After 34 years, the iconic Mirage casino and hotel on the Las Vegas strip will close on Wednesday. It will reopen in 2027 as a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
It happens every now and then in Las Vegas – one of the big names on the Strip is closing tomorrow.
SACHA PFEIFFER, PRACTICE:
It’s the Mirage Hotel and Casino. It is closing after nearly 35 years. It was best known for its golden mirror windows, dolphin habitat and a man-made volcano that erupted every night.
(VOLCANIC Eruption)
INSKEEP: The Mirage was also known for its shows. Siegfried and Roy made white tigers appear out of nowhere.
(ARCHIVED SOUND RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Sarmot.
(SOUNDBITE OF TIGERS ROARING)
PFEIFFER: That show ended after a tiger mauled one of the magicians. Later shows included Cirque du Soleil’s LOVE, based on the Beatles, and a ventriloquist made famous on America’s Got Talent.
(ARCHIVED SOUNDBITE)
TERRI FATOR: So, Winston, what are you planning to do for us?
(As Winston) Well, I could do my own theme song.
(Laughter)
FATOR: Since when do you have your theme song?
(As Winston) Ever since I won America’s Got Talent.
(BLUE)
FATOR: Oh, you won America’s Got Talent?
(As Winston) Well, duh.
(Laughter)
INSKEEP: Terry Fator signed a $100 million contract with the Mirage and performed there for 11 years.
FATOR: The Mirage was the first of that whole new era of Las Vegas, where the Las Vegas Strip became much more than just a place to gamble and get $1.99 steak and eggs.
INSKEEP: Fator says the Mirage cemented its place in New Vegas in 2000 when it signed impressionist singer Danny Gans.
(ARCHIVED SOUND RECORDING)
DANNY GANS: Frank Sinatra had such a unique style. I really think he can sing any song and make it sound fantastic. (Like Frank Sinatra, singing) Hakuna Matata – what a great phrase. Like a Sinatra tune…
FATOR: Danny Gans sold everything, night after night after night. Plus, the Mirage was also one of the first to bring in celebrity chefs and became more of a high-end destination where there was a lot more to do than just go there to gamble.
PFEIFFER: Again, this is Terry Fator. He now performs at the STRAT Hotel, Casino and says he will miss the Mirage.
FATOR: You know, 11 years is no small amount of time to headline Mirage, and what an incredible and just honor – I feel very humbled to have been able to play a part in that amazing legacy.
INSKEEP: So the Mirage is gone, but will reopen in 2027 as a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. A 700-foot hotel tower in the shape of a guitar will rise from the ashes of its volcano.
PFEIFFER: There’s nothing like Vegas.
(SOUNDBITE OF THE SONG, “VIVA LAS VEGAS”)
ELVIS PRESLEY: (singing) So Viva Las Vegas.
INSKEEP: (Sung) Viva Las Vegas.
PFEIFFER: (Laughter).
INSKEEP: Sacha, I have this idea.
PFEIFFER: Yes, Steve.
INSKEEP: A MORNING EDITION residence in Las Vegas.
PFEIFFER: Oh, boy, that’s not for me. I don’t like betting, I don’t like losing money. I’ve never been able to think of betting as my entertainment budget for the night.
INSKEEP: OK, but we’ll just be up there on stage.
PFEIFFER: (Laughter).
INSKEEP: As the times change, people will still be awake and can come and get the news.
PFEIFFER: I love flying to Vegas. You see the Eiffel Tower…
INSKEEP: Oh, that’s true.
PFEIFFER: …Sphinx, pyramid. It’s an amazing thing about the United States.
INSKEEP: OK, so you’re getting excited about this idea.
PFEIFFER: All right, you can talk to me about that.
INSKEEP: The other thing is, we need matching Elvis jumpsuits.
PFEIFFER: (Laughter).
INSKEEP: Can we do it? Anyway…
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