Over 300 Art Pieces from The Mirage Up for Auction

^{Unfortunately, only one of these items from The Mirage is available at auction. (Photo: Marc Meltzer / Casinos.com)}

Fans of The Mirage have been waiting to get their hands on some of the iconic art pieces from the property since it closed last year to make way for the new Hard Rock Las Vegas. The wait is over, and more than 300 items are now available at auction.

Absentee bidding for items in The Historic Mirage Collection auction is underway. Live bidding will begin on September 20 at 10 a.m.

The auction includes some of the most iconic imagery from The Mirage:

• Mermaid statues
• Dolphin statues
• Original Chihuly glass artwork
• Buddha statues

Bidding for the coveted mermaid statues and Chihuly piece begins at $10,000. The dolphins many guests will recognize from the valet area are a relative bargain with an opening bid of $5,000.

There’s also a curated selection of framed photography, art prints and other design elements that longtime guests will recognize from The Mirage’s distinctive décor. Opening bids start as low as $50 for framed art.

Winning bids can be picked up in person at no additional charge, though shipping will cost extra. The auctioneer has vetted shipping companies and can help coordinate delivery for nonresidents.

This is a somewhat limited auction for a Las Vegas casino closing. Last year’s Tropicana auction included numerous items from the hotel rooms as well as the casino floor.

Fans of The Mirage who don’t want to purchase items in the auction can still relive their memories with a few items that were donated to the Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas last year.

Hard Rock Las Vegas Remains on Schedule

Hard Rock International (HRI) wasted no time beginning its major overhaul of The Mirage. The volcano in front of the casino was quickly gutted to begin construction on the new guitar-shaped hotel tower.

In July, the president of HRI, Joe Lupo, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the project is on time and on budget. The new Hard Rock is still slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2027.  It wouldn’t be a surprise to see a December opening similar to Fontainebleau and Durango Casino in 2023.

Not only is the timeline intact, but so are the plans for the Hard Rock. There will still be more than 650 suites in the Guitar Tower, and the existing property changes are underway.

The Mirage was one of my favorite Las Vegas casinos. I still reference my final walkthrough of the casino when I think about it. Unfortunately, the horseheads from the sportsbook that many sports bettors loved aren’t available in the auction.