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.

BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) — People from all over the region came to check out the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for the Grand Opening. On Thursday morning, I spoke with casino-goers who waited to get in and they told me they’re excited. People started to stand in the casino general admission line at 10:15 a.m. to enter for the 12 p.m. opening.

With the grand opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol on Thursday, employees are hard at work preparing for the doors to officially open to the public. On Tuesday, employees held a team member rally to get everyone pumped up for opening day.

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.

Hard Rock Casino in October once again tallied more "win" — or revenue after paying successful bettors — than any of its competitors for a 36th consecutive month.

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