Published on: November 14, 2024, 06:10h. 

Last updated on: November 14, 2024, 06:10h.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol officially opened its doors on November 14th, 2024, with a smashing guitars ceremony to welcome its first guests.

Located on the Virginia-Tennessee border, Bristol, Virginia, approved a commercial casino license through state legislation in 2020, leading to the opening of the Hard Rock property. Jim McGlothlin of United Co. and Clyde Stacy of Par Ventures played key roles in bringing Las Vegas-style casinos to Virginia.

Residents of Bristol supported the gaming development in November 2020 with over 71% of the vote, making it the highest approval rating among the four cities that held successful referendums that year.

Hard Rock’s $515 million resort is now a reality, showcasing a 620,000-square-foot facility with over 1,000 employees and various entertainment options.

“It was a moonshot,” McGlothlin said of overturning Virginia’s ban on casino gambling.

With the completion of the resort, including a 45-foot-tall guitar and significant local tax revenue generated, McGlothlin expressed confidence in the project’s success.

Highlighting the music theme of all Hard Rock properties, country music star Blake Shelton headlined the opening with a sold-out performance at the 2,000-seat Hard Rock Live venue.

The gaming floor offers 1,500 slot machines, 50 live dealer tables, a sportsbook, and a variety of dining options, showcasing music memorabilia from iconic artists.

Virginia Emerging as a Gaming Hotspot

Virginia’s commercial gaming industry continues to grow, with Hard Rock Bristol becoming the second permanent casino in the state after Rivers Casino Portsmouth. Future developments include a Caesars Entertainment resort in Danville and a Cordish Companies project in Petersburg.

Churchill Downs also recently debuted The Rose gaming resort in Dumfries, adding to Virginia’s expanding gaming market.