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Women of Clark County

Judy Bayley

1915 - 1971

Judy Bayley became the first woman to own and operate a hotel-casino in Nevada. She took over the Hacienda Hotel and Casino when her husband, Warren “Doc” Bayley, died in 1964. She took an active role in the operation of the casino and worked closely with the staff, earning their appreciation and devotion and returning the hotel-casino to profitability.

Born in Dallas, Texas in 1915, Bayley earned a degree in music and English from Southern Methodist University. She married “Doc” Bayley, who owned a chain of hotels in California. The couple moved to Las Vegas in 1953, opened the Hacienda Hotel in 1956, and added a casino in 1957.

Bayley also raised funds for cancer and heart disease research. She supported the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and raised funds for a new preforming arts center, named the Judy Bayley Theatre in her honor.

Pictured: Judy Bayley on horseback, circa 1970. Ann Valder Photograph Collection on Judy Bayley. UNLV University Libraries Special Collections & Archives.

Sources

• Makers Teaching Modules. “Judy Bayley.” Accessed May 23, 2025. https://makersteachingmodules.sites.unlv.edu/items/show/7.

For questions or comments, please reach out to the Clark County Museum at ccmuseum@clarkcountynv.gov.