The Mirage Casino in Las Vegas Officially Closes

The iconic Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas has placed its last bet and sent home its last guests. As of Wednesday morning, the legendary Las Vegas resort will make way for a new hotel in the same spot.

Fox 5 Las Vegas reports that a closing ceremony, which honored “the history and legacy of the first true mega-resort on the Strip,” took place at 9 a.m. PST. Two hours later, the property, which opened in 1989, shuttered its doors for good.

This closure came on the heels of a giveaway. The hotel guaranteed a final $100,000 in cash winnings on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, giving away a total of $1.6 million in unclaimed progressive jackpots between July 9 and 16.

Some iconic shows that took the Mirage stage included a magic show by Siegfried and Roy, who performed in the hotel’s main theater for nearly 14 years. The resort also hosted Cirque du Soleil’s first Las Vegas show, “Nouvelle Expérience,” which opened in 1992. Cirque du Soleil would return to the property in 2006 with the debut of “Love,” a show featuring music by The Beatles. The Mirage also boasted animal habitats for dolphins and tigers and an indoor tropical forest display.

The Mirage will close Wednesday morning with a farewell ceremony after a 34-year era on the Las Vegas Strip. https://t.co/Lm78q4swRV

— KSNV News 3 Las Vegas (@News3LV) July 17, 2024

In May, The Mirage’s owners, Hard Rock International, announced that the nearly 35-year-old property would close for an overhaul and refurbishment, planning to turn into the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas. The site will include an almost 700-foot-tall guitar-shaped hotel similar to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Fox Business reports that Hard Rock International will lay off over 3,000 employees on the last day of operations. However, when the new hotel opens, double the number of employment opportunities will be available.

PR Newswire provided a quote from Joe Lupo, president of The Mirage: “While we pause for the incredible transformation of this iconic property, I’d like to thank all team members at The Mirage for their incredible commitment and helping us provide memorable experiences for our guests. We are planning to host collaborative hiring events with other employers in the Las Vegas community over the coming months. Connecting the thousands of talented Mirage team members who provide outstanding service with new employment opportunities is a top priority.”

The opening of Hard Rock Las Vegas is targeted for the Spring of 2027.