Steve Wynn, the former Wynn Resorts Chairman and CEO, addressed the end of an era for The Mirage in a heartfelt speech. As the resort prepares to transition to Hard Rock Las Vegas under the ownership of Florida’s Seminole Tribe, Wynn paid tribute to the project that transformed modern Las Vegas.
Bravo, Mirage, you put a warm smile on the face of our city.
Wynn, now 82 and living in Florida, began developing The Mirage in the mid-1980s. The resort opened on November 22, 1989, setting new standards in the hospitality industry. “If you had a sense of humor, you would have understood the tremendous contradiction in the name,” Wynn said. “She was most definitely not a mirage, but a dazzling and commanding reality. The largest hotel ever built at that point in history, anywhere in the world.”
Despite his resignation in 2018 amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies, Wynn’s impact on Las Vegas remains significant. In 2023, Nevada regulators fined him $10 million personally, and Wynn Resorts received a $20 million fine in 2019, the highest ever by the Nevada Gaming Commission. Wynn is no longer involved in the gaming industry.
Reflecting on The Mirage, Wynn shared his vision behind the project. “Why feminine? As a structure, she was always about ideas with a soft feminine quality,” he explained. The resort featured 3,000 rooms, with 2,000 facing the Strip. Instead of neon, it showcased a garden of Canary Island palm trees and a refreshing waterfall. The central atrium, a four-story round structure, symbolized future growth.
Wynn noted that before The Mirage, Las Vegas hadn’t seen a new hotel in 16 years, partly due to the rise of Atlantic City and Indian gaming in California. The Mirage’s opening in 1989 sparked a decade of rapid expansion, doubling the city’s capacity and making it the fastest-growing city in America. “To call The Mirage a catalyst would be an understatement,” Wynn said.
The Mirage also became known for its unique attractions, including Siegfried & Roy’s show and a variety of exotic animals. “The first guests to check into the hotel were two white tigers with Siegfried & Roy,” Wynn recalled. The resort’s Secret Garden allowed guests to see white tigers, lions, leopards, and even an Asian elephant named Jilda.
Wynn emphasized The Mirage’s commitment to education through its dolphin lagoons. “Dolphin lagoons were dedicated every weekday morning to the children of the Clark County School District,” he said. Buses brought students to learn about marine mammals and watch the dolphins play.
The Mirage also employed nearly 8,000 people. “Almost 8,000 employees and their families depended on her,” Wynn stated. “Siegfried & Roy depended on her, the dolphins and the kids depended on her, and it turns out the future of Las Vegas depended on her.”
In closing, Wynn expressed his gratitude. “Bravo, Mirage, you put a warm smile on the face of our city.”
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