Las Vegas has developed throughout the years by visionaries; and The Mirage embodied that type of transformation. On July 17, after operating for 34 years, the iconic hotel-casino presented an emotional closing ceremony, complete with volcano explosions, before closing its doors. The property will be reinvented as Hard Rock Las Vegas with the signature giant guitar. The property is under the ownership of Florida’s Seminole Indian Tribe, the first Native American operator on the iconic Las Vegas Strip.
Speakers included Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, and Joe Lupo, president of The Mirage, Hard Rock, Las Vegas. Alan Feldman, a longtime MGM Resorts casino executive, was founder Steve Wynn’s first publicist at the new resort. Former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones Blackhurst also addressed the crowd along with Elaine Wynn, who co-founded Mirage Resorts and Wynn Resorts with her former husband. About 127 employees employed at The Mirage Hotel since its opening also attended the closing ceremony.
Former Wynn Resorts Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn envisioned The Mirage in the mid-1980s before the resort opened its doors to the public on Nov. 22, 1989.
“It’s hard to believe that a group of dreamers gathered in this very spot to introduce to the world an audacious, stylish center of leisure and entertainment right in the midst of Las Vegas, unencumbered by what had become by then the usual Las Vegas stereotypes. That day, we made a bold prediction that if The Mirage were as successful as we believed it would be, it would forever change Las Vegas. We even predicted that others might follow this new path with their own audacious ideas,” Feldman said.
Another impressive feature that drew crowds was its revamped erupting volcano, enhanced in 2009 with higher eruptions, more fireballs and a dynamic soundtrack by The Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart and Indian tabla sensation Zakir Hussain.
“My connection with The Mirage spans from nostalgic conversations in 2001 to directing its design years later. Immersing myself in the reimagined volcano’s soundtrack was unforgettable. Its closure evokes bittersweet memories of a place that embodied Steve Wynn’s vision and innovation,” said Brian G. Thornton of Brian G Thornton Designs. LLC.
One of the significant entertainment milestones was securing Terry Fator, the winner of Season 2 of “America’s Got Talent.” He announced his residency as a headliner at The Mirage on the same night as the debut of the revamped volcano. From 2009 to 2020, Fator headlined at The Mirage.
“When The Mirage opened in 1989, it was groundbreaking, redefining what a Las Vegas hotel-casino could be. It was truly a destination hotel for decades because it had so much more than just gambling — great restaurants, a creative theme and entertainers like Siegfried and Roy and Danny Gans. I was blessed to be one of those entertainers for 11 years. Danny started his career in Vegas at The Strat and moved to The Mirage. I started at The Mirage and have moved to The Strat, so I have come full circle. I’ll miss The Mirage and will always remember what it was and can’t wait to see what it becomes,” Fator said.
Paul Steelman and Joel Bergman were the design architects from 1986 to 1987.
“The Mirage wasn’t just a building; it was a symbol of innovation, luxury and the spirit of Las Vegas. From its stunning volcano show that captivated millions to the lush Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, The Mirage brought a new level of entertainment and wonder to the Strip. It set the stage for what modern Las Vegas would become — a place where imagination knows no bounds,” Steelman said in a written statement.
“This is what we do at Las Vegas. We reinvest, refresh and keep Las Vegas one of the most exciting cities in the world. We don’t let our buildings get too old,” said Elaine Wynn at the event.
“The Mirage changed everything. Las Vegas had become the envy of the entire hospitality world. The Mirage taught us anything we could envision, we could become,” Blackhurst told the crowd, who had gathered for the property’s closing.
The Seminole Tribe acquired the Hard Rock brand in 2007. It operates seven casinos in Florida and owns the Hard Rock hotel-casino business, which has locations in 76 countries.
