Very interesting news has been unfolding in Las Vegas these past few months as Hard Rock International purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts International for a whopping $1.08 Billion! While it is sad to see such an iconic and revolutionary Vegas resort go, the Hard Rock plans are just stunning. Join us today as we venture into the history of this once beloved resort and what Hard Rock has in store for Vegas.
History of The Mirage:
The Mirage was the vision of Steve Wynn who was a visionary that forever changed the landscape of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, NJ. Wynn early in his career oversaw the construction and operation of several notable Las Vegas and Atlantic City hotels, including the Golden Nugget, the Golden Nugget Atlantic City, The Mirage, Treasure Island, the Bellagio, and Beau Rivage in Mississippi, and he played a pivotal role in the resurgence and expansion of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1990s.
The site where The Mirage site was previously home to a motel during the 1950s then the motel was torn down to become the Polynesian-themed Castaways Hotel and Casino. Wynn acquired the property 1987 from its owner Howard Hughes. After the purchase, Wynn was quick to demolish Castaways and begin construction on the Mirage.
At first, the resort was announced under the name Golden Nugget after the existing Golden Nugget property he owned on Downtown Fremont Street at the time. After careful consideration, he later changed the name from Golden Nugget to “The Mirage” and purchased the name from the La Mirage Hotel and Casino and the Mirage Motel, which was renamed to the Glass Pool Inn and Key Largo after the purchase for $250,000.
The Mirage officially opened its doors on November 22, 1989. The Mirage remained under Wynn’s ownership until 2000, when his company was acquired by MGM Grand.
Mirage’s Legacy:
The Mirage, being one of the first heavily themed hotel and casinos in the Las Vegas Valley since Caesars Palace in 1979, began a period in Las Vegas’s history known as the “family-friendly era” where previously mob-run hotels and casinos were replaced by heavily themed resorts that catered mostly to families and children. This included the Excalibur in 1990, Treasure Island, MGM Grand, and Luxor in 1993, New York-New York in 1997, the Bellagio, and the Mandalay Bay, Venetian, and Paris in 1999.
Original Hard Rock Hotel & Casino:
Prior to Hard Rock International purchasing The Mirage, the company had another resort on the strip where the current Virgin Hotels Las Vegas sits today. The original Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was the first ever Hard Rock hotel ever to be built in the country. As of today, there are about 24 hotels not including 17 hotels under development and construction.
The Las Vegas location was a trend setter and was known for its party scene, vast nightlife, entertainment and famous performances. LV opened its doors in March of 1995 and over the years expanded the property to include multiple hotel towers and additional expansions to accommodate the vast nightlife scene.
However in 2018, this all changed as in early January of that year, rumors floated around that Sir Richard Branson was going to be buying the Hard Rock hotel-casino and sure enough on March 30 an official announcement was made. This ended Hard Rock’s Las Vegas Hotel presence until 2022 when Hard Rock purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts International for a whopping $1.08 Billion!
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s Planned Return:
So what exactly does Hard Rock have planned for their big Las Vegas return? Hard Rock is planning on demolishing the iconic Mirage Volcano to make way for a massive 800 – 1,000 room guitar shaped hotel tower. The guitar-shaped hotel will also include a casino with 200 slots and 12 table games.
Specific details have been very sparace and difficult to come by. As of now, there is no definitive decision as to whether the property is going to be closed during construction, partially open, etc.
However, according to several sources, Hard Rock is planning a renovation and expansion of event and meeting space at the Mirage, a renovation of villas and the private gaming room, plus an “enhanced pool experience.” The planned renovations will also add 80,000 square feet of casino space and 83,000 square feet of convention space to the former Mirage. That’s accompanied by an addition of 1,164 slot machines and 161 table games. Renovations are expected to add nearly 3,000 theater seats, plus 596 hotel rooms and three food and beverage outlets to the property.
No additional news, details or information have been shared at this time nor is there a specific timeline for the project. Currently as Hard Rock finalizes plans, seeks approvals and prepares for construction, The Mirage name will remain. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, according to the Dec. 2021 release, MGM Resorts will retain The Mirage name and brand, licensing it to Hard Rock royalty-free for a maximum period of three years while it finalizes its plans to rebrand the property.
There are also no plans or details announced regarding The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil show that has been a Mirage staple for many years. It is highly likely this show could remain as it fits perfectly within the Hard Rock theming.
Overall, this is definitely a wise business decision and investment as there are no guitar shaped buildings on the strip which will help make the property stand out. Many of the resorts on the strip look nearly identical with the exception of the heavily themed resorts, or well established resorts. Additionally, there is no other existing guitar shaped hotel except for Hard Rock’s Hollywood, Florida casino resort. While it will definitely be sad to see some classic strip icons go, in the long run it will definitely be worth it as new icons are being created.
One Last Look Inside The Mirage:
Before we say farewell to The Mirage, let’s take one last look inside the famous property.
Genius Business Decision?
Wow! What a gorgeous and well kept property. When MGM Resorts was asked for the reasoning behind the sale they stated it was to shift focus on their existing properties in Las Vegas and build on those experiences. Additionally, shortly after the sale, we saw MGM Resorts buy the famous and most popular strip resort Cosmopolitan for $1.6 billion. MGM is also allocating capital in preparation for the billion dollar investment for a new casino resort located in Osaka, Japan.
Overall I think this was a smart business decision by MGM Resorts since it allowed them to purchase the Cosmopolitan while allowing them to allocate funds for future projects, expansions and new construction. I personally can not wait to see the new Hard Rock property and the guitar hotel tower rise above the Vegas strip.
What are your thoughts on The Mirage and upcoming changes to the resort? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts!
Touristician 