The Mirage Leaves Behind a Lasting Legacy in Las Vegas

Image: The Mirage in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo Credit: MGM Resorts)
Image: The Mirage in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo Credit: MGM Resorts)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 11:25 AM ET, Fri May 17, 2024

This is quite a legacy to leave.

When you transform the landscape of an entire city, you know you’ve done something amazing.

By now you probably know that the iconic Mirage Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip is closing on July 17. Its memory and legacy will be that of a property that helped turn Las Vegas into the ultra-resort destination it now is.

It was the first of the mega-resorts. It is the end of an era but the first of its kind. It will become a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in 2027.

"We'd like to thank the Las Vegas community and team members for warmly welcoming Hard Rock after enjoying 34 years at The Mirage," Hard Rock International chairman Jim Allen said in a statement.

Remember, it was The Mirage that had the first true residency—although it wasn’t called that yet—when it signed a contract for entertainers and magicians Siegfried & Roy and their big cats. The hotel was also the host of numerous prize fights.

And, of course, there were the working volcanoes which were a sidewalk attraction long before the fountains at Bellagio or the canals at The Venetian.

But old Las Vegas is disappearing.

Earlier this year, the Tropicana shuttered after 67 years in the city to make way for a baseball stadium for the Oakland Athletics, who are relocating to Las Vegas.

More than 3,000 employees at The Mirage are going to be laid off and will receive a collective $80 million in severance pay.


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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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