Station Casinos Inc., the corporate entity that owns and operates 20 entertainment destinations throughout Southern Nevada, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in July and offer promotions and discounts to customers through the summer.
“For 50 years, Station Casinos has been honored to grow alongside the Las Vegas community we proudly call home,” said Frank Fertitta IV, senior vice president of operations for the company, the most recent member of the Fertitta family tree to have a management position within the company.
“This milestone is truly a celebration of our guests, the locals who have supported us for generations, the communities that have evolved with us, and especially our team members, whose passion and dedication create unforgettable experiences every day.”
Fertitta said while Las Vegas has changed over the nearly five decades of the company’s existence, Station remains a family-run company committed to offering hospitality and value.
Widespread fireworks celebrations are scheduled throughout the summer and discounted food and beverage offerings are planned at Station properties.
A casino for locals
Frank Fertitta Jr., who started in the gaming industry as a dealer at the Stardust, initiated the idea in the 1970s to create a casino to cater to Las Vegas residents at a time when most casinos were located on the Strip or in downtown Las Vegas.
The idea was simple: create a gaming and entertainment venue for locals away from the crowds of tourists, and provide them with great value, service and convenience. While many dismissed the idea, Fertitta and three investors, on July 1, 1976, opened a 5,000-square-foot facility called “The Casino” which was attached to the Mini Price Motor Inn on Sahara Avenue, just west of the Strip.
With 100 slot machines and a snack bar, The Casino quickly became a locals hangout. One year later, the first of many expansions took place and over the ensuing years, more entertainment offerings were added and with the new amenities came a new name, the “Bingo Palace.”
In 1984 and with the addition of a hotel tower, Bingo Palace evolved into Palace Station to again reflect the changing entertainment offerings.
In the mid-to-late ‘80s, Fertitta’s sons, Frank III and Lorenzo, learned the gaming business from their father. They also studied how the town was developing and had a vision for growing the company by replicating the experience guests enjoyed at Palace Station throughout other areas in the Las Vegas Valley.
In 1993, Fertitta Jr. retired from the business and turned over the reins to his son, Frank Fertitta III, who fueled the company’s growth by taking the company public.
As Frank III was building a loyal and local customer base, he was also planning for the company’s future and believed the same type of convenience, value and service that his father started at the Palace Station would be successful on the other side of town.
Boulder Station in ‘94
In 1994, the company opened Boulder Station. Its success led to the development of additional casinos and the strategic acquisition of additional land for future development. Today, the company owns and operates 20 entertainment destinations throughout Southern Nevada including Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Durango, Sunset Station, Santa Fe Station, Wildfire Gaming and Seventy Six Taverns.
The publicly traded company became known as Red Rock Resorts and is traded on the Nasdaq exchange.
Fireworks and drones will light up the skies over Palace Station on July 1 and at all Station properties on July 4 and at some properties tickets for premium viewing areas went on sale Monday for $35 for adults and $10 for children. Fireworks by Grucci displays will be visible from all Station Casinos’ surface parking lots with special premium viewing areas, a live DJ and offered at the Bel-Aire Backyard at Durango, at the Backyard at Green Valley Ranch and poolside at Red Rock Resort.
Station Casinos will celebrate its more than 9,700 team members with appreciation days across the company’s properties, recognizing employees who have helped shape the company over the years, including more than 1,300 who have been with the company for 20 years or more. The longest tenured team member has worked at the previous iterations where Palace Station stands for 49 years.
The company also plans to give back to the community with properties collectively committing 1,976 volunteer hours each to key partners during a volunteer week to benefit Three Square Food Bank, Opportunity Village and Spread the Word Nevada.
Live entertainment will take place throughout the month across Station properties, with performances scheduled at multiple destinations across the valley.
Entertainment lineup
The lineup includes:
-July 3-4: Santa Fe Station – Fab Four Tribute Show.
-Friday, July 4: Palace Station – ‘90s Station complimentary poolside show.
-Friday, July 10: Green Valley Ranch – Grace Potter.
-Saturday, July 11: Boulder Station – Los Lonely Boys.
-Saturday, July 18: Red Rock Resort – Cole Swindell.
-Saturday, July 18: Sunset Station Side Lawn – Patrick Lamb Jazz Series.
-Friday, July 24: Durango Casino & Resort – One Night of Queen.
Starting July 1, Station will open vintage photo booths on the casino floors at Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Durango Casino & Resort, Palace, Santa Fe, Sunset and Boulder Station properties. Guests can receive a vintage photo strip and digital copy for $5.
Several swag giveaways are scheduled through the celebration with commemorative collector’s chips, branded Boarding Pass cards and VIP parking passes available to eligible guests. Branded clothing and hat giveaways are scheduled July 10, 24 and 31.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.
