Las Vegas’ Mirage Hotel and Casino to Close In July

The Mirage, which was once the most expensive resort ever built, will close its doors for good on 17 July 2024. It has also been announced that the venue will be rebranded as the Hard Rock Las Vegas and is set to reopen in May 2027. 

This comes shortly after the second-oldest resort and casino, the Tropicana, closed in April of this year. Another venue on the Strip, the Casino Royal, is also set to soon close and undergo a rebranding. 

The numerous closures occurring throughout Las Vegas have seen many poker and table game fans turn to digital casino alternatives. Many crypto casino sites provide players with winnings within an hour or less - just like brick-and-mortar casinos. They also feature impressive prize draws and crypto compatibility. 

The End of the Mirage

Since its opening over 30 years ago, the Mirage has had several owners. Most recently, the venue was bought by Hard Rock International from MGM in 2020. While Hard Rock International suggested at the time that they planned to rebrand the Mirage during the takeover, they didn’t divulge too many details. 

It is assumed that the planned rebranding was kept secret so that the venue didn’t lose any of its major acts in the meantime. This included deals that the venue had with CES, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the Super Bowl, as well as some of its regular entertainment offerings. 

Besides being one of the best casinos in town, with several tables and around 1,350 gaming machines, the Mirage was also a popular live venue. Since 2006, Cirque du Soleil has performed their Beatles-inspired show ‘Love’ at the Mirage. According to the official website, more than 11.5 million people have attended this show since it first opened. 

Illusionists Siegfried & Roy have also performed at the Mirage since 1990 and have become an iconic feature not only of the resort but of Las Vegas itself. Siegfried & Roy, who are known for performing live on stage with white tigers, are so well known that they were even parodied in the Simpsons in 1993. 

Similar to the closure of the Tropicana, not much will be left of the Mirage. 

No bookings beyond 17 are being accepted and, as announced by the casino, any bookings that had been previously accepted after this date will soon be refunded. 

The Future of the Mirage

Based on the renovation plans, it appears that the venue will be altered significantly over the coming years. The venue’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat are set to close and the iconic Mirage Volcano, which has erupted every evening over the last 30 years, will be removed. 

It’s unclear what will be added to the resort to make up for these losses. However, the casino’s Facebook post promised that the newly renovated venue would deliver “entertainment, innovation, and world-class hospitality”. 

The Most Expensive Resort of Its Day

The closure of the Mirage truly marks the end of an era, given that it was the most expensive resort ever built when it first opened. It opened in 1989 following two years worth of construction. The project cost $630 million and, once completed, was one of the biggest resorts of its day. 

The resort was initially owned by Golden Nugget, Inc., which was led by Steve Wynn. Wynn was known for being the head developer behind several resorts and casinos found throughout Las Vegas, including Treasure Island, the Bellagio, and the Golden Nugget. 

Wynn’s success as a luxury resort developer has built him a significant fortune and he is currently worth $3.4 billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth.