End of an Era: The Mirage Fades Away from the Las Vegas Strip

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A chapter in the vibrant history of the Las Vegas Strip draws to a close as The Mirage, an iconic tropical-themed hotel-casino that has been a staple since 1989, prepares to shut its doors for the final time this Wednesday. Known for its fire-spewing volcano and Siegfried & Roy's exotic animals, The Mirage leaves behind a legacy of entertainment and innovation that reshaped the landscape of Las Vegas.

In its final days, The Mirage has seen a flurry of activity, with patrons flocking to try their luck at the slots, aiming to claim a share of the $1.6 million progressive jackpot mandated by state regulations to be paid out before closure. The hotel's guest rooms have already emptied, and the curtain has fallen on the long-running Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show, “Love.”

The Mirage was a transcendent property, changing the landscape of Las Vegas.

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Remarked Joe Lupo, president of The Mirage, who looks ahead to the future as the property undergoes a massive transformation under new ownership. Indeed, the future holds a striking transformation for the site. Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming, the new operators, envision a dazzling new addition to the Strip: a 660-foot guitar-shaped hotel tower, set to house 600 additional rooms alongside the existing 3,044. Renderings depict an ambitious architectural feat that promises to once again redefine Las Vegas's skyline.

Reflecting on The Mirage's impact, Michael Green, a history professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, noted, “Las Vegas always reinvents itself. The Mirage, while no longer state-of-the-art, leaves behind memories of Steve Wynn's vision that revolutionized the casino resort industry.”

Wynn's vision indeed sparked a renaissance in Las Vegas. Costing $630 million at its inception, The Mirage was not just a casino but a sprawling complex that housed world-class entertainment, celebrity chef restaurants, and extravagant showrooms that hosted legends like Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton. It was more than a gambling hall; it was an oasis of luxury and entertainment in the desert.

“The Mirage was an unusual and unexpected place,” recalled Alan Feldman, a longtime casino executive who witnessed its inception. “It posed the question: How do you have all this in the middle of the desert?”

The impact of The Mirage extended beyond Las Vegas, influencing resort development globally. Bo Bernhard, director of the International Gaming Institute at UNLV, noted, “The Mirage gave Las Vegas an exportable product, setting a standard that influenced resort development in places like Singapore and Sydney.”

As The Mirage prepares to fade into memory, its closure marks the end of an era in Las Vegas history. The doors that opened to a crush of humanity in 1989 now close, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and entertainment that transformed the city into a global destination.

At the farewell ceremony on Wednesday, emotions will run high among the 127 employees who have been part of The Mirage since its inception. They will gather with key figures such as Jim Allen of Hard Rock International and Alan Feldman to commemorate the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in Las Vegas's storied history.

The demolition of The Mirage won't be a spectacle like others on the Strip; instead, it will make way for the future, much like how The Mirage itself paved the way for the city's unprecedented growth in the 1990s.

In the words of Steve Wynn, the visionary behind The Mirage, “To call The Mirage a catalyst would be an understatement.” Its legacy, now etched into the annals of Las Vegas lore, will continue to inspire the city's ever-evolving skyline and the imagination of those who dare to dream big in the desert.