Howard Hughes bought 30,000 barren acres west of Las Vegas in 1952 for a reported $3 an acre; the land sat largely unused for decades before becoming the 22,500-acre Summerlin community
- Posted on October 7, 2026
- By The Times of India
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- 1 min read
In brief
In the early 1950s, billionaire industrialist Howard Hughes made a strategic real estate investment, purchasing 30,000 acres of undeveloped desert land near Las Vegas at remarkably low prices. What initially appeared to be an underutilized property for his business ventures eventually transformed into Summerlin, one of the most successful master-planned communities in America. This visionary development project showcases how patient capital and long-term planning can reshape barren landscapes into thriving residential communities, spanning over 22,500 acres of mixed-use development.
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Howard Hughes bought 30,000 barren acres west of Las Vegas in 1952 for a reported $3 an acre; the land sat largely unused for decades before becoming the 22,500-acre Summerlin community
A barren stretch of land on the western edge of Las Vegas once seemed to have little immediate purpose. In 1952, Howard Hughes acquired 30,000 acres there for a reported $3 an acre, intending to use the property for his California-based business interests.
