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{{Short description|American casino company, precursor to MGM Mirage}}
{{About|Golden Nugget Company|the predecessor companies and owners|Golden Nugget, Inc.}}
{{About|the entity formerly known as Golden Nugget Companies|the current company|Golden Nugget, Inc.}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
|name=Mirage Resorts
|name=Mirage Resorts
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|native_name=
|native_name=
|native_name_lang=
|native_name_lang=
|former_name=Golden Nugget Companies <small>(1973–1989)
|former_name=Golden Nugget Companies (1973–1989)
|type= [[Subsidiary]]
|type= Division
|industry=[[Casino]]
|industry=[[Casino]]
|foundation={{Start date and age|1973}}
|foundation={{Start date and age|1973}}
|founder=[[Steve Wynn]]
|founder=[[Steve Wynn]]
|predecessor = [[Golden Nugget, Inc.]]
⚫
|successor = [[MGM Resorts International|MGM Resorts]]
|hq_location=
|hq_location=
|hq_location_city=[[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]
|hq_location_city=[[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]
|hq_location_country=[[United States|U.S.]]
|hq_location_country=[[United States|U.S.]]
|area_served=[[United States]]
|area_served=
|defunct={{End date and age|2000}}
|defunct={{End date and age|2000}}
|fate=Merged with [[MGM Resorts International|MGM Grand, Inc.]]
|fate=Merged with [[MGM Resorts International|MGM Grand, Inc.]]
⚫
|successor= [[MGM Resorts International]]
|key_people=
|key_people=
|products=
|products=
|brands=Golden Nugget
|brands=
|services=[[Casino]]
|services=
|owner= [[MGM Resorts International]]
|owner= [[Golden Nugget, Inc.]]
|website=
|website=
}}
}}
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Golden Nugget Companies Inc. was formed by [[Steve Wynn]] in 1973. The company was created after Wynn acquired majority control of the [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas|Golden Nugget]] in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]].
Golden Nugget Companies Inc. was formed by [[Steve Wynn]] in 1973. The company was created after Wynn acquired majority control of the [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas|Golden Nugget]] in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]].


In 1980, the company opened the [[Golden Nugget Atlantic City (1980-1987)|Golden Nugget Atlantic City]] in [[New Jersey]] but in 1987, Wynn's and the company's interest in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]] did not last very long due to frustration with state gaming regulators. The property was sold to [[Bally's Entertainment]], and eventually became [[The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel|Bally's Grand Hotel and Casino]].
In 1980, the company opened the [[Golden Nugget Atlantic City (1980-1987)|Golden Nugget Atlantic City]] in [[New Jersey]] but in 1987, Wynn's and the company's interest in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]] did not last very long due to frustration with state gaming regulators. The property was sold to [[Bally's Entertainment]], and eventually became [[The Atlantic Club Casino Hotel|Bally's Grand Hotel and Casino]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bally Signs Agreement to Buy Golden Nugget |url=https://apnews.com/article/34b0856c44c4839ac3bade7da60d46c4 |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>


In 1989, the company acquired the Nevada Club casino in [[Laughlin, Nevada]], and re-branded it as the [[Golden Nugget Laughlin]].
In 1989, the company acquired the Nevada Club casino in [[Laughlin, Nevada]], and re-branded it as the [[Golden Nugget Laughlin]].
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{{See also|The Mirage|Treasure Island Hotel and Casino|Bellagio (resort)}}
{{See also|The Mirage|Treasure Island Hotel and Casino|Bellagio (resort)}}
[[File:Las Vegas (Nevada, USA), The Strip -- 2012 -- 6215.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Wynn's first major Strip casino was [[The Mirage]], which was the first time Wynn was personally involved with the design and construction of a casino.]]
[[File:Las Vegas (Nevada, USA), The Strip -- 2012 -- 6215.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Wynn's first major Strip casino was [[The Mirage]], which was the first time Wynn was personally involved with the design and construction of a casino.]]
Wynn's first major casino on the [[Las Vegas Strip]] was [[The Mirage]], which opened in November 1989.<ref name = "PBS">{{cite web|url= https://www.pbs.org/wttw/ceoexchange/episodes/ceo_swynn.html|title = Biography: Stephen A. Wynn|publisher = PBS|accessdate = 11 June 2013}}</ref> It was the first time Wynn was involved with the design and construction of a casino, and he financed the $630 million project largely with [[high-yield debt|high-yield bond]]s issued by [[Michael Milken]]. The resort's high cost and emphasis on luxury meant that it was considered high risk at the time, though the project ended up being enormously lucrative. The hotel, with its erupting volcano and South Seas theme, ignited a $12 billion building boom on the Strip.<ref name = "PBS"/> Its construction is also considered noteworthy in that Wynn had set a new standard for Vegas resorts, and when it opened The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full-time on all table games.<ref>Arnold M. Knightly (February 25, 2007), ''[http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article.cfm?contentID=164381 Blink and you'll miss him]'', Las Vegas Review-Journal, Page 1E.</ref> Known for its entertainment, the hotel became the exclusive venue for the ''[[Siegfried & Roy]]'' show in 1990, and in 1993 the hotel hosted the [[Cirque du Soleil]] show ''[[Nouvelle Expérience]]''. Afterwards Wynn decided to invite Cirque to create ''[[Mystère (Cirque du Soleil)|Mystère]]'' for the soon-to-be-built [[Treasure Island Hotel and Casino|Treasure Island]] resort next door.<ref name="nextdoor">{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Jun-17-Tue-2003/news/21544998.html|accessdate=June 28, 2008|work=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]|date=June 17, 2003|title=`Mystere' worker recalls uncertain times during show's birth|author=Norm Clarke}}</ref>
Wynn's first major casino on the [[Las Vegas Strip]] was [[The Mirage]], which opened in November 1989.<ref name = "PBS">{{cite web|url= https://www.pbs.org/wttw/ceoexchange/episodes/ceo_swynn.html|title = Biography: Stephen A. Wynn|publisher = PBS|accessdate = 11 June 2013}}</ref> It was the first time Wynn was involved with the design and construction of a casino, and he financed the $630 million project largely with [[high-yield debt|high-yield bond]]s issued by [[Michael Milken]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Experience {{!}} Las Vegas: An Unconventional History {{!}} People & Events {{!}} PBS |url=http://www.shoppbs.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/lasvegas/peopleevents/p_corporate.html |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=www.shoppbs.pbs.org}}</ref> The resort's high cost and emphasis on luxury meant that it was considered high risk at the time, though the project ended up being enormously lucrative. The hotel, with its erupting volcano and South Seas theme, ignited a $12 billion building boom on the Strip.<ref name = "PBS"/> Its construction is also considered noteworthy in that Wynn had set a new standard for Vegas resorts, and when it opened The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full-time on all table games.<ref>Arnold M. Knightly (February 25, 2007), ''[http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article.cfm?contentID=164381 Blink and you'll miss him]'', Las Vegas Review-Journal, Page 1E.</ref> Known for its entertainment, the hotel became the exclusive venue for the ''[[Siegfried & Roy]]'' show in 1990, and in 1993 the hotel hosted the [[Cirque du Soleil]] show ''[[Nouvelle Expérience]]''. Afterwards Wynn decided to invite Cirque to create ''[[Mystère (Cirque du Soleil)|Mystère]]'' for the soon-to-be-built [[Treasure Island Hotel and Casino|Treasure Island]] resort next door.<ref name="nextdoor">{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Jun-17-Tue-2003/news/21544998.html|accessdate=June 28, 2008|work=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]|date=June 17, 2003|title='Mystere' worker recalls uncertain times during show's birth|author=Norm Clarke}}</ref>


Following the completion of [[The Mirage]] in 1989 Steve Wynn changed the name of the company to Mirage Resorts, Inc. Much of the financing for the Mirage was obtained in cooperation with [[Michael Milken]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikemilken.com/fincareer.taf?page=wynn |title=Steve Wynn, Mirage Resorts/Wynn Resorts |author= |date= |work= |publisher=
Following the completion of [[The Mirage]] in 1989 Steve Wynn changed the name of the company to Mirage Resorts, Inc. Much of the financing for the Mirage was obtained in cooperation with [[Michael Milken]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikemilken.com/fincareer.taf?page=wynn |title=Steve Wynn, Mirage Resorts/Wynn Resorts
|accessdate=2009-12-07}}</ref>
|accessdate=2009-12-07}}</ref>


After the Mirage, Wynn built the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, which he opened in the Mirage's old parking lot in 1993, and overall cost $450 million. Intended to be family-friendly, the resort featured pools in front of the casino enacted the Battle of Buccaneer Bay with two full-scaled ships, the pirate ship 'Hispaniola' and the British Royal Navy frigate 'HMS Britannia,' while the inside featured romantic tropical theming. The establishment was the home of the first permanent Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, and the show went on to be voted nine times as the best production show in the city by the ''[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]'' reader's poll.<ref>[http://bestoflasvegas.com/2010/ LVRJ Readers' Poll] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325141249/http://bestoflasvegas.com/2010/ |date=2011-03-25 }}</ref>
After the Mirage, Wynn built the [[Treasure Island Hotel and Casino]], which he opened in the Mirage's old parking lot in 1993, and overall cost $450 million. Intended to be family-friendly, the resort featured pools in front of the casino enacted the Battle of Buccaneer Bay with two full-scaled ships, the pirate ship 'Hispaniola' and the British Royal Navy frigate 'HMS Britannia,' while the inside featured romantic tropical theming and 18th century Caribbean pirate theming. The establishment was the home of the first permanent Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, and the show went on to be voted nine times as the best production show in the city by the ''[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]'' reader's poll.<ref>[http://bestoflasvegas.com/2010/ LVRJ Readers' Poll] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325141249/http://bestoflasvegas.com/2010/ |date=2011-03-25 }}</ref>


In 1994, [[Gold Strike Resorts]] announced a partnership with Mirage Resorts to build a $250-million casino targeted at budget-conscious visitors, on part of the site of the demolished [[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes]] on the Las Vegas Strip.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mirage, Gold Strike sign pact to build a low-roller casino on Las Vegas Strip|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|first=Pauline|last=Yoshihashi|date=May 12, 1994|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=j000000020011029dq5c00cib&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required|via=Factiva}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Monte Carlo debuts|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Dave|last=Palermo|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=lvgs000020011014ds6l008pk&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required|via=Factiva}}</ref>It ultimately opened in 1996, following Gold Strike's merger with [[Circus Circus Enterprises]] as [[Monte Carlo Resort and Casino]] and was built as a joint venture between Mirage Resorts and [[Circus Circus Enterprises]], and cost [[United States dollar|US$]]344 million to build.<ref name=MoneyTime_1998>{{cite news |title=Mikohn to Install 'MoneyTime' (TM) slot Bonus Jackpot System at Monte Carlo in Las Vegas |author= |publisher=PR Newswire |date=8 January 1998 |url= }}</ref> The resort sits on {{convert|44|acre|abbr=on}}, occupied by the [[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes Hotel]] golf course until its demolition in October 1993.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lvol.com/lvoleg/hist/lvhist.html |title=History of Las Vegas |author= |date= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=24 June 2010}}</ref>
In 1994, [[Gold Strike Resorts]] announced a partnership with Mirage Resorts to build a $250-million casino targeted at budget-conscious visitors, on part of the site of the demolished [[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes]] on the Las Vegas Strip.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mirage, Gold Strike sign pact to build a low-roller casino on Las Vegas Strip|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|first=Pauline|last=Yoshihashi|date=May 12, 1994|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=j000000020011029dq5c00cib&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required|via=Factiva}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Monte Carlo debuts|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Dave|last=Palermo|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=lvgs000020011014ds6l008pk&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required|via=Factiva}}</ref> It ultimately opened in 1996, following Gold Strike's merger with [[Circus Circus Enterprises]] as [[Monte Carlo Resort and Casino]] and was built as a joint venture between Mirage Resorts and [[Circus Circus Enterprises]], and cost [[United States dollar|US$]]344 million to build.<ref name=MoneyTime_1998>{{cite news |title=Mikohn to Install 'MoneyTime' (TM) slot Bonus Jackpot System at Monte Carlo in Las Vegas |publisher=PR Newswire |date=8 January 1998 }}</ref> The resort sits on {{convert|44|acre|abbr=on}}, occupied by the [[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes Hotel]] golf course until its demolition in October 1993.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lvol.com/lvoleg/hist/lvhist.html |title=History of Las Vegas |accessdate=24 June 2010}}</ref>


In 1995, the company proposed to build the [[List_of_Atlantic_City_casinos_that_never_opened#Le_Jardin|Le Jardin]] hotel-casino in the marina area if the state of New Jersey built a road that connected to the hotel-casino. The company had also agreed to allow [[Circus Circus Enterprises]] and [[Boyd Gaming]] to build casinos on the site, but later reneged on the agreement. While the road, called the [[Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector]], was eventually built, Le Jardin was cancelled after the company was acquired in 2000 by [[MGM Grand Inc.]], which later built the [[Borgata]], in a joint venture with [[Boyd Gaming]], on the site.<ref>[http://www.atlanticcitytripping.com/cityboom/blog/2/the-tale-of-mgm-grand-atlantic-city-borgata-and-le-jardin/ The Tale of MGM Grand Atlantic City, Borgata and Le Jardin]</ref><ref>When Atlantic City projects had to be big, so were the ideas ... and the failures ''The Press of Atlantic City'' May 14, 2010 [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/when-atlantic-city-projects-had-to-be-big-so-were/article_ef786d9c-5f57-11df-8887-001cc4c03286.html?mode=jqm]</ref><ref>Mirage Reshuffles Deal in Mega-Resort Plan ''Ocala Star-Banner'' January 21, 1998 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19980121&id=-PBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3599,3074777]</ref>
In 1995, the company proposed to build the [[List of Atlantic City casinos that never opened#Le Jardin|Le Jardin]] hotel-casino in the marina area if the state of New Jersey built a road that connected to the hotel-casino. The company had also agreed to allow [[Circus Circus Enterprises]] and [[Boyd Gaming]] to build casinos on the site, but later reneged on the agreement. While the road, called the [[Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector]], was eventually built, Le Jardin was cancelled after the company was acquired in 2000 by [[MGM Grand Inc.]], which later built the [[Borgata]], in a joint venture with [[Boyd Gaming]], on the site.<ref>[http://www.atlanticcitytripping.com/cityboom/blog/2/the-tale-of-mgm-grand-atlantic-city-borgata-and-le-jardin/ The Tale of MGM Grand Atlantic City, Borgata and Le Jardin]</ref><ref>When Atlantic City projects had to be big, so were the ideas ... and the failures ''The Press of Atlantic City'' May 14, 2010 [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/when-atlantic-city-projects-had-to-be-big-so-were/article_ef786d9c-5f57-11df-8887-001cc4c03286.html?mode=jqm]</ref><ref>Mirage Reshuffles Deal in Mega-Resort Plan ''Ocala Star-Banner'' January 21, 1998 [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19980121&id=-PBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3599,3074777]</ref>


[[Boardwalk Hotel and Casino]] was later acquired by Mirage Resorts in 1997.
[[Boardwalk Hotel and Casino]] was later acquired by Mirage Resorts in 1997.
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{{See also|Bellagio (resort)|Beau Rivage (Mississippi)}}
{{See also|Bellagio (resort)|Beau Rivage (Mississippi)}}
[[File:Bellagio Fountains at night.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Wynn's company Mirage Resorts oversaw the construction of the [[Bellagio (resort)|Bellagio]], which at the time was the most expensive hotel in the world. Like Wynn's previous resorts, the Bellagio features an extensive water show on the Strip.]]
[[File:Bellagio Fountains at night.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Wynn's company Mirage Resorts oversaw the construction of the [[Bellagio (resort)|Bellagio]], which at the time was the most expensive hotel in the world. Like Wynn's previous resorts, the Bellagio features an extensive water show on the Strip.]]
In October 1998, Wynn opened the even more opulent [[Bellagio (resort)|Bellagio]], a $1.6 billion resort considered among the world’s most spectacular hotels.<ref name="LAT">{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/custompublishing/vegas/la-swim-class-20120605-001,0,6107459.photo|title = The spectacular fountain-fed pool at Bellagio|publisher = Los Angeles Times|accessdate = 11 June 2013}}</ref> The architect was [[Jon Jerde]] of The Jerde Partnerships, and construction was handled by Mirage Resorts, Inc. When built, the Bellagio was the most expensive hotel in the world. In front of the hotel are the Fountains of Bellagio—shooting fountains choreographed to music that “dance” on the hotel’s 8.5 acre man-made lake—which are now considered Las Vegas landmarks. The Bellagio is credited with starting a new spree of luxurious developments in Las Vegas. Among these developments include [[The Venetian (Las Vegas)|The Venetian]], [[Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino|Mandalay Bay]], and [[Paris Las Vegas]].<ref name = "ILA">{{cite web|url=http://inlandarchitectmag.com/pdf/Bellagio.pdf|title = Big, Bigger, and Bellagio|publisher = Inland Architecture Magazine|accessdate = 11 June 2013}}</ref>
In October 1998, Wynn opened the even more opulent [[Bellagio (resort)|Bellagio]], a $1.6 billion resort considered among the world’s most spectacular hotels.<ref name="LAT">{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/custompublishing/vegas/la-swim-class-20120605-001,0,6107459.photo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823184724/http://www.latimes.com/custompublishing/vegas/la-swim-class-20120605-001,0,6107459.photo|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 August 2012|title = The spectacular fountain-fed pool at Bellagio|work = Los Angeles Times|accessdate = 11 June 2013}}</ref> The architect was [[Jon Jerde]] of The Jerde Partnerships, and construction was handled by Mirage Resorts, Inc. When built, the Bellagio was the most expensive hotel in the world. In front of the hotel are the Fountains of Bellagio—shooting fountains choreographed to music that “dance” on the hotel’s 8.5 acre man-made lake—which are now considered Las Vegas landmarks. The Bellagio is credited with starting a new spree of luxurious developments in Las Vegas. Among these developments include [[The Venetian (Las Vegas)|The Venetian]], [[Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino|Mandalay Bay]], and [[Paris Las Vegas]].<ref name = "ILA">{{cite web|url = http://inlandarchitectmag.com/pdf/Bellagio.pdf|title = Big, Bigger, and Bellagio|publisher = Inland Architecture Magazine|accessdate = 11 June 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120304074530/http://inlandarchitectmag.com/pdf/Bellagio.pdf|archive-date = 4 March 2012|url-status = dead}}</ref>


Wynn brought Mirage Resorts’ style to [[Biloxi]], [[Mississippi]] in 1999, where he oversaw development of the 1,835-room [[Beau Rivage (Mississippi)|Beau Rivage]]. Themed to blend Mediterranean beauty with Southern hospitality, the resort was part of a building boom that established Biloxi as a regional tourism center along the [[Mississippi Gulf Coast]]. ''Beau Rivage'' was originally the name Wynn wanted to give the Bellagio, though he had decided on ''Bellagio'' after vacationing in [[Bellagio (Italian region)|the Italian region of the same name]].<ref name = "TFL">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mirage+Resorts+renames+newest+Las+Vegas+resort+Bellagio.-a017247424|title = Mirage Resorts renames newest Las Vegas resort Bellagio|publisher = Business Wire| accessdate = 11 June 2013}}</ref> Beau Rivage opened as the largest hotel-casino to be built outside Nevada.<ref name="swbwnnlead">
Wynn brought Mirage Resorts’ style to [[Biloxi]], [[Mississippi]] in 1999, where he oversaw development of the 1,835-room [[Beau Rivage (Mississippi)|Beau Rivage]]. Themed to blend Mediterranean beauty with Southern hospitality, the resort was part of a building boom that established Biloxi as a regional tourism center along the [[Mississippi Gulf Coast]]. ''Beau Rivage'' was originally the name Wynn wanted to give the Bellagio, though he had decided on ''Bellagio'' after vacationing in [[Bellagio (Italian region)|the Italian region of the same name]].<ref name = "TFL">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mirage+Resorts+renames+newest+Las+Vegas+resort+Bellagio.-a017247424|title = Mirage Resorts renames newest Las Vegas resort Bellagio|publisher = Business Wire| accessdate = 11 June 2013}}</ref> Beau Rivage opened as the largest hotel-casino to be built outside Nevada.<ref name="swbwnnlead">
{{cite news| title =Steve Wynn | first =AD| last =Hopkins| url =http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/steve-wynn| newspaper =Las Vegas Review-Journal| publisher =| date =September 12, 1999| accessdate = 2015-05-27}}</ref> The casino was initially located on a series of floating barges as required by local law confining all casinos to mobile marine vessels at the time of the resort's construction. The hotel, restaurants, and associated facilities were constructed on land.<ref>[http://www.beaurivage.com/ Beau Rivage's Website]</ref>
{{cite news| title =Steve Wynn | first =AD| last =Hopkins| url =http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/steve-wynn| newspaper =Las Vegas Review-Journal| date =September 12, 1999| accessdate = 2015-05-27}}</ref> The casino was initially located on a series of floating barges as required by local law confining all casinos to mobile marine vessels at the time of the resort's construction. The hotel, restaurants, and associated facilities were constructed on land.<ref>[http://www.beaurivage.com/ Beau Rivage's Website]</ref>


The company was acquired in 2000 by [[MGM Grand Inc.]], which then changed its name to MGM Mirage, for $6.4 billion, including $2 billion in assumed debt, after an initial all-cash offer of $17 and a final offer of $21. The company was majority owned by Wynn.
The company was acquired in 2000 by [[MGM Grand Inc.]], which then changed its name to MGM Mirage, for $6.4 billion, including $2 billion in assumed debt, after an initial all-cash offer of $17 per share and a final offer of $21 per share. The company was majority owned by Wynn.


==Hotel and casinos owned at acquisition==
==Hotel and casinos owned at acquisition==
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* [[Golden Nugget Laughlin]]
* [[Golden Nugget Laughlin]]
* Announced [[List of Atlantic City casinos that never opened#Le Jardin|Le Jardin]] in [[Atlantic City]]. This turned into a 50% interest in what is now [[Borgata]].
* Announced [[List of Atlantic City casinos that never opened#Le Jardin|Le Jardin]] in [[Atlantic City]]. This turned into a 50% interest in what is now [[Borgata]].
* [[Park MGM]] (50% [[joint venture]] with [[Mandalay Resort Group|Circus Circus Enterprises]])
* [[Park MGM|Monte Carlo]] (50% [[joint venture]] with [[Mandalay Resort Group|Circus Circus Enterprises]])
* [[The Mirage]]
* [[The Mirage]]
* [[Treasure Island Hotel and Casino]]
* [[Treasure Island Hotel and Casino]]
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* [[Golden Nugget Atlantic City (1980-1987)|Golden Nugget Atlantic City]]
* [[Golden Nugget Atlantic City (1980-1987)|Golden Nugget Atlantic City]]
* [[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes]]
* [[Dunes (hotel and casino)|Dunes]]

==See also==
* {{portal-inline|Nevada}}


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==

{{Wynn Resorts}}
{{MGM Resorts International}}
{{MGM Resorts International}}


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[[Category:Defunct companies based in Nevada]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Nevada]]
[[Category:Gambling companies established in 1973]]
[[Category:Gambling companies established in 1973]]
[[Category:Hospitality companies established in 1973]]
[[Category:Gambling companies disestablished in 2000]]
[[Category:Gambling companies disestablished in 2000]]
[[Category:Defunct gambling companies]]
[[Category:Defunct gambling companies]]
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[[Category:Hospitality companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Hospitality companies of the United States]]
[[Category:MGM Resorts International]]
[[Category:MGM Resorts International]]
[[Category:Steve Wynn]]

Revision as of 22:48, 20 May 2024

This article is about the entity formerly known as Golden Nugget Companies. For the current company, see Golden Nugget, Inc.
Mirage Resorts
FormerlyGolden Nugget Companies (1973–1989)
Company typeDivision
IndustryCasino
Founded1973; 51 years ago (1973)
FounderSteve Wynn
Defunct2000; 24 years ago (2000)
FateMerged with MGM Grand, Inc.
SuccessorMGM Resorts International
Headquarters
Las Vegas, Nevada
,
U.S.
OwnerGolden Nugget, Inc.

Mirage Resorts (formerly Golden Nugget Companies) was an American company that owned and operated hotel-casinos. It was acquired by MGM Grand, Inc. in 2000, forming MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts International).

History

Golden Nugget Companies Inc. was formed by Steve Wynn in 1973. The company was created after Wynn acquired majority control of the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 1980, the company opened the Golden Nugget Atlantic City in New Jersey but in 1987, Wynn's and the company's interest in Atlantic City did not last very long due to frustration with state gaming regulators. The property was sold to Bally's Entertainment, and eventually became Bally's Grand Hotel and Casino.[1]

In 1989, the company acquired the Nevada Club casino in Laughlin, Nevada, and re-branded it as the Golden Nugget Laughlin.

The Mirage and Treasure Island (1990s)

See also: The Mirage, Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, and Bellagio (resort)
Wynn's first major Strip casino was The Mirage, which was the first time Wynn was personally involved with the design and construction of a casino.

Wynn's first major casino on the Las Vegas Strip was The Mirage, which opened in November 1989.[2] It was the first time Wynn was involved with the design and construction of a casino, and he financed the $630 million project largely with high-yield bonds issued by Michael Milken.[3] The resort's high cost and emphasis on luxury meant that it was considered high risk at the time, though the project ended up being enormously lucrative. The hotel, with its erupting volcano and South Seas theme, ignited a $12 billion building boom on the Strip.[2] Its construction is also considered noteworthy in that Wynn had set a new standard for Vegas resorts, and when it opened The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full-time on all table games.[4] Known for its entertainment, the hotel became the exclusive venue for the Siegfried & Roy show in 1990, and in 1993 the hotel hosted the Cirque du Soleil show Nouvelle Expérience. Afterwards Wynn decided to invite Cirque to create Mystère for the soon-to-be-built Treasure Island resort next door.[5]

Following the completion of The Mirage in 1989 Steve Wynn changed the name of the company to Mirage Resorts, Inc. Much of the financing for the Mirage was obtained in cooperation with Michael Milken.[6]

After the Mirage, Wynn built the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino, which he opened in the Mirage's old parking lot in 1993, and overall cost $450 million. Intended to be family-friendly, the resort featured pools in front of the casino enacted the Battle of Buccaneer Bay with two full-scaled ships, the pirate ship 'Hispaniola' and the British Royal Navy frigate 'HMS Britannia,' while the inside featured romantic tropical theming and 18th century Caribbean pirate theming. The establishment was the home of the first permanent Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas, and the show went on to be voted nine times as the best production show in the city by the Las Vegas Review-Journal reader's poll.[7]

In 1994, Gold Strike Resorts announced a partnership with Mirage Resorts to build a $250-million casino targeted at budget-conscious visitors, on part of the site of the demolished Dunes on the Las Vegas Strip.[8][9] It ultimately opened in 1996, following Gold Strike's merger with Circus Circus Enterprises as Monte Carlo Resort and Casino and was built as a joint venture between Mirage Resorts and Circus Circus Enterprises, and cost US$344 million to build.[10] The resort sits on 44 acres (18 ha), occupied by the Dunes Hotel golf course until its demolition in October 1993.[11]

In 1995, the company proposed to build the Le Jardin hotel-casino in the marina area if the state of New Jersey built a road that connected to the hotel-casino. The company had also agreed to allow Circus Circus Enterprises and Boyd Gaming to build casinos on the site, but later reneged on the agreement. While the road, called the Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector, was eventually built, Le Jardin was cancelled after the company was acquired in 2000 by MGM Grand Inc., which later built the Borgata, in a joint venture with Boyd Gaming, on the site.[12][13][14]

Boardwalk Hotel and Casino was later acquired by Mirage Resorts in 1997.

Bellagio and Beau Rivage debuts (1998–1999)

See also: Bellagio (resort) and Beau Rivage (Mississippi)
Wynn's company Mirage Resorts oversaw the construction of the Bellagio, which at the time was the most expensive hotel in the world. Like Wynn's previous resorts, the Bellagio features an extensive water show on the Strip.

In October 1998, Wynn opened the even more opulent Bellagio, a $1.6 billion resort considered among the world’s most spectacular hotels.[15] The architect was Jon Jerde of The Jerde Partnerships, and construction was handled by Mirage Resorts, Inc. When built, the Bellagio was the most expensive hotel in the world. In front of the hotel are the Fountains of Bellagio—shooting fountains choreographed to music that “dance” on the hotel’s 8.5 acre man-made lake—which are now considered Las Vegas landmarks. The Bellagio is credited with starting a new spree of luxurious developments in Las Vegas. Among these developments include The Venetian, Mandalay Bay, and Paris Las Vegas.[16]

Wynn brought Mirage Resorts’ style to Biloxi, Mississippi in 1999, where he oversaw development of the 1,835-room Beau Rivage. Themed to blend Mediterranean beauty with Southern hospitality, the resort was part of a building boom that established Biloxi as a regional tourism center along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Beau Rivage was originally the name Wynn wanted to give the Bellagio, though he had decided on Bellagio after vacationing in the Italian region of the same name.[17] Beau Rivage opened as the largest hotel-casino to be built outside Nevada.[18] The casino was initially located on a series of floating barges as required by local law confining all casinos to mobile marine vessels at the time of the resort's construction. The hotel, restaurants, and associated facilities were constructed on land.[19]

The company was acquired in 2000 by MGM Grand Inc., which then changed its name to MGM Mirage, for $6.4 billion, including $2 billion in assumed debt, after an initial all-cash offer of $17 per share and a final offer of $21 per share. The company was majority owned by Wynn.

Hotel and casinos owned at acquisition

Previous properties

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bally Signs Agreement to Buy Golden Nugget". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  2. ^ a b "Biography: Stephen A. Wynn". PBS. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  3. ^ "American Experience | Las Vegas: An Unconventional History | People & Events | PBS". www.shoppbs.pbs.org. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  4. ^ Arnold M. Knightly (February 25, 2007), Blink and you'll miss him, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Page 1E.
  5. ^ Norm Clarke (June 17, 2003). "'Mystere' worker recalls uncertain times during show's birth". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 28, 2008.
  6. ^ "Steve Wynn, Mirage Resorts/Wynn Resorts". Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  7. ^ LVRJ Readers' Poll Archived 2011-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Yoshihashi, Pauline (May 12, 1994). "Mirage, Gold Strike sign pact to build a low-roller casino on Las Vegas Strip". Wall Street Journal.  – via Factiva (subscription required)
  9. ^ Palermo, Dave. "Monte Carlo debuts". Las Vegas Review-Journal.  – via Factiva (subscription required)
  10. ^ "Mikohn to Install 'MoneyTime' (TM) slot Bonus Jackpot System at Monte Carlo in Las Vegas". PR Newswire. 8 January 1998.
  11. ^ "History of Las Vegas". Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  12. ^ The Tale of MGM Grand Atlantic City, Borgata and Le Jardin
  13. ^ When Atlantic City projects had to be big, so were the ideas ... and the failures The Press of Atlantic City May 14, 2010 [1]
  14. ^ Mirage Reshuffles Deal in Mega-Resort Plan Ocala Star-Banner January 21, 1998 [2]
  15. ^ "The spectacular fountain-fed pool at Bellagio". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  16. ^ "Big, Bigger, and Bellagio" (PDF). Inland Architecture Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  17. ^ "Mirage Resorts renames newest Las Vegas resort Bellagio". Business Wire. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  18. ^ Hopkins, AD (September 12, 1999). "Steve Wynn". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2015-05-27.
  19. ^ Beau Rivage's Website
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