The 50-person, two-car tram that has regularly shuttled passengers between The Mirage and Treasure Island casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip for more than 30 years is currently closed.
The news comes ahead of The Mirage’s impending full closure and redevelopment into Hard Rock Las Vegas, due 2025.
The tram operated between the two Steve Wynn-conceived casino resorts since 1995, before it closed last week with little ceremony.
On the Treasure Island end, the whole station area has been boarded up and blocked off. Meanwhile, the Mirage has simply locked the doors to its station with no explanation.
There has been no official announcement from Treasure Island, owned by Phil Ruffin. The Mirage, operated by Hard Rock International, told local media it plans to open the tram again. However, with the resort itself closing for good in two weeks and one station completely boarded off, that looks unlikely.
Competing Resorts
The two resorts have been owned by different operators since 2009, meaning the tramline was the only private transport system linking two Las Vegas casinos not owned by the same company.
The Las Vegas Strip currently has two casino tramways remaining, both operated by MGM Resorts International, with stations at only its properties. MGM previously owned The Mirage between 2000 and 2020, as well as, for a while, Treasure Island.
It attempted to build a connection to its ARIA Express Tram line from The Mirage-Treasure Island line in 2009. However, that would have required the tram to go through land owned by Caesars Palace. Owner Caesars Entertainment rejected the plan from its rival casino operator.
Remaining Trams
There are now only two short-hop trams remaining in Las Vegas. Both are operated by MGM, and are significantly longer than the 90-second Mirage to Treasure Island line.
The Aria Express operates on the north of the Las Vegas Strip between the Bellagio, Vdara, Park MGM, and ARIA casino resorts, as well as a stop at The Shops shopping precinct.
Meanwhile, the Excalibur-Luxor-Mandalay Bay Tram runs between its namesake casino resorts on the south end of the resort corridor.
The Mirage is set to close for good on July 17. Owner Hard Rock International, itself owned by tribal gaming operator the Seminole Tribe of Florida, plans to knock down much of the iconic resort and build a huge, guitar-shaped glass hotel tower in its place.
Liquidation sales registrations opened last month ahead of shutting up shop. It’s unclear if any parts or fixtures of the tram will be included, or if it will be retained in some form in the new Hard Rock development.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
