The Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock International have begun work on a $725 million expansion at their California casino, marking the start of a project that will turn the property into a full-service resort. The ceremony to mark the start of the project took place on 21 October, attended by tribal leadership, company executives, and local officials. Construction starts immediately at the site in Mettler, where the partners plan to add a 406-room hotel tower to the existing casino facility.
New amenities and gaming space
The expanded resort will include a wide range of additions, according to the project announcement. The property will feature two resort-style pools with cabanas and daybeds. On the food and drink side, the development will bring a Council Oak Steaks & Seafood restaurant, two more outlets in The Marketplace, and a new Center Bar. The casino floor will see 900 additional slot machines, bringing the total to 3,000 machines once the project is complete.
A multi-use convention space will handle events, offering three smaller meeting rooms, a pre-function area, and an outdoor lawn. The hotel itself will offer king and double-queen rooms, with 119 suites among the total. Diners can already choose between YouYu, Deep Cut Steak | Seafood, The Marketplace, and a Hard Rock Cafe. This mix of dining, gaming, and meeting space aims to turn the property into a destination for visitors across California and beyond.
Economic impact and timeline
Development of the expansion is expected to support 1,500 construction jobs. Once the hotel opens, the project will add another 350 permanent positions, bringing the resort’s total permanent workforce past 1,700. The partners described the project as a boost for the economy of the Southern San Joaquin Valley and Kern County. Hard Rock International operates more than 300 venues across nearly 80 countries, managing everything from hotels and casinos to cafes and live performance locations.
The current casino opened in November 2025 and has grown quickly into a major entertainment destination in Kern County. The partners did not set a final completion date beyond summer 2028, saying further details would be released as construction progresses. The Tejon Indian Tribe owns the land, which is located about 15 miles from Bakersfield and beside the I-5 highway. The project builds on the casino’s recent success and aims to create a longer-term economic presence for the region.
