Hard Rock to Open ‘Rocksino’ in Historic Deadwood, South Dakota

Article ByDavid Weir

May 16, 2023

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Posted in: South Dakota Gambling News, US Casino News

The Historic Landmark District and small city of Deadwood, South Dakota, is about to become home to a boutique Hard Rock hotel and casino venue.

Set to be known as “The Rocksino,” Hard Rock International intends to open its doors on August 8 this year. The venue will have a restaurant, bar, merch shop, and a casino section with 86 slot machines.

It will be the only small-scale venue Hard Rock operates, in comparison with its huge casino and resort operations across the country.

“As a community notorious for entertaining guests since 1876, Deadwood is excited to welcome Rocksino by Hard Rock as our newest, can’t-miss property,” said David Ruth, Mayor of Deadwood, in a joint press release with Hard Rock International.

Related: Our guide to the best South Dakota online casinos

Celebrated History

The city of Deadwood, permanent population 1,156, is located in a scenic valley in the Black Hills National Forest. It was an important center in the 1870s Black Hills Gold Rush, with 25,000 people living there at the city’s peak.

Famous Old West figures were attracted there, too, at various times, including Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickock, and Calamity Jane. The latter two were buried at nearby Mount Moriah Cemetery, where their graves remain to this day. The city’s history also inspired an HBO period TV series, Deadwood, which aired between 2004 and 2006.

“Hard Rock prides itself on being able to provide authentic and memorable experiences for our guests, embodied by music and rich cultural history,” said Hard Rock International Chief Operating Officer Jon Lucas. “We are thrilled to become a part of one of the most celebrated historic places in the U.S.”

The new Hard Rock Rocksino will feature a mezzanine patio area for dining and drinks, two bars, a wood fire grill restaurant, a slot machine casino section, and a Rock Retail store for classic Hard Rock merchandise.

Local state contractors will be hired where possible to build and design the venue, including Deadwood Electric. The whole Rocksino will be created with Deadwood’s historic look and feel in mind.

“Being right next to Outlaw Square with the facility that Deadwood has built, it’s a natural match for what we want to do with Hard Rock,” said new Rocksino General Manager Rich Turbiville.

Grand Opening

As part of the opening, Hard Rock is partnering with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation – a nonprofit that provides special housing services to emergency workers, veterans, and their families.

Hard Rock will specifically fund the foundation’s efforts to help local Oglala Tribe communities in the nearby Pine Ridge Reservation.

The full details of this partnership will be announced at the grand opening event of The Rocksino on August 8 in Outlaw Square in the heart of Deadwood. Hard Rock executives, local community leaders, and the new venue’s team are expected to attend.