The Mirage to Host Farewell Ceremony Before Closure

To commemorate the end of an iconic era in Las Vegas history, The Mirage Hotel & Casino will host a ceremonial event on July 17 before it closes for good. 

The Mirage to Close Ahead of Schedule to Make Way for Hard Rock’s Ambitious Plans

Starting at 9 a.m., speeches will be given by gaming industry luminaries Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, Joe Lupo, president of The Mirage, and Alan Feldman with UNLV International Gaming Institute.

The closure will come at 11 a.m. the same day and signals the end of the first megaresort on the Las Vegas Strip. It is in stark contrast to April’s unheralded closing of the Tropicana Las Vegas. 

Hard Rock International, which bought The Mirage from MGM Resorts International for $1 billion in December 2022, has vowed to honor its history-making.

Josh Swissman, founding partner at GMA Consulting, said The Mirage changed everything about Las Vegas, as reported by CDC Gaming. He listed the volcano and atrium shows, Siegfried & Roy shows and the aquarium as revolutionary attractions that redefined the Strip together. Swissman said this is a new era led by a tribally owned and operated gaming enterprise.

Oliver Lovat, CEO of Denstone Group, said The Mirage was “the big one” that paved the way for more 3,000-room resorts like Bellagio and MGM Grand.

But even with its success still buoyed by customers who have been loyal to it for nearly three decades, The Mirage is closing ahead of schedule to accommodate Hard Rock’s ambitious plans for its redevelopment.

The Mirage’s Demise Marks the Beginning of a New Era on the Strip

The Hard Rock redevelopment project will include a 700-foot guitar-shaped hotel tower along with another theater, additional retail and convention space, and a significant expansion of the casino floor space. It is expected to double employment from what exists at The Mirage today during construction alone while keeping thousands more workers long-term after completion.

In the final days leading up to its closure, The Mirage has been a hive of activity with a six-day, $1.6 million cash giveaway, attracting thousands of visitors. Guests have been enjoying their last moments at the property, and gaming activities will officially cease around midnight on July 17.

After closure, memorabilia from the resort will be auctioned off in mid-August for employees to bid on, while some of the resort’s iconic signage may be preserved by the Neon Museum.

Hard Rock Las Vegas expects to open its doors in spring 2027 with the new Guitar Hotel, which promises an energetic new chapter for The Mirage site. This transformation aims to improve Las Vegas tourism and bring another wave of freshness to the Strip’s offerings.