The Mirage is about to vanish from the Las Vegas Strip. The iconic tropical island-themed hotel-casino that reshaped an industry and sparked a resort building boom closes Wednesday. That’s after a last-days frenzy of standing-room crowds wagering to win $1.6 million in pent-up slot machine progressive jackpot winnings that regulators say can’t be on the books when doors close. Its new operators, Hard Rock International and Florida-based Seminole Gaming, are planning a three-year renovation. They will replace the resort’s fire-spewing sidewalk-side volcano with a bright new guitar-shaped hotel with 600 rooms. They say Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas will open in 2027.
