Palace Station Las Vegas injects $192M into casino and restaurant expansion

A new pool area at the Palace Station casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 20, 2018. People who haven’t seen the "new" Palace Station will hardly recognize the place.

After a $192 million investment and months of construction work, Station Casinos is on the verge of opening a 220,000-square-foot expansion that is 44 times larger than the original footprint of The Casino, the initial locals' property opened by Frank Fertitta Jr. 41 years ago.

The doors will open next week on a new section on the eastern end of the property, including new casino space that will bring in 500 more slot machines — five times the number on the site when the original location opened in 1976.

Scott Nelson, vice president and general manager of the property, led a tour Wednesday of the new space, which includes four new restaurants and a nine-screen Regal Entertainment Group luxury movie theater.

When Station officials announced two years ago that they were ditching Palace Station’s train theme in favor of a more modern approach, they didn’t say too much about the property’s new look, which is more like Red Rock Resort and than the properties that have “Station” in their names.

A new bingo room debuted last year, a renovated race and sports book will open in time for football season and the renovated poker room will be ready later this summer at the West Sahara Avenue property.

With the opening of the new casino space, the venue's gambling offering will reach 1,800 slot and video poker machines and 43 table games.

A new swimming pool with a raised bar, dining area, event lawn, private cabanas and daybeds recently opened. Hotel room renovations that began in 2016 are continuing. The exterior look is as new as the interior.

A 300-space surface parking lot will serve a new south entry near the pool.

A massive train-themed sign has been removed, and the building is adorned with two LED video screens more than 80 feet wide.

The “new” Palace Station has four new restaurants in the space that opens next week:

-bBd’s (Beers Burgers Desserts). Chef Ralph Perrazzo’s New York-based homage to hamburgers also includes vegan and vegetarian offerings, craft beer and a dessert menu that includes handcrafted milkshakes, opening Labor Day weekend.

-Boathouse Asian Eatery. The Northern California outlet offers Japanese and East Asian cuisine with seafood, sushi rolls, noodle and Chinese fare, opening in early August.

-The Feast Buffet. A familiar name with a new look. Instead of international labels, the food stations will include The Hearth, Wok This Way, Blazing Grill, Health Favorite, The Carvery and Just Desserts, opening July 20.

-Mumfresh Asian Eats. A casual, quick-serve teppanyaki-inspired menu with banh mi sandwiches, noodle soups and boba teas from the creators of Boathouse Asian Eatery, opening later this year.