How To Make A “Mirage”

At the time it opened, The Mirage Hotel & Casino was the largest hotel in the world, featuring an innovative Y-shaped design that influenced the layout of other properties, such as the Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, and Mandalay Bay. This unique layout broke with established architectural typologies in Las Vegas, increasing efficiency for guest walkability while maximizing attractive views from The Mirage Hotel & Casino’s rooms across each of its wings. The exact location of the property sat on the bend of the Las Vegas Strip and was prominently visible from either side of the city’s most famous thoroughfare. The Mirage Hotel & Casino’s horizontally striped gold and white façade stood out from other properties on the Strip, reflecting sunlight and attracting the attention of passersby in a simple and refined manner.

The property, boasting a total budget of over $630 million, featured 3,044 guest rooms and 29 stories. The top five floors of the property were reserved for high-rollers and penthouse suites. Room rates ranged from $89 to $129 per night, and each room was thoughtfully designed with fabrics and furnishings sourced from around the world. The Mirage Hotel & Casino featured 100,000 square feet of designated gaming space, packed with nearly 3,000 slot machines, and an additional 30,000 square feet of retail space. An unprecedented 6,000 employees staffed the property for its November 1989 opening, which local retailers cited as the primary cause for a poorly timed holiday season labor shortage in the city overall.

The Mirage Hotel & Casino was celebrated for its architecture and design and was named “Landmark of the Year” by the Nevada Contractor in February 1990. The architecture of the property was overseen by Joel Bergman, Paul Steelman, Henry Conversano, and Don Brinkerhoff, all under the leadership and direction of property owner Steve Wynn who envisioned the property as a combination between luxury and functionality. While describing The Mirage Hotel & Casino’s theme at a press conference on May 28, 1987, Wynn stated: “The hotel’s appearance will evoke the South Seas, Wynn said, and despite the size of the project its tropical lushness will avoid cavernous spaces that dwarf the human scale.” The property’s interior was overseen by designer Roger Thomas, which incorporated lush greenery, water features, and natural light, all of which were aspects that stood in stark contrast to traditional casino design at the time. The property was built and opened to the public in just two years, a quick turnaround considering The Mirage Hotel & Casino’s scale and innovation.