Steve Wynn recalls the birth of The Mirage at Las Vegas event

Key Points Steve Wynn revisited The Mirage’s creation at a Neon Museum event Wynn recalled securing the final land needed for the project and developing the resort’s iconic volcano The event sparked discussion regarding Wynn’s legacy and his 2018 resignation following sexual misconduct allegations

Key Points

Steve Wynn revisited The Mirage’s creation at a Neon Museum event

Wynn recalled securing the final land needed for the project and developing the resort’s iconic volcano

The event sparked discussion regarding Wynn’s legacy and his 2018 resignation following sexual misconduct allegations

Steve Wynn, the former casino executive, shared stories about the creation of The Mirage and its impact on Las Vegas during a public appearance at the Golden Nugget on October 22. 

Steve Wynn

The

Mirage

Golden Nugget

Steve Wynn Recalls The Mirage’s $630M Journey to Success

The 84-year-old spoke for nearly two hours to an audience of 600 at an event organized by the Neon Museum. The presentation was part of the museum’s annual “Reflections of The Mirage” Duck Duck Shed celebration and helped raise money for its historical preservation work, reported The Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

event organized by the Neon Museum

“Reflections of The Mirage” Duck Duck Shed

Wynn discussed the choices that went into the property, which opened in November 1989, helping to create a new template for massive casino resorts. The project cost about $630 million, a huge investment at the time and one that raised questions about whether the business would be able to generate enough revenue to offset its operating expenses. 

Wynn

1989

$630 million

Wynn’s account noted that The Mirage was profitable almost immediately after opening, despite the skepticism. He recalled that the resort had accommodated tens of thousands of visitors on its opening day, and its facilities had been full. 

Wynn

The Mirage was profitable almost immediately

The property’s success helped spur more investment on the Las Vegas Strip. Its 3,044 hotel rooms, major entertainment productions and elaborate attractions set expectations for future developments, fueling the expansion of the resort corridor through the 1990s. 

The property’s success

Las Vegas Strip

Steve Wynn Recalls The Mirage’s Volcano and the Obstacles behind its Land Deal

Wynn also recounted how obtaining the land for The Mirage nearly derailed his plans. One remaining parcel was owned by Grace Hayes, a former actress who refused to sell her house there with her late husband, screenwriter Robert Hopkins. 

Wynn

The Mirage

Grace

Hayes

Robert Hopkins

Even previous attempts to buy the property by businessman Howard Hughes had failed. Eventually, Wynn showed Hayes a model of the proposed development and persuaded her to reconsider. 

Howard Hughes

Wynn

Hayes

Plans included a major water feature that would later become one of the resort’s signature attractions. Lighting designer David Hersey pointed out a technical problem with lighting a waterfall, so the team came up with the volcano idea instead, Wynn says. 

major water feature

Lighting designer David Hersey

Wynn

The ultimate deal allowed Wynn to assemble the land he needed to start construction in 1986. Hayes reportedly received $2 million for her house and the property next door. Wynn also got her a luxury suite at the Golden Nugget for the rest of her years. 

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Hayes

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Golden Nugget

The volcano became a trademark, attracting visitors with pseudo-eruptions of fire and water. The resort also featured entertainment attractions, including the illusionists Siegfried & Roy and a dolphin habitat that drew school groups, including students from Clark County studying marine biology. The Mirage closed in July 2024 and will be replaced with a Hard Rock-branded resort that includes a guitar-shaped hotel tower.  

The volcano

became a trademark

Siegfried & Roy

dolphin habitat

The Mirage

in July 2024

The event also sparked discussion about Wynn’s controversial exit from the casino industry. He resigned as chairman and chief executive of Wynn Resorts in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied. 

Wynn’s controversial exit

Wynn Resorts

2018

In 2019, Nevada gaming regulators fined Wynn Resorts $20 million over its handling of complaints involving Wynn. He has left the industry, but that has not stopped him from making public appearances. 

2019

Wynn Resorts

Wynn

The event comes after the Neon Museum announced in July that Wynn would speak about the development of The Mirage and its historical significance. As part of its efforts to document Las Vegas history, the museum has also saved artifacts from the old resort. 

Neon Museum

Wynn

The Mirage

historical significance

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north america

steve wynn

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