Hello everybody!

I apologize for my long delay in providing you updates on our #SaveTheVolcano progress -- but I just HAD to let you know about this:

This week our awesome Las Vegas native Alexis Alvarado texted me an article from Travel Weekly by Paul Szydelko that begins with a glowing review of the "fiery volcano" and The Mirage itself.

First, Paul's good

In his article's introduction, Paul emphasizes that The Volcano was an "instant classic" when The Mirage opened in 1989, and was the first "free spectacle" that began the modern-era Las Vegas boom of hotel-casinos that offered free entertainment -- not merely slot machines, sports books, and card rooms -- to attract visitors and local residents to their properties. He highlights WET Design's creation of the iconic and unique "150 Fireshooters" that "propel fireballs" which are choreographed to music composed by two master musicians, including The Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart.

Paul continues by recalling the "sweet smell of pina colada" inside The Mirage, and quotes Anthony Curtis of LasVegasAdvisor.com on how, in his words, "The Volcano said, 'Come see the cool things we have for you'" when the only themed hotel-casinos in Las Vegas were (obviously) about the Western frontier and the desert -- not on the ironic fact that the Las Vegas Strip was built atop an underground aquifer, the area's original source of clean water, which human settlers there 10,000 years to live and eventually established the City of Las Vegas (Spanish for "The Meadows") and Clark County's economy in February 1909.

Basically, The Mirage -- and later, Bellagio and Treasure Island -- used the irony of extravagant use of water in an arid desert to become the properties' main selling point of attraction (aside from its gambling halls and hotel rooms, of course).

(Fun fact: The idea to create The Volcano was Elaine Wynn's idea! She agreed with Steve that, in the words of UNLV history professor Michael Green, he "believed the Strip needed attractions more than it needed another casino.")

... Then, Paul goes bad and ugly

After his positive review, Paul somehow decides to get it wrong by quoting Scott Roeben, "a longtime Vegas blogger," (whom, by the way, neither I nor anyone I know has heard of). In Scott's opinion, families visiting Las Vegas don't gamble or eat or drink and also enjoy free entertainment.

Scott continues his negative opinion, saying that "quality customers with disposable income, customers to avail themselves of the revenue-generating aspects of a casino-resort" and that, as Scott says in Paul's words, free attractions like The Volcano -- and, by the way, the dozens of daily performances of The Fountains of Bellagio, the live acts at Circus Circus and the free shows at the many other off-Strip hotel-casinos -- are "a hard cost that contributes nothing to the bottom line."

Seriously, Scott?

Let me tell you, my friend: You're off the mark. I seriously doubt you're a Las Vegas resident. If you were, you'd understand just how wrong you are about "the overall people who understand how Las Vegas works." How do you know they haven't been "weeping" and "gnashing" their teeth since MGM and Hard Rock's announcement last year? Have you even spent much time in Las Vegas, or do you merely blog about it? Have you met any of the executives? Have you spoken with the showgirls? Have you had chats with the street crowd? Can you tell me whether most of them come from the midwest or the east coast? Have you bought a beer from a sidewalk merchant? Have you watched the guy who sets up along The LINQ Promenade and spray-paints amazing works of art in the middle of the winter? Have you roamed in and decided to randomly visit the tattoo parlor? Have you paid for a ride on The High Roller and enjoyed some drinks with your friends? Have you ridden the LINQ Zipline? Have you had a meal at the In-N-Out Burger or gone into the ice bar?

Do you understand that all of these non-free attractions are across the street from The Mirage Volcano??

Do you really think the people who become amazed by The Mirage's Volcano show don't frequently wander onto the promenade -- or any other Caesars or MGM property mid-Strip -- and gamble and eat and drink there?

Dude...

Every time I have visited and filmed The Mirage Volcano's show, I see hundreds of adults and dozens of children on their parents' shoulders, in strollers, playing with glow sticks, oohing and aahing, and asking me and Alexis whether The Volcano is a real volcano. (Yes, sir, we both have had this question asked to us like 100 times in the past year.)

You're simply off the mark.

Where we do agree with Scott and Paul

There is one major point you make which Alexis and I both have frequently discussed and want to bring to the attention of MGM and Hard Rock International's CEO Paul Allen:

Relative to other free on-Strip entertainment, The Volcano does need a significant refurbishment. It was state-of-the-art in 1989, and it was again made to be state-of-the-art 15 years ago. But it's now 2022.

One could make an argument that, given the frequency and constancy of the Las Vegas Strip's upgrading, The Mirage Volcano is "cheesy and outdated."

BUT make no mistake: "cheesy and outdated" does not mean it is a "hard cost that contributes nothing to the bottom line," nor does it mean it doesn't connect deeply with the socioeconomic demographic of "quality customers with disposable income, ready to avail themselves of the revenue-generating aspects of a casino-resort."

On that point, you're dead wrong. And I put that politely, as a person whom has spent years of residence in Las Vegas, has personally interacted with 1,000s of its people, has spend around 5,000 hours documenting and enjoying Las Vegas's gaming and entertainment, has a YouTube channel with 150,000+ views of videos of Las Vegas's free performances, and began what has become the most-viewed and most-signed petition on Earth to #SaveTheVolcano.

Even you admit that "every time [you've seen The Volcano's show], the takeaway is the intensity, especially the heat it gives off when you're watching from the sidewalk." (By the way, the viewing area near the driveway-entrance to The Mirage is also a great vantage point.)

In your own words: "After all these years, it's still impressive."

So, let's make it MORE impressive

I appreciate the real fact that neither MGM nor Hard Rock have made any further official statements since December of last year (and in February of this year, when the Las Vegas area's local media here, here, and here, and even Bloomberg here wrote about the story.

If I were contemplating a multi-billion dollar acquisition and refurbishment of an iconic property -- and among my plans was to "demolish" an iconic work of art imagined by the area's perhaps-most famous family, which built the very property I want to acquire -- and in the span of a few months, a hugely negative reaction appears by locals and visitors alike familiar with the property and its artistic features -- I would probably, at the very least, reconsider my plans further, before I make any further public statements.

Guys -- and I'm speaking to "the overall people" with degrees of influence over the future of The Mirage and The Volcano -- you need to reconsider the initial plan to "demolish" it.

Alexis and I have come up with a few brilliant alternative plans for the property's front area. We honestly would love to share them with you, and to express the personal sentiment of the global audience of thousands of people with whom we have interaction, have observed along The Strip, and have gathered signatures from.

We are enthusiastic because we know we're correct on this. There is so much great opportunity to preserve this artistic masterpiece as a draw to what will be the hottest new property on The Strip. But without a conversation, the odds aren't as good -- and as an entrepreneur, I know this.

If you are as enthusiastic about the potential for Hard Rock International to establish itself as a truly cosmopolitan-global brand, reach out to us at savethevolcanovegas@gmail.com or by social media to our Twitter account @SaveTheVolcano.

We just want a win-win-win situation for everybody. Let's go!!

Sincerely,

Alden Gillespy, aka Shadowcat Pictures
Alexis Alvarado, aka Adventure Fluffs