Hard Rock International has announced a $600 million development in Southern California, in partnership with the Tejon Indian Tribe. The project, named Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon, will be located approximately 25 minutes south of Bakersfield in Mettler.
The venture comes after a long battle for a Class III gaming compact with the state of California, which was finally achieved when California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a revenue-sharing agreement with the Tejons in June 2022. This was followed by the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) agreeing to place approximately 320 acres of land that the tribe acquired into federal trust.
With these administrative hurdles out of the way, construction on the resort is expected to begin next month. The development is anticipated to employ around 5,000 workers and create approximately 3,000 permanent resort positions once it opens in late summer 2025.
The casino resort, to be built on approximately 52 acres of the Tejon Tribal Reservation, is planned to include a 165,500-square-foot facility with over 3,000 slot machines and table game positions, an 11-story, 400-room hotel, 13 food and beverage outlets, a resort-style outdoor pool complex, and a meeting space. Additionally, it will feature a Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, Rock Spa & Salon, and Body Rock fitness center.
In addition to boosting tourism and providing jobs, the project aims to provide resources and services for Tejon Indian Tribe members, privately funded infrastructure improvements with no cost to taxpayers, and new entertainment amenities. The tribe also plans to use its revenue share from the project to fund its reservation infrastructure.
The overall reservation plan includes a 43-acre organic farm, a fire station, an RV parking area, residential and park areas, and a tribal administration building and community health center. Hard Rock’s $600 million investment is solely for the casino and resort, while the tribe’s revenue share will be utilized for its reservation infrastructure.
