Las Vegas' iconic The Mirage resort closes after 34 years to make way for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

On Wednesday, The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas closed its doors permanently, marking the end of a 34-year legacy.

Known as the first mega-resort on the Strip, The Mirage revolutionized the casino business model with its focus on non-gaming amenities such as entertainment, dining, exotic animals, and free attractions.

The final night was a mix of celebration and nostalgia. Smiles and laughter turned to tears and hugs as staff, guests, and locals bid farewell to the iconic property. The hotel’s renowned volcano show, which usually runs between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., erupted one last time at 11:30 p.m., concluding with applause from spectators.

By midnight, most table games were shut down, and by 2:15 a.m., the once bustling gaming floor was empty as staff began asking players to cash out. The week leading up to the closure included a special event where gamblers could win part of a $1.6 million cash prize.

The Mirage, which opened on November 22, 1989, under casino mogul Steve Wynn, will be replaced by the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas.

MGM Resorts acquired the property from Wynn in 2000, which was later sold to Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe, for $1.1 billion in 2022. Originally designed by Wynn to resemble an oasis on the Las Vegas Strip, The Mirage featured notable attractions such as Siegfried and Roy’s white tiger show and a Cirque du Soleil show set to Beatles music.

The new development is scheduled to open in 2027 and will feature a 660-foot-tall guitar-shaped hotel along with extensive renovations to the existing structure, adding approximately 1.1 million square feet.

The closure impacts over 3,000 employees, many of whom have been with the property since its inception. Union employees will receive compensation packages based on their seniority and years of service.

The 3,000-room resort will undergo a three-year renovation, erasing its tropical theme and iconic volcano to make room for the new Hard Rock property. When completed, the new casino hotel is expected to offer around 6,000 jobs.

The transformation will include a Hard Rock signature guitar-shaped tower, similar to their property in Florida, symbolizing a new chapter for the Las Vegas Strip as it bids farewell to one of its pioneering establishments.