Hard Rock Casino Tejon breaks ground on new Hard Rock Hotel as part of $725m expansion
The Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock International have begun construction on a $725m-plus expansion that will add a 406-room hotel and resort amenities to Hard Rock Casino Tejon, with a target opening in summer 2028.
The Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock International held a groundbreaking for the next phase of Hard Rock Casino Tejon, a more than $725m investment intended to turn the property into Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon. The expansion calls for a 406-room hotel, including 119 suites, and is expected to open in summer 2028.
The project will add 900 slot machines, bringing the total to 3,000, along with multi-use convention and event space, two resort-style pools and a Rock Spa with 13 treatment rooms. Organizers expect 1,500 construction jobs and 350 additional permanent positions, raising permanent staffing to more than 1,700.
The casino opened in November 2025 on Tejon Indian tribal land in Mettler, less than 15 miles south of Bakersfield. Tribal Chairman Octavio Escobedo III described the expansion as a historic milestone and said it builds on the property’s economic benefits, while Property President Mike Bean said the hotel and amenities would elevate the guest experience and attract visitors from across California and beyond.
