A few weeks ago, we looked at Boyd Gaming’s Las Vegas casino upgrades. Even though TravelZork tends to focus on the Strip, I wanted to look at the other local casino operator since the area is on my mind.
Station Casinos has been leading the way with off-strip upgrades since Durango Casino opened in 2023. The company has been improving the majority of its seven full-service casinos.
I’ve always been partial to Station Casinos since moving to Las Vegas and living on the same street as Red Rock Casino. Station’s Boarding Pass rewards program has always been fair for the amount of money I spent at its properties.
Today I live between Durango, Palace Station, and Red Rock. I visit each for different reasons that have nothing to do with gambling because they all offer similar games.
I go to Durango specifically when I’m in the mood for Vesta Coffee. Palace Station is my hangout for watching sports and drinking cheap beer. Red Rock is still tops if I’m looking for happy hour or a quick bite.
Station Casinos appears to have finished its upgrade cycle at Palace Station and Red Rock, but it’s not even close to done at Durango and a few other properties around the Las Vegas Valley.
Durango Expansion Continues
Durango is currently in the midst of its second expansion. The first expansion included a beautiful new high-limit slot room and a parking garage.
The current expansion will add movie theaters, bowling lanes, new restaurants, and entertainment venues, including the country bar and live music venue Moonshine Flats. It’s on target to open during the second quarter of 2027.
The company seems to be getting more serious about another expansion phase that will include more hotel rooms and a spa. This could begin after the current project is completed.
Durango Casino has just over 209 rooms. Will increasing supply lower the surprisingly high prices? Comp or discounted rooms here might be the best Boarding Pass offer available.
Amazingly enough, this phased construction has been the plan before construction started on the original property. Unlike some phased work over the years, the construction projects minimally affect the customer experience.
Massive Multi-Year Refresh At Green Valley Ranch
Along with Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch has been a flagship casino for Station. The GVR refresh feels like it’s been going on forever, and it’s still going. The top-to-bottom change is similar to Boyd’s Suncoast makeover that was just finished.
Last year, the East Tower rooms saw a complete upgrade, and work on the West Tower should be done by the end of the year. The common spaces in the hotel towers have also been updated.
I hated the look of the old rooms. The new rooms are much nicer but reminiscent of HGTV design shows from a few years ago. I watch too many of these shows, but that’s another story.
The casino floor has also seen upgrades, with new high-limit spaces and the poker room reopening last year. There are new bars and restaurants, and the movie theater is being upgraded.
You can follow the GVR renovations here if you’re curious to learn more.
Wait…There’s More, Including A Brand New Casino
Sunset Station in Henderson is one of the few Las Vegas casinos I’ve never been to. If I’m stuck going to that side of town, I usually visit South Point, M Resort, or GVR.
Like GVR, the property is in the middle of a multi-year makeover. The most recent addition is a country music bar. That’s where I tap out.
Station Casinos has been teasing a new casino for years, since it owns six huge plots of land around Las Vegas. It looks like there will be an announcement sometime next year.
My money is on a casino in the Insirada section of Henderson. The local government approved the site for construction a couple of years ago, and plans that are similar to Durango Casino have already been shared. Stay tuned!
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Marc grew up on the mean streets of the South Bronx. He's the rare combination of Yankees and Jets fan which explains his often contrarian point of view. He learned about gambling at a young age working down the street from a bookie who took action on anything from the mainstream sports to the last three digits of the purse for certain horse races. Yeah, that's a thing. Today Marc is a freelance writer and social media consultant which allows him to work anywhere there's a wifi signal. This allows him to work from the sportsbook at Red Rock Resort or the food court at The Venetian where you’ll find fast and free wifi. Writing about steak, booze, gambling and Las Vegas is a tough job but somebody has to do it.