Iconic Mirage resort in Las Vegas closes; guitar-shaped hotel in the works

The volcano attraction in front of The Mirage in Las Vegas erupted for the last time on July 17. — AFP

A final blast from The Mirage’s signature volcano marked the passage of an ageing Las Vegas resort that wowed crowds when it opened in 1989 and went on to revolutionise the casino resort industry in the United States, and reshape Las Vegas, Nevada as a tourist destination.

“What would The Mirage be without one last volcano eruption?” asked Joe Lupo, property president of The Mirage, as he ended a closing ceremony on July 17 that drew hundreds of onlookers, including 137 employees who worked at the 3,044-room resort from the beginning.