Hard Rock Casino hits key milestone in Kern County

14 Jun

Hard Rock Casino hits key milestone in Kern County

An artist's rendering of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino planned by the Tejon Indian Tribe south of Bakersfield.

published on June 14, 2022 - 12:55 PM
Written by

The Tejon Indian Tribe has reached a key milestone in its plan to build a $600 million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, creating more than 4,900 jobs at the base of the Grapevine south of Bakersfield, according to the tribe.

The tribe has signed a tribal-state gaming compact with Gov. Gavin Newsom allowing it to operate up to 3,000 slot machines. Newsom also determined that the land to be held in trust for the tribe by the federal government is eligible for gaming.

In his announcement of the signing, Newsom said the project would directly create more than 1,000 construction and 2,000 permanent high-wage jobs.

In a statement, Chair of the Tejon Indian Tribe Octavio Escobedo III thanked state Sen. Melissa Hurtado and the bipartisan delegation of Kern County lawmakers for their support.

“From the start of our relationship with the United States government in 1851, our Tribe has fought for a homeland for our people, Escobedo said. “Today, Governor Newsom made that dream a reality by moving the Tribe closer to the promise of self-determination through economic development and prosperity for its 1,200 members.”

The Tejon tribal land will be located about 25 minutes south of Bakersfield off Highway 99 near the 166 Mettler exit. Fifty-two of the 320 acres of the site to be taken into trust will be devoted to the resort hotel and casino, while the remainder of the land will be used for other tribal purposes including administrative offices, a health care facility, housing and supporting infrastructure for tribal members.

“This is a historic day for the Tejon Indian Tribe and we congratulate them on today’s announcement,” said Chairman of Florida-based Hard Rock International Jim Allen. “We look forward to working with the State, the Tribe and Kern County officials to create over 4,900 jobs as we bring our unique brand of casino entertainment to the region.”