Station Casinos Inc., the company that owns and operates 20 entertainment destinations in Southern Nevada, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in July and offer deals and discounts to customers throughout 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 latest member of the Fertitta family to hold an executive position with the company.
“This milestone is truly a tribute to our guests, the local people who have supported us for generations, the communities that have evolved with us, and especially our team members, whose passion and commitment create unforgettable experiences every day.”
Fertitta said that while Las Vegas has changed over the nearly five decades of the company’s existence, Station remains a family-owned business committed to offering hospitality and value.
Widespread fireworks displays are planned throughout the summer, and discounted food and beverage offers are planned at station properties.
A casino for locals
Frank Fertitta Jr., who started in the gaming industry as a dealer at 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 tourist crowds, and provide them with great value, service and convenience. While many dismissed the idea, on July 1, 1976, Fertitta and three investors opened a 5,000-square-foot facility called “The Casino” 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 local haunt. A year later the first of many expansions took place and in subsequent 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 offering.
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 city was developing and had a vision to grow the company by replicating the experience guests received at Palace Station in other areas of the Las Vegas Valley.
In 1993, Fertitta Jr. retired from the business and handed the reins to his son, Frank Fertitta III, who drove the company’s growth by taking the company public.
As Frank III built a loyal and local customer base, he also planned for the company’s future, believing that the same type of convenience, value and service that his father started at Palace Station would be successful across 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 in 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 stock 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 to premium viewing areas went on sale Monday for $35 for adults and $10 for children. Grucci fireworks will be visible from all Station Casino parking lots with special premium viewing areas, a live DJ and offered at Bel-Aire Backyard in Durango, 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 company 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 serving team member has worked on 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 Spreading 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 – the 90s station free show by the pool.
-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.
Beginning July 1, Station will open vintage photo booths on the casino floors of Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Durango Casino & Resort, Palace, Santa Fe, Sunset and Boulder Station. Guests can receive a vintage photo strip and digital copy for $5.
Several swag giveaways are scheduled during the celebration with commemorative collectibles, branded boarding passes and VIP parking passes available to eligible guests. Branded clothing and hat giveaways are planned for July 10, 24 and 31.
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