Year to celebrate

The Frank Fertitta III-run parent of Station Casinos is lavishing millions of dollars on its subsidiary ahead of its 50th anniversary on July 1.  

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday, Red Rock Resorts is marking Station’s half-century by investing in “several of its Las Vegas properties.”

The multimillion-dollar splurge spans Southern Nevada and includes the second major expansion stage of Red Rock’s Durango Casino & Resort in southwest Las Vegas, which began Monday. 

Red Rock will, according to the LVR-J, invest $385m in this new phase, which will see Durango furnished with “400 additional slot machines.” This comes after the casino added a high-limit slot machine room to its portfolio in the week before Christmas. 

Upgrades, additions

Durango opened its doors in 2003, 47 years after Frank Fertitta Jr. launched the Vegas Station dynasty by opening an off-Strip casino in 1976. Durango will operate as normal in the brand’s anniversary year through phase two additions for 2026 including luxury movie theaters and a 36-lane bowling arena.

The anniversary cash is also going into Green Valley Ranch, fresh from a December hotel renovation and reopening of its poker room. 

A further total makeover of 294 rooms and suites, renovations to its conventions center and movie theatre, plus the opening of multiple new restaurants will take place in 2026 at the Summerlin casino.

Off-Strip attention is also being lavished on Sunset Station in 2026, with a reported $53m investment going into a property-wide refresh, which includes turning Club Madrid “into a casino bar.”

Where it all began

The anniversary splash also includes a new Korean BBQ restaurant to launch in the spring for Palace Station. The off-Strip site is where Fertitta Jr opened Bingo Palace in 1976, a casino featuring one of Vegas’ first race and sportsbooks.

Rebranded to Palace Station in 1983, the casino prospered to result in a holding company named Station Casino that grew its portfolio of properties under the leadership of Fertitta’s sons, Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta.

Thanks to Station, its parent Red Rock has expanded its footprint to 18 properties in the Las Vegas Valley, which include Durango, Green Valley, and Red Rock Resort.