Located 80 miles north of Los Angeles in California’s Southern San Joaquin Valley, the $600 million project is a multi-phase investment designed to transform the region through hospitality, entertainment and economic development.
The destination has created more than 1,000 permanent jobs and over 5,000 construction-related roles, representing the largest private hospitality investment in Kern County’s history.
Image: Credit Makenzie Beeney Photography on behalf of Hard Rock International
The opening was celebrated with Hard Rock’s iconic Guitar Smash ceremony, featuring a colour guard presentation, tribal blessing, and a $100,000 charitable donation before the doors officially opened at noon.
“Today is a historic day for the Tejon Indian Tribe and for Kern County,” said Chairman Octavio Escobedo III of the Tejon Indian Tribe. “This destination represents our tribe’s vision, resilience and longstanding commitment to creating opportunity for future generations. We are proud to see this project come to life and to celebrate this moment alongside our partners and our community.”
As part of the celebration, multi-platinum country artist Brett Young headlined an exclusive live performance. Guests enjoyed live entertainment, photo-opportunities for the first slot pulls and table bets, first access to gaming, culinary experiences, and the opportunity to be part of this historic moment for the region.
Hard Rock Casino Tejon features 150,000 square feet of gaming space, including:
Over 2,000 state-of-the-art slot machines
More than 50 table games including Blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker and Baccarat
VIP high-limit rooms for elevated gaming
Full access to the Unity by Hard Rock™ global loyalty rewards programme
Hard Rock Casino Tejon offers a mix of established Hard Rock favourites and brand-new culinary concepts making their debut at the property. The globally-recognised Hard Rock Cafe anchors the lineup with classic American fare and music memorabilia. The Marketplace Food Hall brings together fast-casual outlets including Constant Grind, Street Tacos, The Roost and Brick’d Italian Kitchen.
New to Tejon: Deep Cut Steaks | Seafood (premium USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, live entertainment) and YouYu (contemporary Asian cuisine inspired by Mandarin, Cantonese, Szechwan and Vietnamese traditions). These additions reflect Hard Rock’s commitment to evolving its food and beverage offerings while honouring the brand’s signature hospitality.
Phase II of the project will introduce a 400-room hotel and the 2,800-seat Hard Rock Live venue, designed to host concerts, performances and sporting events. These additions will further position Hard Rock Casino Tejon as a destination for both entertainment and leisure.
“Hard Rock Casino Tejon is only the beginning,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming. “Phase II will bring the full Hard Rock experience to life with a world-class hotel and Hard Rock Live entertainment venue that will make Kern County a premier destination for travellers, artists and fans from across California and beyond.”
The property is located less than 15 miles south of Bakersfield, on Tejon Indian tribal land in Mettler, at the southernmost tip of California’s Southern San Joaquin Valley and nestled near the base of the historic Grapevine Mountain Pass that connects Southern California to the Central Valley.
Hard Rock International is one of the world’s most recognised entertainment companies, with venues in nearly 80 countries spanning more than 300 properties including hotels, casinos, Rock Shops®, live performance locations and cafés. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia. The Unity by Hard Rock global loyalty programme rewards members for doing what they love across participating properties.
In addition, Hard Rock Digital spotlights the sports betting and iGaming experience with products remixed in the spirit of Hard Rock for players worldwide.
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