Hard Rock’s Guitar Tower Rises Over the Strip, Opening Eyed for Late 2027

Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen says construction has reached the 30th floor and the project remains on schedule.

Hard Rock's guitar-shaped hotel tower rising over the Las Vegas Strip at the site of the former Mirage is on schedule for a late 2027 or early 2028 opening, Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen said last week at the East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City. The nearly 700-foot structure is already drawing attention on social media, with observers debating whether it will be an eyesore or a landmark that redefines the Strip.

Allen Addresses Timeline and Technology at Atlantic City Conference

Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock Entertainment, offered some of the most detailed public remarks to date about the Las Vegas project during his appearance at the East Coast Gaming Congress, held at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Allen was one of eight gaming executives who spoke at the event.

"What I can tell you is that we are on that schedule," Allen said, referring to the company's target of a late 2027 or early 2028 opening. He noted that a handful of recently finalized technology agreements would help determine the final opening date. "There are a few technological things that have come into play that we recently signed. That will be the driver for the final opening date," Allen said.

Allen described the development in sweeping terms. "It's a massive statement," he said of the Las Vegas project. "The technology that we're going to offer does not exist anywhere in Las Vegas. We believe it's truly the game-changer."

Guitar Tower Construction Details: Height, Floors, and Design

When completed, the guitar-shaped tower will stand just shy of 700 feet, according to Allen. That height would place it above several of its nearest Strip neighbors — The Palazzo, Wynn Las Vegas, and Resorts World — but still below the Strip's current tallest hotel, Fontainebleau, which stands at 729 feet.

Allen noted that the floor numbers on the tower can be misleading because the hotel portion begins on top of an eight-story base building. As of his remarks at the conference, construction had reached the 30th floor with 12 floors remaining. He described the location as "the Strip's 50-yard line" and said a large rendering displayed at the conference was "not exaggerated to try to look impressive."

Hard Rock built its first guitar-shaped tower at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Resort in Hollywood, Florida, where it stands at 450 feet. The Las Vegas version will be significantly taller.

Pool and Amenity Plans Signal Luxury Positioning

Beyond the tower itself, Allen highlighted the property's pool offerings as a key differentiator. "We have gone a little crazy with the pools that we've designed," he said. "It's not just a day club, but truly an ultra-high-end, five-star luxury experience."

From Mirage to Hard Rock: A Major Strip Transformation

Hard Rock Entertainment, which is privately owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts International in 2022 for $1.1 billion. The Mirage was originally developed and opened by Steve Wynn in 1989 at a then-unprecedented cost of $630 million, and its opening is widely credited with launching three decades of Strip development.

The Mirage closed in July 2024 to begin the overhaul. Since then, Hard Rock has said little publicly about the project, making Allen's Atlantic City remarks among the most substantive updates the company has offered.

The transformation has been sweeping. The property's iconic 54-foot-tall volcano and tropical island-like setting along the Strip were bulldozed shortly after closing. The glass atrium, porte cochere entrance, the dolphin enclosure, and Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden were also demolished. The existing 3,000-room Y-shaped hotel tower has been stripped of its gold glass and is being reconfigured as part of the broader remake.

The project has generated significant commentary online. One Reddit user wrote two months ago that the closure of The Mirage "feels like tearing down one of the most successful casinos in history to install a corporate brand experiment with huge expectations attached to it." The nearly 700-foot guitar tower has drawn particular attention, with observers split on whether it will enhance or detract from the Strip's skyline.

Hard Rock's Atlantic City Venue Provides Conference Backdrop

The East Coast Gaming Congress where Allen spoke was held at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, the property formerly known as the Trump Taj Mahal. Hard Rock purchased that resort in 2017 after it went through bankruptcy and reopened it under the Hard Rock name a year later.

What we know

• Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen said the Las Vegas guitar tower project is on schedule for a late 2027 or early 2028 opening.
• The guitar-shaped tower will stand just shy of 700 feet when complete, taller than The Palazzo, Wynn Las Vegas, and Resorts World, but shorter than Fontainebleau at 729 feet.
• Construction had reached the 30th floor with 12 floors remaining as of Allen's remarks at the East Coast Gaming Congress.
• Hard Rock Entertainment is privately owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts International in 2022 for $1.1 billion.
• The Mirage was closed in July 2024 to begin the overhaul, and its volcano, glass atrium, porte cochere, dolphin enclosure, and Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden have all been demolished.
• Hard Rock's first guitar-shaped tower, at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Resort in Hollywood, Florida, stands at 450 feet.
• Allen said recently signed technology agreements will help determine the final opening date.

Why it matters

The Hard Rock Las Vegas project represents one of the most significant transformations in recent Strip history, replacing a property that helped define Las Vegas tourism for more than three decades. At nearly 700 feet, the guitar-shaped tower will become one of the tallest structures on the Strip and is positioned by Hard Rock as a technological and luxury landmark. The project's timeline and scale have direct implications for tourism, competition among Strip resorts, and the broader identity of Las Vegas as a global entertainment destination.

What’s next

Hard Rock has targeted a late 2027 or early 2028 opening for the Las Vegas property. Allen indicated that recently signed technology agreements will play a role in pinning down the final opening date. Construction was at the 30th floor with 12 floors remaining as of Allen's remarks at the East Coast Gaming Congress.

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