Las Vegas’s Iconic Mirage Resort Is Going to Vanish
The resort that changed the Las Vegas strip in the 1990s is set to close.
After 34 years in business, the iconic Mirage Las Vegas is set to close this summer. The resort-casino will close on July 17 so that the 80-acre property can be renovated and cleared for the new Hard Rock Las Vegas, which is set to open in 2027. The mega resort-casino first opened in 1989 and featured an iconic volcano, a Polynesian theme, and 3,044 hotel rooms.
The closure of the Mirage is just one of the ways that the Las Vegas skyline is dramatically changing this year. With the addition of the Sphere, the destruction of Tropicana Las Vegas, and the addition of a Formula 1 street race, Vegas is transforming on a large scale. In place of Tropicana Las Vegas, a new 1.5 billion baseball stadium is being built as the home for the city’s new baseball team, which is being moved from Oakland to Vegas.
The changes to the Mirage have already drawn protests from locals and Las Vegas fans alike—when the news first broke that the resort’s iconic volcano was being torn down, the news was met with an outcry and a Change.org petition. To replace the erupting structure, the Hard Rock Resort will have a new 700-foot tall guitar to mark the skyline and will lean into the somehow even-glitzier future of Sin City.
"We'd like to thank the Las Vegas community and team members for warmly welcoming Hard Rock after enjoying 34 years at The Mirage," said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International, about the closure. "We'd also like to thank the Unions, community leaders, local and state government organizations and the Gaming Commission for their support and fair negotiations over the past year. Also, we are grateful to MGM for assisting with our transition."
What will happen to guests with reservations at the Mirage Las Vegas?
For guests with plans to stay at the Mirage in 2024, all hotel reservations and show tickets for beyond July 14, 2024 will be automatically canceled and refunded. If you've booked a show or stay at the Mirage past July 14 through a third-party company, those reservations will also be automatically canceled—but you will need to contact the vendor directly for reservations.
The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil will have its last show on July 6, 2024, while Shin Lim: LIMITLESS, and Center Stage Comedy will have its last shows on July 14, 2024. For other questions about cancellations and changes, you can check the Hard Rock Hotel Casino Las Vegas's website.
Will the Hard Rock Cafe stay open during the renovations?
Yes, the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas will stay open during the construction between 2024 and 2027.
What will happen to employees at the Mirage Las Vegas?
For employees of the Mirage hotel management, there are plans in place to get employees jobs at other companies, and it says they will pay out $80 million in severance pay to union and non-union employees at the company.
"We are planning to host collaborative hiring events with other employers in the Las Vegas community over the coming months," said Joe Lupo, President of The Mirage. "Connecting the thousands of talented Mirage team members who provide outstanding service with new employment opportunities is a top priority."