In a surprising turn of events, the Mirage Hotel and Casino, a Las Vegas Strip icon for over three decades, announced on Wednesday that it will cease operations this summer.
The 65-acre property, renowned for its Beatles-themed attractions and once the residence of Siegfried & Roy, will be replaced by a new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International, expressed gratitude towards the Las Vegas community and team members for their warm reception of Hard Rock, following a successful 34-year stint at The Mirage. Hard Rock International, which acquired the property from MGM Resorts in 2022, will close the property on July 17. Reservations made beyond this date will be refunded, with deposits expected to be returned within seven to ten days for reservations made directly with the hotel.
The Mirage was purchased by MGM Resorts from casino developer Steve Wynn in 2000 and later sold to Hard Rock International for over $1 billion two years ago. Although Hard Rock had initially stated that the hotel and casino would continue to operate under the Mirage brand for several years, the decision to close it was made to facilitate the transformation.
The new property, replacing the Mirage, will feature a nearly 700-foot guitar-shaped hotel, a design similar to the group's Miami hotel, set to dominate the center of the Strip, according to Hard Rock. The revamped Hard Rock Las Vegas is slated to open in the spring of 2027.
The transformation is anticipated to add nearly 600 additional hotel rooms. A new 174,000 square-foot casino will house 2,000 slots and 212 table games. However, the transformation will result in the layoff of over 3,000 Mirage employees, including approximately 1,700 members of the Culinary and Bartenders Union, in early July.
The Culinary Union assured in a press release that "workers are protected, even as the property closes its doors entirely for three years." Laid-off employees will receive severance and have the option to return to the new property upon its completion.
Joe Lupo, president of The Mirage, expressed gratitude to all team members at The Mirage for their dedication and contribution to creating memorable experiences for guests. He revealed plans to host collaborative hiring events with other employers in the Las Vegas community in the coming months, with the aim of connecting the talented Mirage team members with new employment opportunities.
Upon completion, the new Hard Rock is expected to double the current number of jobs at the property. The construction phase alone will generate over 2,500 jobs, according to the hotel chain. The Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip will continue to operate during this period.
The Mirage took to Facebook to bid farewell to the iconic and historic property, expressing excitement for the transformation into Hard Rock Las Vegas, which promises to ignite the Strip with entertainment, innovation, and world-class hospitality.
Hard Rock International, owned by Florida's Seminole Tribe, operates over 300 locations worldwide, including hotels, casinos, shops, performance venues, and cafes. The hotels have been recognized by J.D. Power's North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study for outstanding guest satisfaction for two consecutive years.
The Mirage, which opened in 1989, marked the beginning of the era of luxury mega-resorts that now define modern Las Vegas. It was the first resort to introduce sidewalk attractions, a concept later adopted by other properties like the Bellagio and Venetian. The Mirage also housed a $14 million dolphin habitat, opened in 1990 for educational and research purposes, and the Secret Garden of Siegfried and Roy, an outdoor attraction featuring six types of animals.
The Mirage was also the site of a notorious 2003 incident where Roy Horn was attacked by a seven-year-old white tiger during a performance. Although he survived, he was severely injured, leading to the show's closure. The current Beatles-themed attraction, which has united Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for public appearances over its 18-year run, will have its final performance on July 7.
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