Station Casinos turns 50 this year, and the Fertitta family is celebrating the only way Vegas knows how — by throwing obscene amounts of money at their properties.

Red Rock Resorts just announced a wave of investments across the Station Casinos portfolio, headlined by a $385 million expansion at Durango Casino & Resort. The company that started with one off-Strip property in 1976 is going all-in on its second half-century.

The Quick Hit

• The occasion: Station Casinos 50th anniversary (July 1, 2026)
• The big spend: $385 million Durango expansion, plus millions more across properties
• The additions: 400 slot machines, bowling, movie theaters, restaurants
• Timeline: Roughly 18 months for Durango expansion

The Durango Expansion

Durango opened in December 2023 and immediately became one of the hottest locals casinos in Vegas. Now it's getting even bigger.

The $385 million second expansion adds 275,000 square feet to the resort and includes:

• 400 additional slot machines
• 36-lane bowling facility
• Luxury movie theaters
• Multiple new restaurant concepts
• New entertainment venues

Crews have already started work on the north side of the property. This is the second major expansion since Durango opened — which tells you how well the property has performed.

Other Property Upgrades

It's not just Durango getting love. Station is spreading the wealth:

Sunset Station: A $53 million property-wide refresh, including turning Club Madrid into a casino bar.

Green Valley Ranch: 162 rooms and 37 suites already renovated. Another 294 rooms in the East Tower getting full renovations in 2026, plus updates to the South Rotunda Lobby. The poker room is back open.

Palace Station: Where it all started. Master Kim's Korean BBQ is opening a 6,500-square-foot restaurant with seating for 100+ guests.

Seventy Six Taverns: The fourth location opens January 22 at Union Village in Henderson. The Den on Grand Canyon and Tropicana is converting to a Seventy Six Tavern in early 2026.

The Station Story

This is a proper Vegas success story. Frank Fertitta Jr. opened The Casino in 1976 as an off-Strip locals joint. It became Bingo Palace, then Palace Station in 1983.

Fifty years later, the company (now run by Frank III) operates 18 properties in the Las Vegas Valley: Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Durango, multiple Wildfire-branded neighborhood casinos, and the Seventy Six Taverns concept.

The Fertitta family has always understood that Vegas isn't just about tourists. Locals need somewhere to play too, and Station has owned that market for decades.

Why This Matters

The Las Vegas visitors drop of 6% in 2025 hit Strip properties hard, but locals casinos have been more resilient. People who live here still want to gamble, eat, bowl, and watch movies — and they'd rather do it without dealing with Strip traffic.

Station's investments are a bet on the continued growth of the Las Vegas Valley. More people moving to Vegas means more potential customers for locals-focused properties.

The Durango expansion alone signals confidence. You don't drop $385 million on a property that opened barely over a year ago unless you're seeing serious demand.

The Bottom Line

Station Casinos is celebrating 50 years by doubling down on everything that got them here — taking care of locals, expanding smart, and not being afraid to spend big when the opportunity is right.

If you're a Vegas local, you're about to have even more options. If you're visiting, these properties are worth checking out if you want to see how the other half (the half that actually lives here) gambles.

Happy anniversary, Station. Here's to 50 more years of giving degenerates a home.