Mirage Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Triblend Tee

Description

The Mirage officially opened on November 22, 1989, after two years of construction and an astronomical investment of $630 million, making it the most expensive resort of its time. Conceived by visionary developer Steve Wynn and financed largely through junk bonds, it was the first newly built mega-resort on the Strip in over 15 years—and its success ignited a $12 billion construction boom that redefined Las Vegas. Its South Seas-themed design introduced a lush, tropical oasis amid the desert skyline. Outside the property, visitors enjoyed waterfalls, palm gardens, and lagoons—and, most iconically, an erupting volcano that became the first outdoor, free attraction on the Strip. The volcano show featured simulated lava, fire, a synchronized soundtrack, and even a faint aroma of piña colada. And once inside, at the registration desk, guests were greeted by a jaw-dropping massive reef aquarium teaming with marine fish and sealife, as well as a beautiful bridge-covered lagoon leading into the casino area. The Mirage offered immersive entertainment—most notably the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, where guests encountered dolphins, white tigers, and other exotic animals, and the long-running Siegfried & Roy magic show. In 1993, Cirque du Soleil made its Las Vegas debut there with Nouvelle Expérience, later followed by the beloved Beatles-themed LOVE production in 2006. Beyond its attractions, The Mirage represented a new paradigm: an integrated mega-resort that blended luxury accommodations, entertainment, fine- and casual-dining, retail, and gaming under one roof. It was also groundbreaking in its use of full-time security cameras on all table games—an innovation that influenced industry standards. Its debut ushered in a wave of iconic developments—the Venetian, Bellagio, Treasure Island, Mandalay Bay, Wynn, and many more—transforming the Strip into a world-class, world-renowned destination. Despite its enduring legacy, after 34 years, The Mirage closed its doors on July 17, 2024, to make way for the property’s next chapter: a reimagined Hard Rock Las Vegas, complete with an eye-catching guitar-shaped hotel tower set to open in 2027. But the Mirage lives on—not just in vintage postcards and nostalgic memories—but in the very fabric and DNA of today’s modern Las Vegas. It wasn’t merely a destination; it was the spark that turned a gambling town into the world’s entertainment mecca, inspiring resorts globally and forever redefining what a casino could be.