Tram connecting Treasure Island, Mirage to resume service once Hard Rock Las Vegas opens

A popular tram that runs along the Las Vegas Strip won't stay closed, according to local media reports. The tram from Treasure Island and Mirage shut down operations ahead of the latter resort's closure last week, but plans are in place to bring back the attraction in the future.

According to representatives from Treasure Island and Mirage, when the new Hard Rock hotel-casino opens a few years down the road at the Mirage site, the tram between the properties will be back up and running, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The iconic Mirage Hotel & Casino permanently closed its doors last week, marking the end of a 34-year legacy. Hard Rock International, which acquired the resort for $1.1 billion in 2022, is set to open its brand-new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas at the site in 2027.

The free tram, which moved guests between the two Strip properties, ceased its operations in the weeks leading up to the July 17 closure of the Mirage. 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. The project will culminate in a renovated casino-hotel with a 660-foot hotel tower in the shape of a guitar.

The tram service was a partnership between HRI and TI with the former responsible for maintaining the line and the latter reimbursing 50 percent of the cost, Review-Journal noted. The tram system first opened in 1993, at a time when both properties were owned by former casino mogul Steve Wynn. The tram features two cars, each capable of carrying up to 50 passengers.

Las Vegas is also home to two other free-to-ride tram services, which run between MGM Resorts International properties. While the first one connects Aria, the Shops at Crystals, the Bellagio and Park MGM, the second service is located on the southern end of The Strip, connecting Luxor, Excalibur and Mandalay Bay.

Known as the first mega-resort on the Strip, Mirage revolutionized the casino business model with its focus on non-gaming amenities such as entertainment, dining, exotic animals, and free attractions. Originally designed by Wynn to resemble an oasis on the Las Vegas Strip, Mirage featured notable attractions such as Siegfried and Roy’s white tiger show and a Cirque du Soleil show set to Beatles music.