EDITORIAL: Steve Wynn resigns

Steve Wynn went down in defiance, but he nevertheless went down. The 76-year-old casino mogul — the father of today’s Strip — became the latest high-profile casualty of the national cultural upheaval involving sexual standards and behavior.

“In the last couple of weeks, I have found myself the focus of an avalanche of negative publicity,” he said in a statement explaining his decision to resign Tuesday as chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts. “As I have reflected upon the environment this has created — one in which a rush to judgment takes precedence over everything else, including the facts — I have reached the conclusion I cannot continue to be effective in my current roles.”

Those who came forth to tell their stories of being victimized by Mr. Wynn expressed relief. “I’m hoping for change that my daughter, your daughter, you would never have to go through the kind of stuff that we went through,” said Mary Cunningham, a former Mirage cocktail waitress. “It was very degrading, to say the least.”

History must render judgment on how badly Mr. Wynn’s legacy will suffer. But it does not diminish the #MeToo movement to acknowledge that — for all his flaws — Mr. Wynn was a visionary who will always be intricately tied to the history of Las Vegas and its lifeblood industry.

From humble beginnings, Mr. Wynn become a transformational figure who brought high-end luxury to the Strip experience, creating massive resorts buoyed by showy features such as a volcano, dancing fountains and even a pirate ship complete with a staged battle.

The Mirage, which Mr. Wynn opened in 1989 to much skepticism, completely revamped the atmosphere of Las Vegas Boulevard, paving the way for megaresorts and industry consolidation. The resulting construction and gaming boom provided a multimillion-dollar tax bonanza for the state and Clark County. His subsequent casino endeavors met — and continue to meet — the highest of standards.

Mr. Wynn was a powerful man who helped turn Southern Nevada into what it is today. His ignoble demise provides many lessons — but any snapshot of the world-famous Strip will forever evoke his likeness.