Iconic Resort Announces Permanent Closure

The enduring Mirage volcano’s days are numbered.

The Las Vegas Strip is without end altering and rising. Simply weeks after the long-standing Tropicana closed, the Mirage introduced it is going to be lights out for the 30-year-old on line casino/resort this summer season.

On July 17, the Mirage will shut its doorways for the final time to make method for a serious renovation. It’ll reopen in 2027 because the Arduous Rock Las Vegas, changing the well-known and liked volcano with a resort tower within the form of a guitar. 

“We’d prefer to thank the Las Vegas neighborhood and staff members for warmly welcoming Arduous Rock after having fun with 34 years at The Mirage,” Jim Allen, chairman of Arduous Rock Worldwide stated in a press release.

Resort President Joe Lupo held a city hall-style assembly on Wednesday to tell the resort’s workers of the plans to shut on July 17. Most of the resort’s 3,300 staff might be laid off, together with 140 day-one staff.

“We actually are inspired about not solely the way forward for Las Vegas, however how Arduous Rock and Seminole Tribe can play a task in serving to to develop that and develop the market,” Lupo stated. “However immediately is a troublesome day for lots of people. Our precedence is the effectively being of these people.” 

Whereas plans for the brand new Arduous Rock are nonetheless within the rendering stage, it’s been stated it is going to embrace 25 eating places and a 5,000 seat theater. 

The standout function of the brand new Arduous Rock Lodge in Las Vegas might be a 660-foot-tall tower designed to resemble two guitars standing back-to-back. This design mirrors the Seminole Arduous Rock Lodge in Hollywood, Florida. The tower will take over the spot on the Strip the place the long-lasting volcano at present is.

The Mirage, developed by Steve Wynn, opened in November 1989. It started the brand new period of megaresorts on the Strip. MGM acquired the resort in Might 2020 when it purchased Wynn’s Mirage Resorts for $4.4 billion. 

The Mirage was recognized for being the house of Siegfried & Roy from 1990 till 2003, the Secret Backyard and Dolphin Habitat till 2022, in addition to the free volcano present on the Strip. Many would line up on the sidewalk to observe the volcano erupt. It certainly stopped individuals strolling up and down the Strip of their tracks.

One other a part of the Mirage that’s ending is Cirque du Soleil-Beatles manufacturing “Love” after an 18-year run. The present will completely go darkish on July 7. The theater that the favored present carried out in was previously the place Siegfried & Roy carried out their legendary present and one other iconic a part of the resort’s historical past. 

Standard Vegas-based TikToker, @VegasStarfish, shared a video of The Mirage explaining that the doorways will quickly shut without end.

“It was simply introduced unexpectedly {that a} main resort on the Las Vegas Strip might be closing completely on July 17. At present, throughout a city corridor addressing all the staff, Mirage introduced that after 34 years, they might be closing without end,” she stated. “Earlier within the yr, Cirque introduced that Beatles “Love” was closing completely. And a few thought-about this foreshadowing for what would possibly come.”

She additionally defined that it has been understood for some time that The Mirage would start transitioning into the Arduous Rock Lodge, however till now, it was by no means revealed that they might near make the transition occur.

“Till immediately, the assumption was that every thing would stay operational and the transition could be executed in phases,” she continued. “Arduous Rock is predicted to open in spring of 2027.”

The TikTok video shortly grabbed tons of consideration with greater than 2 million views in a couple of hours.

“This hurts my coronary heart. The Mirage and their volcano is a Vegas icon,” one viewer wrote within the feedback. One other stated, “So unhappy. One of many highlights of my first go to to Las Vegas was The Mirage volcano. The Strip won’t ever be the identical.”

And plenty of others shared the identical ideas and sentiments as they close to saying goodbye to the favored on line casino and iconic volcano present.

The Mirage is just not the primary resort/on line casino on the Strip to shut completely this yr.

In early April, the Tropicana Las Vegas closed its doorways for good after a formidable 67-year run. The resort holds tons of historical past and reminiscences in its partitions and locals and guests alike had been unhappy to see it shut.

The resort was a frequent stomping floor of the legendary Rat Pack and has mob historical past to share.

At its peak, the resort hosted many A-list performers and was featured within the 1971 movie “Diamonds Are Endlessly,” when James Bond stayed in a collection within the resort. The Tropicana was house to the town’s longest-running present, “Folies Bergere.” The topless evaluation had an almost 50-year run earlier than going darkish.

Las Vegas is ever-changing and rising. In recent times, Vegas has welcomed many new sights and resorts.

In late 2023, the Fontainebleau opened, 16 years after breaking floor. The 67-story, 3,644-room resort broke floor in 2007 and within the 16 years till opening, the property modified possession and names and began and stopped growth. The resort boasts 36 bars and eating places, conference house, and 6 swimming pools unfold over a six-and-a-half-acre pool deck.

Additionally in 2023, the Sphere opened. Whereas it entertains everybody with its exterior LED show that modifications continually, the within is a novel venue the place guests can benefit from the function movie, “Postcard from Earth” or a live performance. U2 was the primary to have a residency on the Sphere.

2023 additionally started 10 years of F1 racing pleasure on and across the Strip every November.