Operator News
US – Gaming compact for Hard Rock Hotel Casino Tejon heads to Governor’s office
By Phil - 5 September 2022
The Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock International’s $600m casino set for Mettler in California has moved a step closer with the Legislature’s passage of a bill confirming the gaming compact between the state of California and the Tejon Indian Tribe.
Senate Bill 910 was approved by the state Senate on a 39-0 vote and will now be presented to the office of Governor Gavin Newsom for him to sign.
Senator Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, said: “It’s an honour to co-author legislation which will finally give long-deserved recognition to the people of the Tejon tribe. SB 910 will ratify a tribal-state compact that will greatly benefit both the Tejon tribe and Kern County with nearly 5,000 jobs, live entertainment and convention spaces that will bring exciting growth to the area.”
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon will be developed on a portion of a 306-acre parcel of land, located approximately 25 minutes south of Bakersfield, off Highway 99 near the 166 Mettler exit. The 306 acres will be taken into trust by the federal government for the benefit of the Tejon Tribe. 52 acres of the site will be devoted to the resort hotel and casino, while 22 adjacent acres will be designated for an RV park. The remainder of the property will be used for other tribal purposes including administrative offices, a health facility, housing and supporting infrastructure.
The project is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and over 2,000 permanent jobs once completed, plus creating additional jobs due to the economic multiplier effect during construction and after opening.
Ryan Alsop, the county’s chief administrative officer, said: “We’d like to thank the county’s state legislative delegation for their hard work, and are now looking forward to Hard Rock International and the Tejon Tribe beginning construction soon.”
“The Tejon Indian Tribe has a proud history in Kern County,” said Octavio Escobedo, Tejon Tribe chairman. “We welcome this partnership with Hard Rock International, one of the world’s most widely recognized brands, as an important step for our Tribe and know that this project will be a great economic driver. It will bring positive benefits for our tribal citizens as well as for the Kern County community for decades to come. Good paying jobs and career opportunities translate into better healthcare, education and economic independence.”
The project will provide a complete resort experience for its guests and will include a hotel, 13 restaurants and bars, a Rock Spa and fitness facility, the largest conference and meeting space in Kern County and Hard Rock Live®, a unique concert venue. As at all Hard Rock casinos, live entertainment will be a key component of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon.
