At one time or another, you’ve probably wished you could skip that long, desert drive when going to Las Vegas to enjoy its energetic casino experience. Now it’s time to stop wishing, because that gentle wish is about to become an exciting reality. A new, $600-million casino (named Hard Rock Casino Tejon), which arguably matches some of the largest casinos you can see in Las Vegas and other places, is coming straight to Mettler, California, and it’s just about 15 miles south of Bakersfield, near the Grapevine mountain pass.
Hard Rock Casino Tejon, described by the Los Angeles Times as “the first full-scale casino in Kern County,” is scheduled to open on November 13, 2025. This incoming hub of fun is a collaboration between the Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock International (a global hospitality and gaming company), and it’s clearly about to sit among California’s most enjoyable spots with a promise of real awe and entertainment. From its 150,000-square-foot gaming space to its more than 2,000 slot machines to its over 50 table games to all the entertainment coming in the first phase, you can imagine the scintillating fun about to come.
Why the buzz around Hard Rock Casino Tejon?
First things first, the size and scale of this new casino take the cake, making it way bigger than all the other casinos scattered around California. In fact, the sheer size of its gaming floor alone rivals some of Las Vegas’s top gaming venues, be it MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Aria, or Bellagio. Indeed, Hard Rock Casino Tejon is set to provide the same electric vibe of Vegas casinos, if not even better. As such, visitors and locals get to enjoy a range of gambling options, including slots, baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, blackjack, and three-card poker, and there’ll be exclusive VIP rooms too. The casino is also bringing in its signature culture of rock memorabilia, more so with stage opportunities open to local live performers.
What’s further interesting is that this new California casino will double as a resort. Specifically, the second phase will feature amenities like an 11-story hotel with up to 400 rooms, a luxury spa, a pool complex, and a live event venue with about 2,800 seat capacity that will facilitate concerts, sporting, and comedy performances. Apart from all these, the contribution to local economic development is another thing, as the project hopes to create about 5,000 jobs and generate local revenue through tourism…