The Mirage volcano blasts off on the Las Vegas Strip
Get ready for a rumble. It erupts several times nightly on the Las Vegas Strip, thanks to the newly renovated iconic Mirage volcano. Located in front of the Mirage since it opened in 1989, the free attraction is now an all-new audio-video spectacular.
Having debuted in December 2008 at an approximate cost of $25 million, the attraction incorporates the talents of WET Design, which constructed the original volcano. Legendary Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and Indian tabla sensation Zakir Hussain have created a modern and interpretive soundtrack for the volcano attraction. Every hour, the Mirage's volcano springs to fiery life amidst an unforgettable musical accompaniment.
“I’ve never birthed a volcano before,” Hart said. “We needed to think about what a volcano is all about.
"We started with mythology and what the emotion of a volcano is. Ultimately, the spirit of the volcano came down to magic and power. It’s dangerous and spiritual."
The attractionuses instruments from around the world, Hart said, "We also got permission to use real Tibetan chants because in the midst of danger, there has to be hope, as well as prayer, sacrifice and dance.”
In this new version, lava spills from the front of the volcano and when it gets to the bottom of the lagoon. All the sounds of the volcano erupting and the magma flowing, as well as the sound of rainfall, are done with drums and other percussion instruments.
Helping to direct the lava flow, 120 fireball-throwing devices called "Fireshooters" propel large fireballs more than 12 feet into the air. The Fireshooters also allow flames to flare over the surface of the lagoon.
Rock terraces on the volcano make the attraction look more natural and organic. The show comes right up to the sidewalk and the new Meyer sound system actually rocks people back on their heels.
The free attraction has an approximate running time of four-and-a-half minutes, making the show twice as long as the previous version. Water shoots 120 feet into the air out of the volcano’s cone -- 50 feet higher than before. The Giant Fireshooter completes the show with a fire eruption 60 feet into the air.
Now that’s definitely taking things up a notch.
- by Bobbie Katz, Las Vegas Reporter for HelloMetro
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