Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas

So where did it begin? Well, in 2021, Hard Rock International announced that it intended to purchase The Mirage for $1.08 billion. The deal went through at the end of 2022.

Now in 2023, The Mirage is operated by Hard Rock International. However, the land is owned by VICI Properties Inc., which Hard Rock Las Vegas has signed a lease agreement with.

As of March of this year, it has been approved for Hard Rock International to build their guitar-shaped hotel right where the iconic Mirage volcano was. There are several other plans slated for the renovation and transformation, too.

The Hard Rock Las Vegas has kept a lot of the details of its new property under wraps, but we’ve pieced together the bits into a bigger picture.

Hotel

Additional hotel rooms will be in the 36-story guitar-shaped structure planned to go where the current volcano is, though the current Mirage rooms and suites will remain as well. The guitar-shaped hotel will add 596 new guest rooms, and the existing 3,044 Mirage rooms will be completely renovated.

The addition will make for a total of 3,640 rooms. Have you ever stayed in a hotel room located in a building shaped like a guitar? We’re sure it’s going to be amazing!

Casino

The casino is expected to undergo an addition as well. It is currently 94,000 square feet which will transform into 174,000 square feet. With the addition of the square footage, it’s anticipated more than 1100 slot machines and over 160 table games will be added to the existing Mirage casino.

Convention Space

Currently, there are about 200,000 square feet of convention rooms on the Mirage property. Of course, they are adding an additional 83,000 square feet of space to the convention areas. This will allow bigger, more exciting events to be held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

Entertainment

Speaking of events — more seats will be added to the theater spaces. In fact, there will be almost an additional 3,000 seats! This entertainment area will be in the form of a Hard Rock Live venue that is built with every Hard Rock Hotel location. We expect hot, new entertainment to be unveiled with the new entertainment space.

Food

Though the Mirage already has about 19 restaurants, three additional food venues will be opened. They have yet to divulge the specifics, but we’re anxiously waiting.

Pool

A luxurious infinity pool is also slated to be built adjacent to the guitar-shaped hotel. We’ll likely also see private cabanas, plenty of daybeds, and a poolside food and beverage option alongside the new pool as well.

Now to answer the burning question: When is all of this going to happen? Well, a bit of a timeline has been released, so let’s fill you in!

Current Changes

For the rest of 2023, Hard Rock International will continue to operate The Mirage, albeit with a few changes in the meantime.

One of the primary goals for 2023 for Hard Rock Las Vegas is to increase gaming volume. To meet that goal, they have already added six additional table games to the BetMGM Sportsbook, a new baccarat lounge, and scattered pods of slot machines.

Hard Rock has also already closed the buffet at The Mirage and has built a wall to line slot machines against. The Love Theatre, which was home to the Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil show, has also been closed and replaced with electronic table games and additional slot machines.

This new focus on gaming is likely leading up to the expansion of the casino, a trial run, if you will, to ensure there is enough demand.

Other changes that have already happened under the Hard Rock International leadership include adding stages to the Parlor Cocktail Lounge and Center Bar for nightly live music performances, a rebrand of the comedy theater with an expected new lineup to come later this year, a new lounge for the highest rewards card members in one of the closed restaurants, and a gaming tournament space in another closed restaurant space.

Finally, one of the biggest changes that is in the works is with the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. It has already been closed to the public, and arrangements have been made for the dolphins under their care to be relocated to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where they will be cared for there.

What’s To Come from Hard Rock Las Vegas

At the end of 2023, Hard Rock International is slated to release additional details of the plan and a more in-depth look at the timeline to come.

The Mirage is likely to make the transition into being completely closed to the public in early 2024 so they can completely gut the existing structures and demolish the volcano and other outdoor features.

Currently, The Mirage is expected to be closed to the public for up to two years, though the goal of the project is to have a grand opening with the new branding as the Hard Rock Hotel in late 2025. We would assume that despite a grand opening, there will still be things getting finished in 2026 before it is all said and done.

Accommodations

Though they haven’t released details about what the rooms at the new Hard Rock Las Vegas will look like or what sorts of accommodations will be offered, we’d like to make some guesses. 

Hard Rock Hotels have very specific branding, and it has been alluded to that the renovation will be inspired by Hard Rock’s current guitar hotel in Hollywood, Florida. Based on this information, we’ve put two and two together and have a prediction of what rooms will be available.

We expect the same sort of rooms from the Hollywood, Florida, location. In this case, you would be able to choose from rooms like the Deluxe Pool Queen or the Deluxe Pool King as far as their standard rooms go. Oh, and for those who need accessible accommodations, the Deluxe Room Handicap Accessible version will likely be an option.

One of the most popular suites at other Hard Rock Hotel locations is the HRH Pool King Suite, with an excellent view of the stunning pool area, so we figure that will make an appearance, too.

If they stick to the same furnishings, you might find a fully stocked mini-bar, French door windows, ultra-luxurious bedding, dark wood accents, modern decor, and probably even a leather sleigh bed somewhere in there.

Room Amenities

The Hard Rock brand is known for a focus on music, so all of the rooms will almost definitely include rock ‘n roll memorabilia and options to play your own in-room music with other amenities like a Bose CD stereo system, touch screen jukebox system, or the option of having a Fender guitar delivered to your door.

Hotel Amenities

There are other key amenities that are classic of Hard Rock Hotels, too, that we are almost sure will be included on the property even if it hasn’t been announced yet. This would be things like a juice bar, health club, a new location of the line of Hard Rock Cafes, and spa villas.

So, bring your rock ‘n roll attitude because if we are even half right about what’s to come, 2027 is going to ring in a new era of the Las Vegas Strip.

• The Hard Rock Las Vegas is slated to be the latest and greatest of the Las Vegas hotels on the Las Vegas Strip as it’s taking over The Mirage.
• So far, it’s been announced that a guitar hotel will be constructed on the site of The Mirage Hotel Volcano with additional guest rooms.
• In addition, the property will be completely gutted and rebuilt into the Hard Rock Hotels brand.
• Hard Rock International is already running operations at The Mirage, which will close to the public at the end of 2023.
• The Hard Rock Las Vegas is expected to make its debut at the end of 2025.