Future Uncertain for Four Local Resorts Owned by Station Casinos

Executives at Station Casinos say that four of its local casinos have no reopening timeline. During the company’s earnings call on Tuesday, CEO and chairman Frank Fertitta III told investors that the coronavirus pandemic painted an uncertain future for the Palms west of the Strip, Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho in North Las Vegas, and Fiesta Henderson.

All four resorts closed on March 17 when Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered all nonessential businesses to shutter to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“We don’t know if, or when, we’re going to reopen any of the closed properties,” Fertitta told investors during the call.

Sisolak allowed casinos to reopen on June 4, and Station Casinos brought back all but these four resorts with limited amenities. For example, at Red Rock Resort, about 650 of the casino’s bar-top gaming machines closed on July 10 when Sisolak ordered bars to reclose statewide.

“This is kind of an ebb-and-flow thing with changing requirements, whether it be pools, whether it be at the bars, whether it be you have to wear a mask or you don’t have to wear a mask,” Fertitta says. “Every day is trying to navigate through a new set of circumstances.”

Fertitta says some amenities may not return in the future, but did not elaborate what that could mean.

Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho moved their non-restricted gaming, non-restricted gaming liquor, and full liquor licenses to non-operational through June 4, 2021, in late June. Fiesta Henderson also filed paperwork with the City of Henderson to extend its closure “until further notice” in July. The Palms went through a $690 million renovation that brought in a roster of celebrity chefs including Bobby Flay with Shark, Michael Symon with Mabel’s BBQ and its “meateasy” Sara’s, and Marc Vetri’s Italian restaurant Vetri Cucina. Greene St. Kitchen, Scotch 80 Prime, and Tim Ho Wan round out the big names at the resort.

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