Why was the removal of a sign so emotional for us? When the sun set Wednesday, a crowd gathered outside The Mirage. They weren’t there for the volcano show. It was time to bid farewell. After welcoming employees and dreamers for decades, The Mirage entrance sign was loaded on to a flatbed truck for its journey to a new home at the Neon Museum. But why was it so emotional for us?
The memories run deep. For a former cocktail waitress at The Mirage, it was a tangible memory of her younger days. For one couple, it was where the big question was popped. For tourists from around the world, it was an iconic landmark that welcomed them for an escape from a mundane life back home. There would be wins and losses, dreams realized and crushed. There are millions of memories, from visits by members of the Beatles to big boxing matches to the spectacle of the white lions and tigers at Siegfried & Roy performances. When the truck pulled away, the crowd that gathered broke out in a soft applause.
The Mirage opened in November of 1989. The bold, bright sign remained a constant over the years as the hotel’s ownership and management changed hands. It lit up the strip but fell into the landscape as props like an Eiffel Tower and a pyramid wow’d visitors.
This past weekend, Vegas Vacation was showing on one of the hundreds of cable channels. It’s one of those movies that I’ll watch anytime it’s on, no matter how many times I see it. The scenes filmed at The Mirage are particularly memorable. The hilarious check in to the hotel, Wayne Newton’s cameos, and Cousin Eddie going swimming with the dolphins.
For those who live in Las Vegas, it’s a reminder of time’s endless march. We’ve seen so many changes to the Strip over the years. Another era has passed and a new one is about to begin. The beat goes on. The Mirage will become the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
