October 22, 2026 — On October 21, the Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock International broke ground on a $725 million expansion that will turn Hard Rock Casino Tejon, south of Bakersfield, California, into a full resort with a 406-room hotel. The target opening is summer 2028.
What is happening
The casino opened in November 2025 without a hotel. When the expansion is finished, it will become Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon. Plans include a hotel tower, pools, a spa, more restaurants and event space, plus 900 more slot machines. That brings the total to about 3,000.
| Detail | What’s been announced |
|---|---|
| Property | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon (now Hard Rock Casino Tejon) |
| Owner / brand | Tejon Indian Tribe with Hard Rock International |
| Location | Mettler, Kern County, California, less than 15 miles south of Bakersfield, off Interstate 5 |
| Groundbreaking | October 21, 2026 |
| Target opening | Summer 2028 (exact date and booking window TBA) |
| Rooms | 406, including 119 suites |
| Features | Two resort-style pools with cabanas and daybeds; Rock Spa with 13 treatment rooms; Council Oak Steaks & Seafood; two more Marketplace restaurants; new Center Bar; meeting rooms and an outdoor event lawn |
| Investment | $725 million |
At the ceremony, tribal chairman Octavio Escobedo III called the day “another historic milestone for the Tejon Indian Tribe.”
What it means for airline travelers
- Getting there: Hard Rock describes the site as about 90 minutes’ drive north of Los Angeles on I-5. The closest commercial airport is Bakersfield’s Meadows Field (BFL). For a much wider choice of flights, use the Los Angeles-area airports and rent a car.
- Nothing to book yet: Hotel reservations haven’t opened. Until 2028, the casino operates without on-site rooms, so you’ll need to stay in Bakersfield or nearby.
- Construction: The casino stays open while the work goes on. If you visit before 2028, expect building activity next door.
Sources
- Hard Rock International — “Hard Rock Casino Tejon Breaks Ground on New Hard Rock Hotel as Part of a $725M Expansion” — hardrock.com
- Rus Tourism News — “Hard Rock Announces $725 Million California Resort Expansion With 406-Room Hotel” — rustourismnews.com
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