The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol opened the doors to its permanent home on Thursday. Country music star Blake Shelton performed at the casino’s entertainment venue to celebrate its grand opening.

The permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol in Virginia marked its official grand opening on Thursday with a guitar smash ceremony. The $500 million resort now occupies the site of the former Bristol Mall, offering a blend of gaming, entertainment, and dining designed to attract tourists from across the region and beyond.

People from all over the region came to check out the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol for the grand opening. On Thursday morning, News 5's Natalea Hillen spoke with excited casino-goers who waited to get in.

Smoking will be allowed inside the new Hard Rock casino gaming area but efforts have been made to address concerns of non-smokers. Virginia allows casinos with proper ventilation an exception under provisions of the 2009 Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act.

How the venue came to be in Glasgow and a look through its extensive collection of rock and roll memorabilia. Buchanan Street’s home of rock and roll memorabilia and loaded burgers is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol has opened. FIRST LOOK: The guitar smash event was held and folks who had lined up were let in the doors.---Th