first resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Instead, Griffith named his property the Hotel Last Frontier, while maintaining the western theme. Griffith hired architect William J. Moore, his nephew, to design the project, with emphasis on an authentic recreation of the Old West. Construction began on December 8, 1941, taking place around the 91 Club, which was incorporated into the new project as the Leo Carrillo Bar. It was named after Griffith's friend, entertainer Leo Carrillo. Building materials were difficult to acquire, due to a supply shortage caused by World War II. Moore purchased one or two abandoned mines in Pioche, Nevada, and sent crews to strip the sites of any usable materials. Moore also purchased two ranches in Moapa, Nevada, to supply meat and dairy for the resort. The Hotel Last Frontier opened on October 30, 1942. It was the second hotel-casino resort to open on the Las Vegas Strip. The motel was mostly two stories, with some rooms on a third floor. It included 105 rooms at its opening, and an additional 100 would be added later. To maintain cool temperatures, cold water was carried through pipes in the walls of each room, originating from tunnels beneath the property. Because Griffith and Moore were inexperienced in the gaming industry, they had the casino built at the rear of the property, not realizing that it should have been presented as the main attraction. The property included the Gay Nineties Bar, which had sat in the Arizona Club in Las Vegas, before being reassembled at the Last Frontier. The Frontier added the Little Church of the West in May 1943. The resort also included the El Corral Arena, used for rodeo events. Griffith died of a heart attack in November 1943, and Moore took over the property. Moore conceived an idea to add the western-themed Last Frontier Village. It opened in November 1948, initially with three buildings while others would be added later. The village ultimately included restaurants, bars, and shops. The Little Church of the West was also incorporated into the village. Located at the property's northern end, the village included authentic Old West buildings saved by Doby Doc, a collector in Elko, Nevada. He served as curator of the attraction. The village also featured some newly built replicas created by the resort, including a Texaco gas station designed by Zick & Sharp. It offered free showers and restrooms