I see a photo of a guitar tower rising from the Strip. I assume I'm looking at the Hard Rock hotel. How far along is it? Will it be larger than the one down here in Hollywood, Florida? The neck of the guitar in Hollywood is not long enough but they have dual laser lights that shine above it to make it look longer at night. Same plans for the LAS version?
Yes, the Hard Rock Guitar Tower in Hollywood, Florida, part of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, directly inspired the one under construction on the former Mirage site. However, the Las Vegas version is scaled up significantly for the Strip.
Here’s a clear side-by-side comparison.
Both are guitar-shaped towers with a glass facade resembling back-to-back electric guitars (Florida's is explicitly Gibson Les Paul style). And yes, the Vegas version will feature extensive programmable LED lighting to mimic guitar strings, plus high-powered light beams projecting from the “neck” thousands of feet into the sky.
Now for the differences. Florida's tower is 450 feet tall. Las Vegas' is 660 feet; some descriptions call it upwards of 700 feet with features. Thus, the Hard Rock Las Vegas tower will be roughly 1.5 times taller. Of course, that means more rooms, but not by much; Florida's has 636 rooms, while Nevada's will house 675, on average slightly large than its sister's, with much larger suites. Also, the first five floors will house lobbies, amenities, etc.
We should note that the sheer size and prominent placement of the tower have raised a bit of a fuss from locals and visitors, who are calling it an "eyesore." Others say it's a "bold game-changer." We can see both points of view, though we're not, like some, nostalgic for the volcano, which the guitar tower erased. Also, it emphasizes the Hard Rock's rock-and-roll aesthetic.
As for progress, on May 2, a mere three weeks ago, Hard Rock hosted a topping-off ceremony Friday to commemorate the installation of the final beam on the guitar tower. So the total shape and height of the hotel are established. Construction on the overall project is, reportedly, on budget and on schedule for a late 2027 opening.
