Unexpected Luxury at New Off-Strip Durango Casino & Resort

Locals-focused casino resorts fill a niche in Las Vegas that many visitors may not be aware of – or appreciate, but these off-strip properties play a significant role in the Las Vegas metro area’s gaming and hospitality sector. And they’re not just aimed at locals; a fair share of visitors want the Vegas resort experience – just without the overwhelming action on the Strip. 

The newest entrant in the sector is Station Casinos’ Durango Casino & Resort, which opened in December in the southwest valley.  As the largest locals-casino operator in the metro area, Station now operates seven properties, including the luxe Red Rock Resort, Casino & Spa, and Green Valley Ranch, Resort, Casino & Spa.  Both of those are large, full-service resorts perfect for a quick getaway.  And although Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock are beautiful, upscale properties, Station Casinos has raised the bar even higher with Durango.

The property is beautifully designed, furnished, and decorated, with a rich feel that extends throughout all public areas and accommodations.  And the chic hotel lobby is a fitting prelude to what guests encounter next.  The room product definitely skews upmarket, as guests in Durango’s rooms and suites luxuriate in a minimum of 488 sq. feet of space bathed in warm, soothing desert colors, with ample lighting and storage, twin-sink marble baths with oversized shower and separate WC.  Rich fabrics and bed-end benches lend a premium feel, while plush robes, high-end toiletries, lighted closets, and fine linens round out the luxe touches.

Nevada state law mandates that new casino projects include at least 200 hotel rooms, and Durango just beats that minimum with 209.  Although locals often use these off-strip properties to provide stays for visiting friends and relatives, a fair amount of overnight stays at Station Casinos properties are made by guests seeking relaxing getaways away from the commotion of the Strip, but just close enough to get there when desired.  The drive to Durango from the south end of the Strip, at Mandalay Bay, takes about 20 minutes.  Clients may also appreciate Durango’s proximity to the beautiful Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a mere 15-minute drive, but another world away in terms of the experience with red sandstone peaks, Native American petroglyphs, panoramic viewing spots, and hiking trails.

Loyalty Program, Affordable Dining Provide Powerful Draw
In a testament to the power and scope of Station Casinos’ casino loyalty program, Boarding Pass – which rewards members with relatively generous tier benefits – the casino, restaurants, and bars were all busy on an early January weekday, less than a month after opening.  And the casino games here – as well as at other Station Casinos’ properties – offer odds generally more favorable to the player than those at Strip resorts.  Blackjack pays 3:2 on most tables here (vs. the now-ubiquitous 6:5) and players enjoy 10x odds on Craps.

Continuing Las Vegas’ upscale food hall trend is Eat Your Heart Out, a curated collection of L.A. imports and Las Vegas originals offering dishes at extremely fair prices – typically below that of equivalent items served at Strip Resorts. 

Fine dining is also well represented at Durango, with Nicco’s Steakhouse and Mijo Modern Mexican Restaurant leading the way.  Summer House is a warm and cozy indoor/outdoor venue featuring California cuisine and an enticing grab-and-go coffee and cookie bar.  But the most interesting eatery currently on property is Fiorella Pasta, featuring James Beard Award-winning chef Marc Vetri’s homemade pasta, antipasti, and desserts. Set in a replica of the chef’s popular Philadelphia restaurant, the kitchen turns out an impressive array of dishes. 

Due to the relatively limited size of the menu, I was able to sample everything on offer.  Of the antipasti, go for the Crab Toast and Mozzarella in Carrozza.   There are six pasta dishes available, and while the Ricotta Gnocchi with Brown Butter is impossibly rich and decadent, the Tagliolini with Lemon, Poppy Seed, and Prosciutto achieves perfection in its simplicity.  

Meanwhile, the property’s sports bar-in-the-round, The George Sportsmen’s Lounge, is a super-sized, indoor/outdoor sports-lovers haven with massive, wraparound LED screens and a full dining menu that goes way beyond typical bar fare.  The outdoor space, with a covered terrace, has a cool look and ambiance unmatched by any other sports bar venue at a Las Vegas resort.

Nightlife is centered around the alluring Bel-Aire Lounge, a sophisticated and handsome room with a full-wall-length fireplace, cozy nook seating and floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the gorgeous Bel-Aire Backyard pool complex.

Off-strip casino resorts’ other unique advantage over Strip properties is their large geographic footprint, allowing for expansion.  The resort’s second phase, with neither a completion date nor a specific configuration yet announced, will likely add a second hotel tower, spa, theater and entertainment area.  For now, guests seeking spa services are directed to sister property Red Rock – just 10 minutes away.  But in its current form, Durango appeals to visitors looking for an upscale Las Vegas getaway with a luxurious room product, a varied and affordable food-and-beverage program, favorable casino odds, and proximity to various natural wonders, all without the hustle – and the hassle – of the Strip.