A review of the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas.
When Steve Wynn opened the 3000+ room Mirage in the middle of the famous Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip), on November 22, 1989, the gaming community held it's breath. Wynn's Mirage was the first major hotel to open on the Strip since !973, and Wynn had sunk nearly 630 million dollars into the making of it. Much like Bugsy Siegel, who had also dreamed of glamorous casinos in the middle of a desert, Wynn was taking a huge chance. Would the public come? Would they pay the prices he was asking?
The answer turned out to be yes, to both questions. The shimmering golden Mirage with its lush tropical theme inside and erupting volcano out front quickly became a welcome oasis to Las Vegas visitors.
The gaming community let out its breath, and new building projects opened up and down the Strip--the Excalibur, the Luxor, MGM Grand, all owe their opulent existence to the success of the Mirage.
Since those days, the Mirage has begun to glimmer perhaps a little less brightly in the eyes of an unforgiving town suspicious of any building more than fifteen years old. Owner Steve Wynn was forced out during a hostile takeover at the turn of the century. In 2003, the hotel lost its signature show when Roy Horn (of Siegfried and Roy fame) was severely injured during an evening performance.
However, the Mirage is still undeniably a beautiful place to visit and stay. When you come through the palatial doors to check in, you will be greeted by the faint scent of vanilla and a 20,000 gallon aquarium. Hotel clerks are courteous, and most importantly efficient, so you should be on your way to your room quickly.
To get there, you will need to walk through the lovely indoor rainforest. Nestled behind the rainforest is the intimate AVA lounge where you can relax with friends and listen to live entertainment.
You'll also notice the huge casino, which manages to offer a multitude of slot and video poker machines as well as all the familiar table games and still maintain an air of tropical serenity. Unfortunately, if you're a low-stakes player, like I am, you may need to go elsewhere for your gaming needs. The lowest table minimums you're likely to find are $10--and you'll have to look very hard for those.
When you reach your room, you'll find yourself in a spacious, elegant environment decorated in soft hues of gold and red. If anything in the room is not working properly, repair service is prompt, no matter how minor the complaint or concern. (I once had a maintenance man come up to the room to help me get the air conditioner going a few minutes before midnight.)
When you get hungry at the Mirage, you can feast at Cravings, the sumptuous buffet, or try one of the other casual dining opportunities. Caribe Cafe, the Noodle Kitchen, and California Pizza Kitchen are all excellent choices.
Mirage also offers fine dining with Kokomo's (steak and seafood), Mikado (Japanese delicacies), Onda (Italian), Moongate (Chinese), and the Samba Brazilian Steakhouse.
And don't worry if you've brought the whole family. Children will be delighted by the Secret Garden of Siegfried and Roy, which features the pair's signature white tigers and lions as well as panthers, leopards, and even an elephant. Kids will also enjoy watching the antics of a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at the dolphin habitat.
The two pools are works of art, set amongst lagoons and waterfalls. Close your eyes and imagine you are relaxing in a South Pacific paradise.
You can also take your children to see Danny Gans, the "man of many voices." Saying Gans is an impressionist, however, is like saying John F. Kennedy was an author. Impressionism is but one of Gans's many talents. He is also a singer and a gifted comedian who possesses the innate knowledge of how to hold an audience spellbound. His is a feel good, laugh out loud, wipe a tear from your eye kind of show, well worth the admission price.
The Mirage considers itself a first-class hotel and resort, and staying there will almost certainly set you back more than staying at a grind joint. But if you enjoy elegance and exquisite service along with your gaming, you'll give the Mirage a try next time you're in town.
