By 11 a.m. PDT Wednesday, the iconic Mirage Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip will be no more. The mega-resort is closing to make way for a new one.
A closing ceremony is set for 9 a.m. local time, FOX 5 Las Vegas reported. Its famous erupting volcano had its last show Tuesday with much fanfare.
"We took a long walk from Circus Circus one time to just see the volcano," Sacramento resident Chris Jacobs told the local TV station. "Very loud, nice explosion, fire, the steam coming up was intense. Going to go in there now, make sure I get my last goodbyes."
The three-minute show took place at 11:30 p.m., the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Operations began winding down just before midnight. The last call for alcoholic beverages was made. Most table games stopped by 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Dice were rolled on the last craps table just before 1 a.m., according to the Journal.
"I’m really going to miss this place," a table games dealer who wanted to stay anonymous told the media outlet. "A lot of the people here are like family to me. I can’t believe I won’t be coming back here anymore."
In May, Mirage's owners, Hard Rock International, announced the nearly 35-year-old property would close for an overhaul. A near 700-foot tall guitar-shaped hotel will be added, similar to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
The 80-acre resort will be renamed "Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas." It's slated to open in 2027.
Hard Rock International said over 3,000 employees will be laid off due to the closure. They expect to pay out $80 million in severance. However, the Journal states close to 6,000 jobs will be available when the new property opens.
Since the start of the month, The Mirage's social media accounts have been reflecting on its history since opening in 1989.
"Thank you for sharing so many memories made here at The Mirage over the past three decades," its most recent Facebook post reads. "We have more to share and love hearing your stories of first vacations, family reunions, and more."