Nov. 5, 2026, 12:11 p.m. MT
Sunland Park Casino, now under new management, reopens Friday, Nov. 6, showcasing its recent $2 million renovation.
The grand reopening will be at 5:30 p.m. outside in the valet area in front of the casino entrance, 1200 Futurity Drive, Sunland Park, N.M.
Operations Manager Fred Heinrich, who led a media tour last week, said the casino was bought last year and is now operated by Jon Grant Lincoln, a Montana-based gaming entrepreneur who knows what casinos need to draw people.
“Since then, we’ve been running hard to try and keep with him because he’s been around the industry a long time and knows what makes things work. … Sunland Park needed a dusting off and to be refreshed. We’re in the process of doing that now,” Heinrich said.
The remodeling project began about three months ago with new carpeting, updated wallpaper, and an opened-up floor plan after some walls were knocked down.
Casino goers will be excited to learn the casino has added about 300 new games overall in the 23,000 square foot gaming area. Among the newest are table games like craps, Blackjack and Baccarat.
Heinrich explained that New Mexico law doesn’t allow live table games, so the new electronic table games with virtual dealers are a good alternative. Fans can also count on finding their favorite games such as Dragon Lane, Lightning Lane and some popular Blueberry gaming machines.
The casino also has a unique gaming system called The Stadium, which lets players sit at individual touchscreen terminals around a central gaming area. Players place bets and make decisions on their own screens.
Heinrich says people can gather around friends playing at the gaming station, making for an interactive, fun evening out.
“You can actually play a couple of different games at the same time, like Blackjack and Roulette,” he said. “It’s a super fun area. We want people to come in here and relax and have a good time while they’re here.”
Sunland Park Casino reopens Legends restaurant with new menu
Another big change at the Sunland Park Casino is the Legends restaurant. Management has taken over the restaurant formerly run by Corralito Steak House.
The restaurant will feature crowd-pleasing foods like double-patty hamburgers with bacon, taquitos with salsa, buffalo chicken wings with blue cheese dressing and carrot sticks, and egg rolls.
Heinrich said the new chef, Josh Gibson, also has expertise in smoking, and they will be smoking their own brisket, turkey and pork.
People will be able to sit down, enjoy their meals and look out onto the gaming area from open areas.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.
