Nevada: Mesquite Gaming announces major renovations at CasaBlanca and Virgin River resorts

Mesquite Gaming has announced renovation projects at its CasaBlanca and Virgin River hotel-casinos in Mesquite, Nevada. The upgrades, which will cost several million dollars, are set to begin this summer.

Renovation plans for CasaBlanca include significant changes to Katherine's Steakhouse. The steakhouse will get a new lounge, an expanded bar area, and new carpeting. The renovations are expected to start in midsummer, and the restaurant will remain open throughout the three-month project. New menu offerings will add to the favorites on the current menu.

“People might want an expedited experience,” said Mesquite Gaming CEO Justin Moore, referring to the typical steakhouse meal. “Having a nice lounge area where you go in, grab a couple of cocktails, maybe get a small bite or enjoy the traditional menu, might be very attractive to people.”

Rendering for the Katherine's Steakhouse update

At Virgin River, the sportsbook will be moved to the currently vacant movie theater space on the property, making use of 10-by-53-foot LCD screens. This project is slated to be completed by mid-NFL season in the fall. Virgin River will also see the deployment of 90 additional slot machines for the gaming floor.

Moore highlighted the growth in Mesquite and nearby St. George, Utah, as a driving factor for these investments. He also noted that guest feedback on social media played a role in the decision to move forward with these renovations.

“You can tell they have this wish list — we see it on social media — of what they’d like to see next. We’re listening to that, but it comes in stages,” Moore said. “That’s part of what tells me this is a little bit overdue.”

In addition to these new projects, previously announced renovations at CasaBlanca include doubling the size of the current Center Bar, adding a new sports bar, and introducing 200 new slot machines to the casino floor. The property is also remodeling its showroom by removing the doors to create an open space. These projects are expected to be completed between August and the end of the year.

Competitor Eureka resort-casino, located across the street from Virgin River, announced in April plans to invest $40 million into renovating its hotel rooms and gaming floor, indicating a trend of increased investment in Mesquite's local gaming industry.

ECL Development, a national firm with extensive gaming industry experience, will manage the projects. Harris Associates will serve as the general contractor, and the design work will be handled by Steelman Partners for CasaBlanca and JIVE for Virgin River.

The announcement follows the acquisition of Mesquite Gaming by Oaktree Capital, a private investment firm based in Los Angeles, in December. Oaktree Capital has prior investments in the Nevada gaming industry, including the acquisition of Interblock Gaming, a supplier of electronic table games.