Las Vegas – The Mirage hotel-casino, one of the most popular casinos in the famed Las Vegas Strip that has served countless numbers of tourists, locals, and gamblers from all walks of life, is closing its doors on July 17 2024.
The incoming closure was brought on by the acquisition of Hard Rock International of The Mirage back in 2022. Part of the new owners’ directive is to begin major renovations and construction of a new Hard Rock hotel that covers 80 acres (32 hectares). The new Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas is slated to open in 2027, and will include a hotel tower in the shape of a guitar soaring nearly 700 feet (about 210 meters) above the heart of the Strip.
In a statement, Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International, thanked the Las Vegas community for welcoming Hard Rock while also paying homage to the historical Mirage hotel-casino.
Meanwhile, Joe Lupo, President of The Mirage, thanked all the team members of The Mirage for their incredible commitment and providing the best service they can for all the guests who graced their doors,
“While we pause for the incredible transformation of this iconic property, I’d like to thank all team members at The Mirage for their incredible commitment and helping us provide memorable experiences for our guests.”
“We are planning to host collaborative hiring events with other employers in the Las Vegas community over the coming months. Connecting the thousands of talented Mirage team members who provide outstanding service with new employment opportunities is a top priority,” added Lupo.
Hard Rock International also noted that more than 3,000 employees from the Mirage will be laid off and it expects to pay out $80 million in severance.
The Mirage’s Legacy in the Strip
Developed by Steve Wynn, a former casino mogul, the Mirage opened its doors to the public sporting a striking Polynesian theme and served as the Strip’s first megaresort in 1989, which started the creation of other megaresorts on the famous boulevard through the 1990s. This includes Excalibur, Luxor, and the MGM Grand, all of which opened within the next four years.
One of its iconic attractions is Its volcano fountain which predates the Venetian’s canals and the Bellagio’s dancing fountains. It was a well-known sidewalk attraction that tourists frequented, and it was also the location where crowds witnessed Siegfried and Roy taming white tigers or a Cirque du Soleil act set to a Beatles soundtrack.
The final curtain on the Beatles-themed show, which brought Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr back together for public appearances throughout its 18-year run, also comes down in July.
Prior to its closure, The Mirage holds the distinction of being the first Strip property to be run by a Native American tribe in 2022, after Hard Rock International, which is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, purchased it from MGM Resorts in a cash deal worth nearly $1.1 billion.
Changing of the Old Guard
The closing of The Mirage marks the second closure of a long-standing hotel-and-casino establishment on the Las Vegas Strip this year.
The first one was The Tropicana Las Vegas, which closed its doors back in April 2024, just a couple of weeks shy of its 67th anniversary. Plans on the Tropicana’s location are set to be demolished to make way for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium deal with Oakland A’s owner John Fisher that is slated to be operational by 2028.
Last Updated on by jonathan r
