Megaresort Pioneer The Mirage to Permanently Close Its Doors
A landmark on the Las Vegas strip, The Mirage hotel-casino will close its doors this summer.
Developed by Steve Wynn, The Mirage launched with a Polynesian theme in 1989, becoming the Strip's first mega resort.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The Mirage-hotel casino is scheduled to close on July 17, marking the end of an era for an establishment credited with significantly transforming Sin City into an ultra-luxury resort destination.
The closure will allow major renovations and construction to be carried out on the 80-acre (32-hectare) property as it transforms into the Hard Rock Las Vegas, a new resort expected to open in 2027. The new resort will feature a guitar-shaped hotel tower that will rise nearly 700 feet (213 meters) above the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. It will also feature updated amenities, entertainment options, and gaming facilities.
The Mirage made headlines in 2022 as the first Las Vegas Strip property to be owned and operated by a Native American Tribe. Hard Rock International, a subsidiary of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, purchased the iconic resort from MGM Resorts for $1.07 billion in cash.
At the time of purchase, Hard Rock stated that the property would continue operating under the Mirage brand for several years while it finalizes renovation plans.
As the resort prepares to cease operations, it has stopped taking bookings for after July 14. Any existing reservations scheduled to take place after that date will be automatically canceled and fully refunded.
More Business News
3,000 Employees to Be Laid Off
According to Hard Rock International, nearly 3,000 employees will be laid off as part of its restructuring plans, and $80 million will be paid in severance.
However, the Culinary Workers Union, which has represented nearly 1,7000 employees at the Mirage since it opened, confirmed that it secured a contract last year that guarantees laid-off workers will receive $2,000 for each year of service.
Additionally, the contract includes provisions for recall rights, which allows employees to return to work with maintained seniority when the hotel reopens.
The End of an Era
The Mirage was developed by former casino mogul Steve Wynn and debuted with a Polynesian theme in 1989. The Strip's first megaresort ignited a construction frenzy on the famous boulevard through the 1990s
Its volcano fountain was among the first sidewalk attractions on the Strip before the Venetian's canals and the Bellagio's dancing fountains. Tourists frequented the venue to watch Siegfried and Roy's white tiger performances or Cirque du Soleil acts set to a Beatles soundtrack.
The Mirage will be the second casino on the Strip to shut down this year. The Tropicana Las Vegas winded down in April after 66 years of existence to accommodate a $1.5 billion baseball stadium, slated to be the new home for the relocating Oakland Athletics.
RELATED TOPICS: Business
Latest News
Most Read
Must Read
Interviews
Review this New Post
Leave a Comment
User Comments
Comments for Megaresort Pioneer The Mirage to Permanently Close Its Doors