Las Vegas guests are still saying goodbye, but Hard Rock says the Mirage demolition will begin before the last tear drops fall. A farewell ceremony was held on Wednesday morning, and many resorts up and down the Strip said goodbye to the Mirage on their marquees.

Surrounded by fences, the property is now gearing up for demolition, which is scheduled to commence within this coming week. The iconic volcano attraction will be dismantled to pave the way for a new centerpiece: a towering guitar that will stand nearly 700 feet tall. This ambitious construction project is expected to span approximately three years, with bulldozers set to arrive soon.

The Mirage demolition marks the conclusion of an era and heralds the beginning of a new chapter for the Las Vegas Strip. First opened its doors on November 22, 1989, under casino magnate Steve Wynn, this was the first Vegas resort to revolutionized the casino business model by focusing on entertainment, dining experiences, free attractions, and exotic animals.

Among those present at the closing event was Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International. He stated that the new Hard Rock would “become a true icon” and a destination for international tourism for Sin City. He added that the property has been “…slowly mobilizing the last five, six months. But really, this time next week, we will be in major demolition.”

Visitors to Las Vegas should have a front row seat for the Mirage demolition, and the construction of the new hotel. Additional details were withheld pending an announcement later this year, or perhaps early next year. And while we’re sad to see Mirage go the way of so many other resorts, at least the drama is over… for now.