Hard Rock’s Guitar Tower Has Topped Off, and the Vegas Skyline Is Already Looking Different

^{The Hard Rock Guitar Tower is hard to miss as you approach the Las Vegas Strip. (Photo: Marc Meltzer / Casinos.com)}

LAS VEGAS – Last Friday, Hard Rock International hit a milestone when the construction crew placed the final beam of steel atop the Guitar Hotel Tower

While no more steel is required for the Guitar Tower, glass still needs to be installed. Construction crews are pulling double duty as blue glass is being installed in the old Mirage hotel tower to match the new construction and create a cohesive property.

The new Hard Rock Las Vegas will replace The Mirage, which closed in July 2024. Hard Rock is slated to open in late 2027.

Topping-off ceremonies are celebrations more for the developer and construction crews working on the project. These ceremonies typically don't mean much for those not involved with the property, but the Hard Rock is a different story.

Hard Rock construction is nowhere near finished, but the Guitar Tower is already changing the skyline of the Vegas Strip. There's no missing the giant glass guitar replacing the volcano that sat in front of the Mirage's casino.

Some love the guitar while others think it's an abomination. Regardless of which side of the fence you sit, this will be a big change to the skyline.

Changing the Vegas Strip

In real estate, a strip is typically a long, narrow stretch of road. The Vegas Strip isn't long, it's just over four miles, and it's not a straight line. There's a slight bend between Caesars Palace and the Hard Rock.

The Guitar Tower is single-handedly changing Las Vegas's cityscape. The photo above is a little old, but the Guitar Tower will partially block the Trump Hotel from view for visitors looking north along the Vegas Strip once all the glass is installed.

It could also be impacting how other properties change their identities. During Caesars Entertainment's most recent earnings call, CEO Tom Reeg said the company will "have a full strategy to combat (Hard Rock's) opening."

While specifics weren't discussed, Phase 1 of the plan could be increasing the size of its marquees and blocking the view of the Hard Rock as much as possible

Caesars started upgrading its digital signs last year, starting with the huge Horseshoe Las Vegas marquee. The old Caesars Palace sign looked minuscule in the foreground of the Hard Rock Guitar Tower. The new sign is more than 200 feet tall and fits well when viewed from the north toward the Hard Rock.

It looks as though Caesars might be increasing the size of the marquee at The LINQ, too. Jokes aside, the enormity of the Hard Rock Guitar Tower is definitely changing how we look at the Vegas Strip.

The Venetian, right across the street from Hard Rock, debuted a large LCD that features 3D-like imagery for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2024.

What To Expect At The New Hard Rock Guitar Tower

Hard Rock International hasn't officially announced specific changes to its plans, although some are sure to change. During a conference in Atlantic City last month, Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen talked about the pool experience that's in the works.

"We have gone a little crazy with the pools that we've designed," Allen said. "It's not [going to be] just a day club, but truly an ultra-high-end, five-star luxury experience."

Allen was referencing the old Mirage pool complex, and also noted that the property will feature tech not available at any other Las Vegas casino.

The Guitar Tower will stand where The Mirage volcano once exploded nightly on the Vegas Strip and feature 600 to 660 rooms. Initial plans called for this to be an all-suite hotel, with standard rooms available in the old Mirage tower.

Underneath the rooms, there will be a 48,000-square-foot casino with a dozen table games and 200 slot machines. Guitar Tower guests would have their own rooftop infinity pool above the casino overlooking the Vegas Strip. 

Dining and retail will occupy 96,000 square feet of the Guitar Tower Vegas Strip frontage. If the initial plans hold, a Hard Rock music museum will be built between the Guitar Tower and Treasure Island.

The old Mirage Tower will not only feature a completely new pool concept, but Hard Rock also plans to double the number of slots and table games.