The Mirage is the first
project entirely supervised by Las Vegas legend Steve Wynn. He envisioned a casino that
was much more than a casino, the Mirage was to be a resort and entertainment mecca.
Originally considered a huge gamble, the Mirage turned out to be a huge success. (It now
seems obvious that you would take a chance on a guy named Wynn).
Today, the Mirage is one of
the nicest casinos in the world and one of our editor's favorite spots in Las Vegas. One
can't miss the Mirage on the strip. Besides containing exotic trees and plants, the front
of the Mirage has a huge volcano that erupts every fifteen minutes (after dusk). One will
hear occasional rumbles from the volcano before it blows, and when it erupts water and
flames are shot 100-feet in the air. Orange, yellow and red lights illuminate the water so
it looks like spewing lava. Flames roll down the volcano and into the lagoon, making an
impressive show. It is definitely worth checking out up close; you'll feel the heat
from the flames and get sprayed with a bit of mist, but that's part of the experience.
Inside the casino
it doesn't get less impressive. You'll feel like you walked into a tropical rainforest.
There are banana trees, palms, and waterfalls inside a gorgeous 90-foot atrium. The
adjacent lobby is one of the prettiest in Vegas. The main attraction of the lobby is a
20,000-gallon aquarium that simulates a coral reef. The 53-foot wide tank is filled with
all sorts of colorful fish. It can be quite mesmerizing to watch while waiting in line.
The Mirage is also known for it's service, so the wait is never too long.
Behind glass
on one side the entrance is an enclosure for some of Sigfried & Roy's famous
white tigers. They headline at the Mirage and figure prominently. (airbrushed pictures of
the pair are everywhere) For an additional charge, visitors can see the rare white tigers
up close in Sigfried & Roy's Secret Garden. The Secret Garden
of Sigfried & Roy The tour also includes a look at the
new Dolphin habitat.
The casino floor is one of the
nicest in town and one of our favorite places to gamble. Many other people feel the same
way, so there's usually a decent amount of people at the tables. The sports book features
a movie sized screen with theater sound and comfortable seats. This is a great place to
watch football on Sundays or get crazy with March Madness. The poker room is also
noteworthy. There are a lot of professional sharks in these waters, but the atmosphere is
comfortable and the games are well run. The Mirage is a good place to find out how good
you are (or think you are) at poker.
The rooms at the Mirage are
designed tastefully, with oak armoires containing 25-inch screen TVs. For fellow webheads,
the phones in the rooms can accommodate modems and fax machines. However, the best part of
staying at the Mirage is definitely the pool area and spa. The pool is huge and features
waterfalls, palm trees and waterslides. It is literally an oasis in the desert (with great
service and optional private cabanas). People who take the free tram between the Mirage
and Treasure Island might be able to sneak a peek at the pool area. Those who do often
turn green with envy.
