Hard Rock International has officially opened its $515 million resort casino in Bristol, Virginia, marking the state's second permanent casino. The grand opening featured the brand's signature guitar-smashing ceremony on November 14, 2024.

The 620,000-square-foot facility, located on the Virginia-Tennessee border, represents a significant milestone in Virginia's expanding gaming market. The project resulted from a 2020 state legislation that authorized casino development in select cities, with Bristol voters showing overwhelming support through a 71% approval rate.

Key Features of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol:

• 1,500 slot machines
• 50 live dealer table games
• Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook
• 303-room hotel
• 2,000-seat Hard Rock Live venue
• Multiple dining options including Hard Rock Café and Council Oak
• Extensive music memorabilia collection featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline, and Johnny Cash

Country music star Blake Shelton headlined the opening night with a sold-out performance, paying homage to Bristol's heritage as the birthplace of country music.

The resort has already created over 1,000 jobs and generated significant local tax revenue through its temporary casino operation. Project co-developer Jim McGlothlin, who helped spearhead the initiative, believes public support would reach 90% if voted on today.

Virginia's gaming landscape continues to expand with additional projects in development:

• Rivers Casino Portsmouth (opened January 2023)
• Caesars Entertainment's Danville resort (opening December 2024)
• Planned casino in Norfolk
• Recently approved casino project in Petersburg by The Cordish Companies
• Churchill Downs' The Rose gaming resort in Dumfries

Related Articles

Previous Articles