The Durango Casino & Resort has started construction on the third phase of its growth plan in southwest Las Vegas, moving forward with a large-scale build that adds new entertainment and gaming options while keeping current operations open. The project unfolds as Station Casinos, the owner of Durango Casino, approaches a milestone year, using new investments across several properties to mark five decades in the Las Vegas market.

Crews have begun work on the north side of the Durango property, where the latest phase will add 275,000 square feet to the resort. The expansion follows a recently completed south-end project that delivered more than 25,000 square feet of added casino space, including a high-limit slot room. That earlier effort also introduced a parking structure with capacity for about 2,000 vehicles.

The current phase carries a price tag of $385 million and will take roughly 18 months to complete. During that time, the resort plans to keep all existing amenities accessible, aiming to limit disruption for guests. Once finished, the new build will increase the casino floor with about 400 additional slot machines, raising the property’s total well beyond the machines already in place.

Beyond gaming, the plan includes a 36-lane bowling facility, luxury movie theaters, and several food and entertainment venues spread across the expanded podium. Developers have described the mix as a combination of recreation and leisure offerings designed to broaden the resort’s appeal for both local visitors and regular patrons.

Investment aligns with Station Casinos anniversary

The Durango project forms part of a wider spending push by Red Rock Resorts’ Station Casinos Inc. as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary on July 1. The company traces its roots to 1976, when Frank Fertitta Jr. opened a small off-Strip casino that later became Palace Station. Today, the business oversees 18 properties across the Las Vegas Valley, including Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, and Durango, along with neighborhood casinos under the Wildfire name and the newer Seventy Six Taverns brand.

Durango opened in December 2023 and has already seen multiple phases of development in a short period. The high-limit room and added parking unveiled in December marked the first major expansion, and the newly launched construction represents the second expansion since opening. Company officials have confirmed that all Durango amenities will remain available while the work continues.

Financial analysts have tied the project to longer-term growth expectations for Station Casinos. “The larger $385 million 2.0 expansion should drive growth further,” said Barry Jonas, an analyst with Truist Securities, according to KSNV. “The 2.0 shouldn’t delay any other pipeline projects, with further details potentially revealed around the fourth quarter of 2026. Construction continues across Green Valley Resort and Sunset Station renovations (in Henderson) and while there will be some disruption in the first half of 2026, management continues to target net ROI of 20%.”

Additional projects across the valley

While Durango anchors the current construction cycle, Station Casinos has lined up several other upgrades tied to its anniversary year. At Green Valley Ranch, the company has already completed renovations on 162 rooms and 37 suites and reopened the poker room. Plans call for another 294 rooms and suites in the East Tower to undergo a full renovation in 2026, along with updates to the South Rotunda Lobby. The property also expects a refreshed meetings and convention area, a Nielsen’s Frozen Custard location in the food court, and remodeled movie theaters scheduled for mid-2026.

Red Rock Resort in Summerlin will add new food outlets in early 2026, including returning and new dining names joining its food court lineup. Elsewhere, Sunset Station will receive a property-wide refresh backed by a $53 million reinvestment, bringing changes such as a Stoney’s Rockin’ Country venue and the conversion of Club Madrid into a casino bar.

At Palace Station, where the company began, Master Kim’s Korean BBQ will open a 6,500-square-foot restaurant with seating for more than 100 guests. Station Casinos also continues to expand its Seventy Six Taverns brand, with a fourth location opening Jan. 22 in Henderson and another conversion planned for early 2026.

Together, these projects reflect a coordinated approach to reinvestment, with the Durango expansion standing as the most visible sign of Station Casinos’ current building cycle.