When will the Mirage be demolished? What to know about the Las Vegas icon's closing
An iconic Las Vegas resort that inspired the rise of mega-resorts on the Strip will close its doors to make way for a guitar-shaped hotel.
The Mirage, which casino magnate Steve Wynn first opened in 1989, was influential not only for its massive number of guest rooms — 3,044 rooms on 31 floors — but also for incorporating an anchor attraction that made it stand out. Its volcano, described by the resort as "our iconic front yard," erupts fire and water in nightly displays set to a musical soundtrack.
In the years since the Mirage debuted, more mega-resorts opened on the Strip and competing resorts began adding their own distinctive features, like the Fountains of Bellagio or, more recently, the newly opened, 735-foot-tall Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Grant Fisher, CEO of VAI Resort, said Wynn and the Mirage's role in the Strip expansion were key inspirations for the Glendale resort that's slated to open at the end of this year.
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When is the Mirage closing date?
The Mirage will close on July 17 and host its last guests on July 14.
Why is the Mirage closing?
The Mirage is closing as part of a rebrand to Hard Rock Las Vegas, which will be anchored by a 700-foot guitar-shaped hotel tower adjacent to Las Vegas Boulevard, a sight that resort staff said would "change the Las Vegas skyline." Hard Rock also has a guitar-shaped hotel tower at its Hollywood, Florida hotel and casino.
Hard Rock Las Vegas is scheduled to open in 2027.
Hard Rock International acquired the Mirage from MGM Resorts International in December 2022 for $1.08 billion, with plans to rebrand the hotel and build a guitar-shaped tower. MGM bought the Mirage from Wynn in 2000. A statement from the company at the time said there were "no plans to close The Mirage or to lay off any of the team members as one media outlet incorrectly reported recently."
When will the Mirage be demolished?
It's not yet known if the Mirage will be demolished as part of the change to Hard Rock Las Vegas. Hard Rock International said the Mirage will be "closed for construction" and "reimagined and developed into a new integrated resort," but did not mention demolition.
Clark County staff could not be reached at the time of writing to confirm whether the Mirage will be demolished.
However, another Strip landmark will soon be demolished. The Tropicana, which closed on April 2 to make way for a Major League Baseball stadium for the relocating Oakland Athletics, is tentatively scheduled for demolition in October.
How will the Mirage's closing affect guests?
Hard Rock International stated that people with reservations after July 14 who booked directly with the hotel will see refunds on their deposits within seven to 10 days.
People who booked their stays with a third party will receive refunds based on the site's independent policies. Travelers should contact the website they booked with for more information, such as refunds and rebooking availability.
For more information, visit casino.hardrock.com/las-vegas.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mirage closing date: What's next for the iconic Las Vegas hotel
