Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon Breaks ground, unveiling a new era of entertainment

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Hard Rock International and the Tejon Indian Tribe celebrated the groundbreaking of a highly anticipated hotel and casino project situated at the intersection of Hwy. 166 and Sabodan Road in Mettler, California, on Tejon Tribal land. The momentous occasion featured a ceremonial shovel groundbreaking attended by Hard Rock representatives, Tejon Indian Tribe leaders, and local and statewide community leaders.

“This marks a significant day for California, Kern County, and the Tejon Indian Tribe,” exclaimed Octavio Escobedo, III, Chair of the Tejon Indian Tribe. “The groundbreaking symbolizes a historic moment for our Tribe, which endured over 150 years without a homeland and has been a long-standing priority since our federal recognition as a tribe. Since our engagement with the United States government in 1851, our Tribe has persistently advocated for a homeland. Today, we are one step closer to realizing our dream of self-determination through economic development. The Tribe extends its gratitude to the local community, Kern County government, the entire California State Legislature, our federal representatives in Washington DC, and, notably, Governor Gavin Newsom. We also appreciate the support from non-governmental organizations, SSCR LLC, Hard Rock International, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, who stood alongside us in making this groundbreaking and the restoration of our land base possible.”

The project is anticipated to generate approximately 2,000 construction jobs during its development phase and will be overseen by the Penta Building Group, a southern California company. Upon the completion of both phases, it is expected to provide around 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, both full-time and part-time.

“Hard Rock is honored to collaborate with the Tejon Indian Tribe in creating a world-class entertainment destination,” stated Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. “The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon will be a remarkable addition to our West Coast portfolio, and we are committed to supporting the local community while making a lasting positive economic impact on the State of California.”

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon will encompass over 700,000 square feet, with 150,000 square feet designated for gaming space, featuring 2,500 popular slots, 48 table games, video poker, and ranking as the second closest class III casino to Los Angeles. Phase one will include multiple dining options, a signature Hard Rock Cafe, Council Oak Steaks and Seafood fine dining restaurant, a Rock Shop, and more. The second phase will introduce a 400-room hotel, additional fine dining establishments, a pool, spa, cigar lounge, and a 2,800-seat Hard Rock Live event venue, attracting various attractions such as concerts, comedy acts, and sporting events. Additionally, the property will showcase Hard Rock’s iconic memorabilia. The expected completion date for phase one is approximately 22 months from the groundbreaking, with phase two following another 20 months to finalize the entire hotel and casino.

« Back to Page

• Hard Rock Hotel Maldives Launches Summer Camp-Cation 4.0

• Hard Rock New York names Oscar Gonzalez as its director

• Unrivaled luxury: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya’s all-inclusive summer getaway