Las Vegas's iconic Mirage Casino & Resort will close its doors for good on July 17, 2024, dropping the curtain on one of the city's most distinctive destination-style casinos. First opened in November of 1989, the Mirage was cutting-edge for years but has slowly been overtaken by newer Strip properties.
Located just north of Caesars Palace and across the Strip from the Venetian, the former MGM property will undergo nearly three years of planned reconstruction and renovation before becoming the new Hard Rock Las Vegas in 2027. Hard Rock International acquired the Mirage in November of 2022 and had continued to operate the casino under the Mirage name while reconstruction and re-branding plans were made. Hard Rock had up to three years to continue operating the venue under the Mirage name but, as expected, will begin significant reconstruction much sooner, beginning on August 1.
Over 3,000 Mirage workers to be laid off
Mirage staffers were notified of the closing date in a letter from Mirage Casino President Joe Lupo that quickly made its way onto social media:
Lupo's letter detailed how Las Vegas's gambling heritage has always meant periodic upheaval as newer properties replace outdated venues, noting that several prominent casinos near the Mirage are already second-generation properties. (The Mirage itself is a second-generation property, having been built on the site of an early-Strip gambling property, The Castaways.)
The remainder of Lupo's message assured Mirage employers that severance payments would be made to eligible workers, and that unemployment services would also be made available. Most Mirage employees are likely to obtain alternate employment in the three years that will elapse before 2027's Hard Rock Las Vegas debut. According to an AP update, more than 3,000 workers will be impacted by the July closing.
Mirage's famed poker room a COVID-19 victim
The Mirage's stylish 12-table poker room enjoyed its own glory days, though it was small by Strip standards and was among a small handful of Vegas poker rooms that never reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic. In hindsight, MGM's plans to sell the property may have factored into the company's decision to temporarily transition the poker room's space into other purposes.
The Mirage and its poker room were arguably as distinctive as could be found anywhere in Las Vegas. It was the favorite Vegas haunt of PokerOrg contributor Lee Jones, who wrote a love letter-styled eulogy when the Mirage's sale to Hard Rock was announced in late 2022.
And yes, the Mirage was indeed the "Mecca" Mike sought to reach in the iconic poker film Rounders, as most Las Vegas poker veterans know very well. Andy Bloch offered the money take on that after he heard of the casino's pending closure:
Featured image source: Hard Rock International
