Las Vegas Weekly

December 9, 2008 · 7:28 AM

Morning Call Photo Gallery & Video: Mirage volcano erupts right on cue! And Robbie Knievel preps for NYE jump

By Robin Leach

The Mirage volcano makes its debut.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

After lying dormant for 10 months, The Mirage volcano roared back to life last night with a series of heat-searing eruptions and fiery explosions. It was a monumental, traffic-stopping spectacular -- and now hourly each evening, it will be the Strip’s newest attraction once again.

Surprise guest at the premiere ceremony of Mount Mirage was super-stuntman Robbie Knievel, who will motorcycle jump across the volcano’s flames on New Year’s Eve for a Fox special. As I’ve known Robbie since we rode his bikes in Austin, Texas, several years ago, he gave Vegas DeLuxe the only interview of the night -- and you’ll find that exclusive on our video report right here later today.

He told me that he’s already brought his motorbikes and engineering shop to Las Vegas and that he’ll be building a practice ramp out in the desert to tune up for the Dec. 31 jump. He’s invited us to check out his practice jumps for the TV special being produced by another longtime friend, Jeff Androfsky.

You can hear Robbie in his own words later, but he did confirm that this will be a highly dangerous jump if anything goes wrong because of the height to clear the fire plumes, but it would be a shorter span than his successful jump across the Caesars Palace fountains.

“Bigger and better than we ever imagined -- I am in shock and awe as to how impressive it turned out,” Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart said of the new-and-improved volcano. Mickey composed the platinum percussion that accompanies the 900-degree-heat fireballs, steam releases and lava flows.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer told me: “I was still tinkering with the musical sounds until 11 p.m. the night before, but now that it’s been birthed, all I will do is respect it. It does have a life and a personality of its own. From now on, I’ll just come back to Vegas every now and again, just check in on it -- and watch like everybody else.”

You’ll also find our interviews with Mickey and Mirage President Scott Sibella here on our full volcanic video shot and edited by our Scott Den Herder later today -- so be sure to click back!

“This almost completes a lengthy two-year makeover of the Mirage,” The Mirage president said. Scott added: “Our new showroom for headline entertainer Terry Fator is well along and right on schedule for his Feb. 14 premiere -- and then the full repositioning of The Mirage will be completed. Almost 20 years ago, The Mirage was the very first of the full resort hotels, and now it’s all new all over again.”

The $25 million volcano was the crowning glory of the three-year, $110 million Mirage makeover that included upgrades of every room and suite on the property.

Terry served as emcee on the VIPs’ floating stage, and then I switched with him to introduce a 10-minute sneak preview of his new show and characters at the VIP after-party in the Beatles Revolution Lounge. Terry told me, in another exclusive interview, that he and his wife officially moved to town the day before into a penthouse apartment atop Turnberry Towers from where he can see The Mirage.

“Before we even unpacked a box, I picked her up from the airport and drove down the Strip to show her my billboard here at The Mirage. For over 20 years, it was my dream to see my name up in lights on the Vegas Strip -- and now finally I was able to show it to her. I’m still pinching myself that this has all happened to me. It was August last year I was an unknown before winning the first season of America’s Got Talent.

“Now a year and a half later, I have my own theater and starring show in Vegas. My dream came true, and the best thing is no more traveling around America. I simply drive to work in less than 10 minutes!”

Later in the week, we’ll have our exclusive interview and photo shoot with Terry as he introduces his new characters to Vegas Deluxe readers in advance of next year’s premiere.

Our contributing photographers Scott Doctor, Erik Kabik and Scott Harrison had a dream day of shooting the volcano. Even I couldn’t resist capturing some images of the awe and majesty of the spectacle!

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