A love letter to The Mirage, the hotel that changed the world — and my life
I didn't know it the first time I stepped foot (or rolled, really) into The Mirage, but the stroller I was sitting in was entering hallowed ground in the hotel world. I was 4 years old, it was 1996 and my parents had just driven my brother, my grandma (Magaw, as we called her) and me from the Texas Panhandle to the Las Vegas Strip to celebrate Christmas in style.
We weren't staying at The Mirage.
In fact, we were on the far end of the Strip at the MGM Grand, but I can still remember, if just for a fleeting second, how magical it felt to enter that larger-than-life space. Above me, the glass atrium felt like a spaceship; people from all walks of life floated by in every direction, slot machines were dinging and rattling, coins were jingling in large plastic buckets, and — as far as the pictures show — I was enthralled.
But the thing I remember the most were the fish, a giant wall of them, full of more shapes, colors and designs than any little boy from rural, cotton-growing, "Friday Night Lights" West Texas had ever seen. That was the moment when I fell in love with The Mirage — and hotels as a whole.
Now, flash forward a quarter of a century, and my love for The Mirage hasn't changed. Though I may have ditched my stroller and OshKosh B'gosh overalls, every time I visit Las Vegas, it's essential for me to walk under that big glass dome and say hi to those fish. Most recently, it's been while I'm in line to check in to the hotel instead of gawking from a distance.
But sadly, The Mirage has changed — and as of today, it's actually no more. July 17, 2024, will go down as the day The Mirage closed its doors forever, set to reopen after a massive transformation into the Hard Rock Las Vegas.
Related: Yes, Las Vegas can be done on a tight budget — here's how
When The Mirage opened its doors for the first time back in 1989, three years before I came into existence, it changed the world — at least the hotel world.
Set on 77 acres, Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn set out to build a megaresort. And he did. At the time, it was the largest hotel on the planet, and it redefined what a resort could be with its sprawling size, seemingly endless dining options, toned-down but visible theme (technically Polynesian, in case you were wondering) and overall sense of luxury.
It also opened up Las Vegas as a family-friendly destination thanks to its over-the-top erupting volcano, Siegfried & Roy's magic show featuring white tigers, and the chance to temporarily escape the mundaneness of everyday life to feel like you and your family entered a tropical paradise hidden in the middle of the Nevada desert. A mirage, if you will.
Since that first trip to Las Vegas, back when my wallet (also OshKosh) only held a library card, I've returned countless times. And, in a way, over the years, it feels like I've grown up with The Mirage, which became an MGM property in 2000 and was acquired by Hard Rock International in 2022.
On those earlier trips (mostly work trips my parents let me tag along on), we'd slip into The Mirage for a buffet free-for-all or step out on the Strip to watch the volcano. My parents would usually let me pick out a slot machine that "felt right," and one would play $5 while the other stood back with me on the kid-designated carpet.
The summer before my senior year of high school, my relationship with The Mirage ascended to a whole new level. My mom booked a massive suite (on a lettered floor, if you know!) to stay in for a work trip and let me invite a friend. Over the course of a long weekend, we lounged in the dry summer heat by the pool, drank Dr Pepper from Champagne glasses, saw "The Beatles Love" by Cirque du Soleil and generally acted like we owned the place. It was a great story to tell our friends back in the sleepy town of Levelland, Texas.
Before I knew it, I was 21, and my wallet — now Coach, maybe American Eagle — had my driver's license, my college ID and an MGM player's card. Then, I was drinking Champagne from a Champagne glass and feeling too scared to sit down at a blackjack table. I'd spend hours playing penny slots with my dad, my mom anchored at a craps table.
It was at The Mirage the first time I won big — $800 on an "Ellen"-themed slot machine. And it was Howie Mandel's voice at the "Deal or No Deal" machine, tucked away between the bathroom and the "Beatles Love" ticket office, that frequently convinced me to say "no deal," sometimes for better and sometimes for worse.
For Christmas of 2019, my family shared a suite at The Mirage, the last time we'd see each other for more than 15 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the silly memories of 2 a.m. steak and eggs, me still trying to learn to play craps from my mom and everyone recounting their antics the next morning that held me through that long separation.
And then, the week before the Hard Rock news broke back in 2021, we evolved again. Celebrating my best friend's 30th birthday, 15 friends gathered, yet again, in a two-bedroom suite on top of The Mirage. This time I saw my favorite casino through the blurry lens of old college friends celebrating the privilege of getting older.
We danced with cowboys in the sportsbook to a live country band; we scouted out the machines that "felt right," just like my parents taught me; and we had a moment when we looked around and realized how weird it was that we'd all "grown up."
Mostly, we talked about how annoying it was that I knew every nook and cranny across the resort's 77 acres.
Now, I bid farewell to The Mirage and, begrudgingly, say hello to the Hard Rock Las Vegas. The volcano had its last triumphant explosion and will soon be paved over for the construction of a building shaped like a guitar.
After that, who knows? I don't even know what's next for me. We've aged and we've changed — and we'll change again. But what won't change, and I'm certain of it, are the memories I made over the years in the hotel that will always feel like my hotel.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.