Las Vegas Weekly

December 9, 2008 · 12:36 AM

Mirage volcano has fiery rebirth

By Amanda Finnegan

Photo: Sarah Feldberg

After months of the Mirage’s volcano lying dormant, the hotel and casino reignited the fiery icon in a public ceremony, showcasing a new look and a new sound.

Mirage president Scott Sibella and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman were there to unveil the resort's $25 million outdoor project.

“We [Las Vegas] don’t implode ourselves anymore, we just recreate ourselves,” Goodman said.

The new volcano show fires up for 4 minutes and 30 seconds, its eruptions choreographed to the music of Grateful Dead drummer Mikey Hart and Indian tabla artist Zakir Hussein.

Design firm WET, which created the original Mirage volcano — as well as the Bellagio Fountains — is responsible for the new effects and look of the volcano.

The faux rock structure opened in 1989 and has been a favorite tourist stop on the Strip since that time.

“From day one, the volcano became a must-see attraction, with over millions of people coming to experience it,” Sibella said “The volcano has become a symbol of energy and excitement that Las Vegas has to offer…Tonight, 19 years later, we are creating energy and excitement on the Las Vegas Strip.

The show features all of the elements, with the volcano shooting water 120 feet in the air while fire shoots from the lagoon below, all to a primal soundtrack.

Strip visitors may have already seen parts of the show because the Mirage has been testing it in spurts throughout the week.

Plans and preparations for the improved volcano have been in the works since late 2004. The volcano had been closed for construction from February until Monday night.

The show will run every hour, on the hour, from dusk to midnight each evening.

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