Tuesday, August 13, 2013

August 1962: Paradise Palms in Full Swing

Nine months after its official Grand Opening, construction in Paradise Palms was in full swing.  Over 200 homes had been sold at a rate of five homes per week, generating $6,000,000 in sales – the equivalent of $46.3 Million in 2013 dollars.  Featured in these August 1962 Las Vegas Review Journal features were the development team – Irwin Molasky, Merv Adelson and Harry Lahr, the principles of Paradise Homes, Dan Palmer and Bill Krisel, the architects who gave Paradise Palms it’s signature look and C. Tony Pereira, the interior designer behind both the Palmer & Krisel-designed Paradise Homes models and the Americana models.  Members of the construction team were also highlighted, including all the support staff of Paradise Homes, as well as former major league baseball player Donald O’Flaherty, the original recreation director of Paradise Palms, and standing in the shadow of the signature folded-plate covered walkway of the Stardust Country Club is Head Golf Pro Bob Wagner.  Even the cleverly-named Paradise Homes Folks Wagon got a mention.


The second page of this article features three couples who helped with the day to day community operations.  The image of Pat and Ed Raybon of Paradise Homes is taken against a backdrop of pristine decorative concrete block, while in the background of the photograph of Mary and Walt Seegers is a fuzzy rendering of what appears to be the Clubhouse of the Stardust Country Club.  These images offer a significant historical look at the team of people who helped shape the beginnings of Paradise Palms.    

August 26, 1962

August 26, 1962

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Paradise Palms Advertises Grand Opening of the Plan-O-Ramic Exhibit Center

By November of 1961 the first unit of Paradise Palms was sold out.  Models were moved to the Plan-O-Ramic Exhibit Center, and nine fully furnished homes were available for previewing on the north sides of Seneca Drive and Nahattan Way.  Featured at the exhibit center was a full-scale three-dimensional model of Paradise Palms, full color renderings of the 22 models available as well as a construction materials display.  These Las Vegas Review-Journal ads from 1961 highlight Paradise Palms' most prominent architects, Dan Palmer and Bill Krisel, as well as the Stardust Golf Club & Championship Golf Course.  Ruby Thomas Elementary School hadn't been built yet at these ads promised safe bus delivery of children to the Paradise Valley Elementary School, now known as the UNLV Paradise Campus, located on the southeast corner of Tropicana Avenue and Paradise Road.  The home prices of $20,650 to $33,500 translates $161,266 to $261,618 in 2013 dollars.  The last ad notes, "Set amid the park-like fairways of the Stardust Championship Golf Course, and with the various designs in perfect compliment, (the homes) become the showplaces of all Nevada."

November 2, 1961
November 2, 1961 
November 10, 1961


Tuesday, July 30, 2013

The Start of Paradise Palms

Recent research at the Nevada State Museum has rediscovered the beginnings of Paradise Palms.  An article from the March 21, 1960 Las Vegas Review Journal describes Paradise Palms as an $8 Million development with desert contemporary homes.  Paradise Palms was to be a major home building break through, opening up the Maryland strip for development, from San Francisco Street to Bond Road.  Color was intended to be an integral part of the development, with exceptional care taken on each home, and the entire development was to be enhanced by spectacular landscaping.  The article also eludes to a 100-foot wide parkway entrance with center median, which most likely is now known as Cayuga Parkway in Unit 1.  A photograph from May 4, 1960 shows County Commissioner Harley Harmon, Merv Adelson and Irwin Molasky examining construction progress, while an artists rendering of Unit 1 and accompanying article are from May 8, 1960, describing the features of the homes, which includes central hallways on each home, rock wool insulation, ceilings with acoustical tile boards and wall-to-wall carpets which added to the beauty and comfort of each home.

March 21, 1960

May 4, 1960

May 8, 1960

May 8, 1960

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Second Annual Neighborhood Bowling Challenge - Upper Paradise Palms versus Southern Paradise Palms









Friday, July 26 2013 marked the Second Annual Upper Paradise Palms versus Southern Paradise Palms bowling challenge held at Sam's Town Bowling Center.  Despite the humidity, dark lighting and questionable ambient music, nearly two dozen Palmers attended the event.  The Southsiders dominated the event in attendance; however, the Upper Paradise Palmers held strong and retained their title as champions for the second year in a row with a slim 1.6 point lead.  Final score:  Upper Paradise Palms 111.3, Southern Paradise Palms 109.7.  Congrats to Upper Paradise Palms!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

July Las Vegas National Golf Social



The evening started out sunny & hot with drinks flowing from the bar



By 7:00 PM  a monsoon struck delivering nearly 1/4" of rain
It was a great lightning show, but the putting greens and barbecue area were flooded
Quick thinking Las Vegas National staff moved the barbecue under patio...



...and the party continued indoors
Big thanks to the Las Vegas National Staff for making the evening a success