An iconic landmark on the Las Vegas strip—the Mirage—is closing after 35 years of operation. On July 17th, 2024, the Mirage will be closing its doors to make space for the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas.
From its erupting volcano, indoor tropical forest display, and rich history, the Mirage is a famous Strip staple. People are rushing to Las Vegas to say their goodbyes… and to win big.
What Was the Mirage?
The Mirage was a hotel and casino that offered a variety of attractions, including shows, restaurants, a glass dome with an indoor tropical forest display inside, animal habitats, a giant fish tank in the lobby, and an artificial volcano which erupted regularly each night.
The hotel had a Polynesian theme. With over 3,000 rooms available, the resort was enormous.
The History of the Mirage
Casino owner Steve Wynn desired to open a hotel and casino on the Strip. He purchased the Castaways hotel—along with nearby land—in 1986. Construction began November 1987. With a cost of $630 million, it was, at the time, the world’s most expensive hotel-casino.
The Mirage opened in 1989. Upon opening, it was also one the the world’s largest hotels. The Mirage stood out from the rest of the Strip, with pricey rooms and its famous attractions.
Sold-Out Shows
In 1990, the Mirage premiered the now infamous Siegfried & Roy magic show, known for their use of white big cats during performances. It ran for fourteen years until Roy Horn was injured by a tiger during a performance.
Las Vegas’s first Cirque du Soleil show, _Nouvelle Expérience_, opened in 1992 and ran for a year. Then, in 2006, Cirque du Soleil returned to the Mirage with _Love_, a show featuring music by the Beatles.
The Impact of the Mirage
The Mirage was the first megaresort on the Las Vegas Strip. MGM Grand, Excalibur, Luxor, Treasure Island, and the Bellagio all followed in its footsteps. In 1989, visitation to Las Vegas was about 18 million. Last year, nearly 41 million people visited.
Las Vegas historian David Schwartz said that “it really changed everything,” and that “it worked so well, within about 20 years, most of the Strip had been made in its image.”
Plans for the Future
In 2022, owner of the Mirage—MGM Resorts International—sold it to Hard Rock International for nearly $1.1 billion. Hard Rock plans to renovate the entire hotel, add a guitar-shaped tower where the volcano and lagoon currently sit, add an additional 600 suites, and open another pool.
Construction begins this fall. The new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is slated to open 2027. The Polynesian theme is not planned to stay, but there are several change.org petitions calling for Hard Rock to keep the Mirage name and theming.
Employees Facing Uncertainty
More than 3,000 employees are losing their jobs. Resort officials say that 600 have already found new jobs; this is partially due to Hard Rock holding job fairs on-site.
One front-desk agent commented that people checking in were more worried about what would happen to the fish in the aquarium behind the desk than the employees. (If you’re curious, the fish are relocating to Mandalay Bay.)
Hoping to Win Big
Many casino games have what is called a progressive jackpot. This means that the jackpot increases in size until someone wins it. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has a policy that requires casinos that are closing or changing ownership to pay out all progressive jackpots before shutting down.
Until the Mirage officially closes its doors on July 17th, bettors will have a chance to win a share of over $1.6 million in cash prizes. In order to guarantee that all progressive jackpots are won, slot players will be selected through electronic randomization. Many are flocking to the hotel with the hope to win lots of money!
Nostalgia and Special Requests
Many people are coming to say goodbye and are hoping to relive some good memories. Mirage President Joe Lupo highlights one special request the hotel was able to accommodate: an Olympic coach requested the same room he had when he got engaged at the hotel.
Andrew Wong, an executive from Vancouver, has been visiting with his family for more than 20 years. In late June, he brought his mother to celebrate her 79th birthday. He wanted one last Mirage stay before the closure. Simply, he put it, “We just wanted to be here.”
The Final Farewell
One Canadian fan, Donna Colbourn, chose the Mirage when she went to Las Vegas for the first time in the 2000s. She frequented the hotel when living in California and Texas.
The Mirage was a happy place for her. “It’s so funny how you get attached,” she said when asked about her bittersweet feelings. After she returned home from an early July visit, Colbourn painted the Mirage pool on canvas, and titled it “A Final Farewell.”
