesting shop to discover in the Casino Shoppes.
Does anyone need this first edition of the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, in the extraordinarily popular award-winning Harry Potter series? It's signed by J.K. Rowling on the dedication page. It's only $5,800!
We even visited a hotel that were new to us. "The Ultimate Vegas Experience — Experience pure luxury day and night at Wynn® Vegas, largest Five-Star resort. An unforgettable stay awaits at Las Vegas' most exclusive resort." Maybe next time.
Our last dinner was canalside at Cañonita at The Venetian. It couldn't have been more delightful as we were seranaded by the gondoliers throughout our meal. Meravigliosa!
What memories! Hunter S. Thompson may have said it best, "Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run, but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant."

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Our KENNY CHESNEY Experience...

This incredible day was the reason for our trek to Las Vegas. We were here to experience Country Western Super Star Kenny Chesney.

We began our Kenny Day poolside finishing listening to his audiobook autobiography which we started when we left Tahoe.
Heart Life Music is a memoir which chronicles Chesney's journey from his small-town Tennessee roots to becoming a major country music star, exploring his life, career, and the "No Shoes Nation" through personal stories, reflections on his music, and encounters with other artists. It's described as a look into his life, connecting his experiences with the songs that have defined his career. We could not have chosen a better way to pass the time. We were so ready for what the night had in store for us.
After a much needed nap and a delicious dinner, we headed to the pre-concert party. "Guitars, Tiki Bars, and A Whole Lotta Love" is a free, immersive Kenny Chesney fan experience located at The Venetian. The two-story pop-up featured exclusive merchandise, themed bars, a custom hat shop, No Shoes Radio programming, 20 years of career memorabilia, and a whole lot of fun photo opportunities!


This bus pays homage to my all-time favorite Kenny song, American Kids.



For those not in the know, Kenny is the only country artist to be in Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years for the last 15. He was also the first country artist to headline this 17,600-seat venue.
"When too much fun isn’t enough, remix, re-set, maybe even add a few songs and head back to The Sphere. Having taken No Shoes Nation into a whole new dimension at Sphere this spring, Kenny Chesney made the decision there was more he wanted to do, songs to explore in this new realm and great times to be had with No Shoes Nation under giant technicolor."
We could not believe we were here and heading into this incredibly unique concert space. Wow.
There are just no words to fully explain this! We didn't know what to expect.
Mind-blown seems to sum it up!


He was so grateful, so heartfelt, so sincere.

And yet most of the concert was an explosion of color, coolness, and Kenny.



Said about this show, "Kenny Chesney's 2026 residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas is receiving rave reviews, described as an unreal and electrifying experience that successfully blends country soul with futuristic, 360-degree visuals. Fans and critics highlight it as one of the best uses of the venue yet, with many noting that the high-tech visuals make the concert feel like a full-on experience."


"Get along on down the road
We've got a long, long way to go
Scared to live, scared to die
We ain't perfect, but we try
Get along while we can
Always give love the upper hand
Paint a wall, learn to dance
Call your mom, buy a boat
Drink a beer, sing a song
Make a friend, can't we all get along?"



After two hours of rocking with Kenny Chesney, and the almost 20,000 other members of No Shoe Nation, we became fans!
As Kenny and his crew/friends/family always ask themselves, "Who lives like we do? We do!" We now totally understand. This was an incredible experience. We do, too, Kenny!

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